'Rise High Bangladesh' at AIUB
Photo: Palash Khan
When an event that seeks to promote creativity and innovation in the youth is organised in a distinctive manner, it is bound to stir up curiosity and interest amidst students. That is exactly what happened when the export idea contest ‘Rise High Bangladesh’ reached the American International University of Bangladesh (AIUB) on August 27, 2016. The day long event was held at the Business Administration campus with massive response from students.
Held beside the administrative office, the event area was decked with banners and posters, which included details regarding the contest. Despite regular classes and semester final exams, a large number of students approached the booths set up at the campus premises before and after their class. Volunteers of Rise High were available and eager to explain the objectives, incentives and rules of participation to the students.
Rafsan Mahmud, a student of Business Administration department excitedly responded, “I appreciated the puzzle solving contest. It’s inspiring and educative.” The puzzle solving contest attracted a large number of students like Rafsan. In this contest, students were required to pick a clue card with information on a country's imported goods, and they had to guess the country. Successful participants were given prizes.
Sazzad Kabir Jami, one successful participant, said, "I look forward to forming a team and will definitely try to contribute an idea. It might be on clay works or handicrafts".
The programme also generated interest among the university staff. The exuberance of the youth proves that there is a huge space for such kind of idea generating contests that encourage fresh concepts and initiatives.
Rise High Bangladesh is an export idea competition for university students. Any university student can take part in the competition by submitting original, unique and innovative export ideas. The ideas will be posted on The Daily Star website, where readers can vote for their favourite concept. Members of the winning team will be awarded a trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
As experience at the activation programme in AIUB, students of the campus are ready to take on the challenge posed by Rise High, and are eagerly waiting to contribute to the progress of their country by generating ideas to increase exports.