Southern University Bangladesh: Quality education at an affordable cost

The Southern University Bangladesh has been working as a committed educational institute in the country since its inception. This Chattogram-based university has achieved several academic milestones over the years, making it one of the best learning institutes in the southern-eastern part of Bangladesh.

Southern University, one of the first generation private universities of Bangladesh, began its journey in 2002. More than 11,000 students have already graduated from this university, making significant contributions to a wide range of public and private sectors, including BCS and other prestigious services. Many of them are currently pursuing postgraduate and PhD studies overseas.

Currently, around four thousand students are studying at this university. In addition, some international students enrol yearly, indicating its diversified academic ambience. Besides, one hundred sixty-eight faculty members are involved in running its academic works, and each department has several permanent faculty members.

Permanent Campus: a significant step

The University Grants Commission (UGC) decided that every private university must have its own permanent campus. So, universities are being transferred and many of them have already started their academic programmes at their new campus, and Southern University has accomplished it very well too.

Professor Engineer Md Mozammel Hoque, vice chancellor of Southern University, states that people have a stereotyped conception about any private university that they signify only some buildings which don't have proper spaces and these don't create any proper environment for academic learning.

Here, Southern University has been significantly able to change this conventional thinking. Our university has built a marvellous campus in the prime location of Chattogram. Our permanent campus situated at Arefin Nagar, Baizid Bostami, in the heartland of Chattogram city has been built on 6 acres of land, ensuring a calm panoramic view and environment that makes this university a peaceful place for academic learning with world standards.

In addition, it has a plan to build a mini stadium on more three acres of land with accommodation facilities.

Departments and extracurricular activities

Nine departments of Southern University offer bachelor's degrees while seven conduct 15 programs, including masters. Considering the growing market demand, the university offers courses like BBA, MBA, English, Islamic Studies, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), Electronic and Communication Engineering (ECE) Computer Science, Pharmacy, LLB and LLM with curriculums made in terms of learning with practical orientation.

In recent times a number of private universities could not perform with rigorous academic pursuit, which made some bad impressions against the private university sector as a whole. But Southern University made an example in this arena by ensuring quality education that included sufficient faculty members, updated curriculums, a quality laboratory, a resourceful library and attractive classrooms.

Southern University was the first to start conducting MBA courses in Chattogram. One of the unique features of its Business Administration department is that most of the eminent professors in Chattogram are involved in teaching here.

Now, the Hotel Management subject is being taught under BBA, which reflects the new demands of the present age.

Recently, Southern University has signed an MOU with the Radisson Blu Hotel, Chattogram Bay View so that students from the department of Hotel and Tourism Management can do an internship in the five star hotel for six months to learn practically.

Southern University is committed to building up its students through rigorous academic learning through practical research. The university is very much active about the extracurricular activities which prepare students for the future.

Ideal Teacher-Student ratio

The proper teacher-student ratio of any university is very important for active interaction between the two parties. Direct communication between two sides happens through the conversation and exchange of views in learning and research.

UGC had set a ratio of teacher and student in its 46th annual report in order to achieve the international standard of private universities. In this report, the target was set that for every 20 students one teacher has to be fixed.

Southern University has succeeded in achieving this standard, which has come out in a UGC report and newspapers published in January 15, 2021.

Besides, Southern University has been intensively working for achieving and maintaining quality and global standard of education. It is working in collaboration with UGC and World Bank's HECAP project in order to upgrade its education and facilities.

Southern University has been a member of Academic Impact, an affiliated body of the UN, and has been conducting many research works and pursuing steps to achieve the UN's 10 pedagogic targets.

Affordable education

Southern University is concerned about the rights of education for all. It charges an affordable fee so that students from every corner can take this chance. Moreover, it gives 10 to 100 per cent rebate for meritorious and financially needy students. So, Southern University could be a good destination for those students who are looking for a better university in the most important time of their life.

Significant Achievements in Civil Engineering

The department of Civil Engineering was the first in Chattogram to achieve accreditation from the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) by maintaining developed syllabus, standard lab facilities, a rich library and the continuous teaching support by experienced professors.

Now, research findings from this department are being used into many national and international development sectors. Regularly (Schedule Based) it organises International Conference on research and innovation in civil engineering. In the past years, many scholars from different countries including America and Australia presented their papers in the Conference.

Other Facilities for Students

Nowadays, students with the highest degree don't get their expected jobs because of their inability in English. That's why Southern University has set up a modern English Learning Centre to mitigate this problem. In this centre, learning English is obligatory for students. This centre organises many workshops, training, basic learning skills, spoken English courses on a regular basis.

An ideal university life doesn't evolve only on academic moorings. That's why Southern University always puts importance on sports activities which keep students physically and mentally active. Southern University has a superb sports field. It also has separate indoor game facilities for male and female students. Several sports teams of this university have performed superbly at the national level in recent years. Therefore, Southern University could be the right choice for prospective students who are going to start their university life.