Center for Sustainable Development, ULAB

University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh has participated in the facilitation workshop for the upcoming short courses on Green Skills for students and climate change professionals as part of the ERASMUS+ project, Adapting Climate Change Education Skills and Sustainability for Advancing Locally-led Solutions (Access4All), funded by the European Union. BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University (BRAC JPGSPH) organized the sessions, joined by project partners Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), Maastricht University (UM) and Heidelberg University(UH). From November 2-4th, the consortium members reflected on implementation of the courses with a focus on advancing knowledge on the complexities of Climate Change Adaptation from a Southern context.   Over the three days, project members from ULAB and IUB conducted several demo sessions of the course to evaluate its feasibility and identify areas for improvement. Following thorough feedback and discussion, the team developed several recommendations to enhance the course and deliver the intended skill outcomes. Furthermore, they reviewed and discussed guidelines for both the course tutors and facilitators to ensure effective delivery of the course. Samiya Selim PhD Kh. Ayaz Rabbani Ishrat Jahan Md Nadiruzzaman Esther Jurgens Kate Barnighausen Sameera Zaman Nayma Jahan Lena Alfee Rumana Sultana Saquib Ahmad Khan Kazi Sunzida Lisa Devjani Chowdhury Razin Saleh Alam Isra Tahiya Islam #Access4All #ULAB #IUB #BRAC #UM #UH

On October 30th and 31st, the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh and the Maastricht University joined the BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health (BRAC JPGSPH), BRAC University, for a field visit to Satkhira as part of the ERASMUS+ project: ACCESS4ALL Learning Hub – Adapting Climate Change Education Skills and Sustainability for Advancing Locally-led Solutions. The project team engaged with community ambassadors who shared their perspectives on local climate change impacts. A discussion led by Dr. Mohammed Nadiruzzaman highlighted the complex layers of these challenges. The community ambassadors participated in a group activity to map out local issues based on their experiences and observations. The team also visited a fishing community, where members shared their struggles and experiences. Discussions with local NGO practitioners shed light on observed climate change effects, ongoing community initiatives, and opportunities for future work. These interactions enriched the team’s understanding, ensuring the co-developed climate change courses remain practical and contextually relevant to the southern region. Sameera Zaman Ishrat Jahan Esther Jurgens Md Nadiruzzaman Devjani Chowdhury Isra Tahiya Islam #Access4All #CSD #ULAB #UM #UH #BRAC #IUB

University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh has participated in an engaging and interactive MOOC development workshop as a part of the ERASMUS+ project, Adapting Climate Change Education Skills and Sustainability for Advancing Locally-led Solutions (Access4All), funded by the European Union. The workshop took place at BRAC Center Inn on 28-29 October, 2024 with the project partners - BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University (BRAC JPGSPH), Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), Maastricht University and Heidelberg University(UH). The consortium members delved into insightful discussions on MOOC requirements, format and online teaching methods, drawing on their past experiences and expertise. With the help of the technical partners UM and UH, the course development teams were guided through the frameworks, steps and guidance required for developing MOOCs with the aim of translating the co-designed short courses for students and professionals. The short courses focus on advancing knowledge on Climate Change Adaptation from a Southern context. During the workshop, the project team mapped out a lessons breakdown and activity plan for MOOC development in the upcoming month and how to encourage audience to engage in community-centric learning and interactive sessions in a virtual format. Sabina Faiz Rashid Kh. Ayaz Rabbani Ishrat Jahan Md Nadiruzzaman Esther Jurgens Kate Barnighausen Rumana Sultana Saquib Ahmad Khan Kazi Sunzida Lisa Sameera Zaman Nayma Jahan Devjani Chowdhury Razin Saleh Alam Isra Tahiya Islam #Access4All #ULAB #CSD #BRAC #IUB #UM #UH #MOOC

From October 20th to 24th, the ARISE team at CSD, in close collaboration with Young Power in Social Action (YPSA) organized a dynamic five-day training program facilitated by Mahenaz Chowdhury from Broque. Accompanied by a master trainer with 30 years of experience and a skilled master tailor, the sessions took place at a Cyclone shelter in Matarbari, Moheshkhali. The training emphasized upcycling and zero-waste cutting techniques to create a variety of products, including handbags, tote bags, wallets, coasters, and cushion covers. Among the 30 artisanal women participating were experienced Nakshi Kantha artists and budding entrepreneurs, eager to hone technical skills to expand their local businesses. This collaboration introduced the women to innovative designs, enhancing their craftsmanship and sparking a vision for alternative livelihoods. Many participants left inspired to spearhead entrepreneurial ventures, becoming role models for other displaced women in Matarbari and establishing sustainable pathways for stitching and artisanal design within the community. #ULAB #CSD #ARISE #CommunitySpirit #womenempowerment Samiya Selim PhD Tahura Farbin Dr. Prabal Barua

In early October 2024, the Center for Sustainable Development (CSD) and SAJIDA Foundation (SF) visited Protapnagar Union, Assasuni, Sathkhira, Bangladesh, as part of the Engage4Sundarbans project to gather participants' feedback before piloting an agroecological intervention. CSD-ULAB and SAJIDA Foundation are collaborating on implementing this agroecological experiment alongside partners from India and Switzerland. Following interdisciplinary research that integrated various fields and insights from community members and stakeholders, both teams agreed to move forward with the joint piloting of this intervention. Participants, both male and female, who are vulnerable to natural hazards, have been selected to take part in cluster farming of four crops and the development of market linkages for their produce. Additionally, the intervention is based on a nature-based solution (NbS) framework to address societal challenges, incorporating the economy, governance, and a detailed cost-benefit analysis as core elements. The project is a collaborative effort led by Dr. Samiya Selim PhD and Md Faisal Imran from CSD, ULAB, René Véron from University of Lausanne - UNIL, Jenia Mukherjee from Indian Institute of Technology, and Nurul Islam Biplob from Sajida foundation. This project is supported by Science National Foundation and Swiss Development Cooperation. #ULAB #CSD #Engage4Sundarbans #SAJIDA #ScienceNationalFoundation #SwissDevelopmentCooperation

CSD's Research Assistant Sanzida Lisa, V2V Global Partnership Scholar will conduct a workshop on small-scale fisheries titled "Beyond the Blue: Stories of Hope and Resilience," organized by ULAB Sustainable Development Club on 31st October, 2024, at PA 102. The workshop will explore the stories, culture, and traditions of small-scale fishers in Bangladesh, focusing on how they adapt to extreme climate events, sustain their livelihoods, and daily challenges. This introductory session will cover the role of small-scale fisheries, gender dynamics, and opportunities for students to delve deeper through a minor in Sustainable Development. Open for all ULAB Students!

We are pleased to announce that Sanzida Lisa, Research Assistant at CSD; Nayma Jahan, Lecturer-Cum-Research Associate at CSD; and Shahana Chowdhury, PhD, Adjunct Associate Professor at CSD, have recently published an article in The Business Standard titled "Gender Inequality and Environmental Risks in Panchagarh’s Stone Quarries." https://lnkd.in/gKX6UrQd

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Haseeb Irfanullah, Visiting Research Fellow at the Center for Sustainable Development (CSD), has published an article on The Scholarly Kitchen titled "Scholarly Publishing: The Elephant (And Other Wildlife) In The Room." https://lnkd.in/g7EvjetE

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Haseeb Irfanullah, Visiting Research Fellow at the Center for Sustainable Development (CSD), has published an article on The Scholarly Kitchen titled "Sustainability: When Being Small Is Big Enough To Create A Legacy". Link: https://lnkd.in/ef5u5WaD

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Haseeb Irfanullah, Visiting Research Fellow at the Center for Sustainable Development (CSD), has published an article on The Daily Star titled "Biodiversity conservation requires more than just frameworks". We invite you all to read the article here: https://lnkd.in/gMwecZRC