Research Centers

Center for Advanced Theory

The Center hopes to become a leading institution in theoretical investigations in the field of liberal arts and human sciences. We provide facilities in advanced research in diverse areas of intellectual activities. Our program comprises three tiers of activity, viz., supporting research, provide advanced teaching (by means of workshops, seminars, public lectures, colloquiums), and editing research publications (in the form of monographs, occasional papers, journals, bulletins). Our works, in addition, aims at promoting a wide intercultural exchange in advanced research.

Message from the Director

Founded in 2016 in response to the revival of interest in theories of culture, civilization, and the history of mankind worldwide, the Center for Advanced Theory (CAT), currently concentrates on three related fields: classical psychoanalysis, historical studies, and literary theory. Our seminars, colloquiums, webinars, etc., are widely attended. Our publications, translations, and reprints receive a warm reception and have a commendable impact on concerned scholars. Contributions to two serials: Apostrophe: Working Papers of the Center for Advanced Theory and OPT: Occasional Papers of the Center for Advanced Theory are regularly solicited from across disciplines and discourses.

Prof. Salimullah Khan, PhD

Director, Center for Advanced Theory (CAT)

Center for Archaeological Studies

The main task of CAS is to create awareness for preserving archaeological heritage, promote archaeological research through community initiatives, strengthen archaeological heritage education, promote sustainable archaeological tourism, and committed to interact between archaeology and scientific disciplines engaged in the study of the past.

Message from Director

Archaeology is a scientific study of the past lifeways through material evidences that people of the past have left behind. Bangladesh is very rich with its archaeological heritage dating from the prehistoric period to the recent past. Problem-oriented research on numerous archaeological sites is yet to be carried out which is not only essential but a prerequisite for understanding the political, social, cultural, and economic history of Bangladesh. ULAB’s Center for Archaeological Studies (CAS) aims to conduct regular archaeological explorations, excavations, and research in order to ¬fill the gaps in the history of Bangladesh. In addition, CAS wishes to strengthen archaeological heritage education, preserve archaeological heritage through community initiatives, develop cultural heritage management policy, and promote sustainable archaeological tourism in Bangladesh.

Prof. Shahnaj Husne Jahan, PhD

Director, Center for Archaeological Studies (CAS)

Center for Bangla Studies

The Center for Bangla Studies originally started as the Center for Bangla Language and Literature. It was inaugurated by Prof. A K M Azad Chowdhury, Chairman, University Grants Commission, Bangladesh on 10th of October, 2012. Under its advisor Emeritus Professor Dr. Rafiqul Islam, the centre publishes academic and research-oriented books, investigates and archives Bangla literature and culture, holds public awareness programs on different national events, and offers GED courses to ULAB students.

Message from the Advisor

এ কেন্দ্রের লক্ষ্য ও উদ্দেশ্য হলো বাংলা ভাষা ও সাহিত্যের বিভিন্ন বিষয় নিয়ে গবেষনা ও প্রকাশনা। এই কেন্দ্র থেকে নিম্নোক্ত ৩টি বিষয়ে গবেষনার কাজ শুরু হয়েছে:

বিশ শতকের বাংলা ভাষা ও সাহিত্য-একটি জরীপ
প্রমিত কথ্য বাংলা ভাষা শিক্ষার ”ম্যানুয়াল”
বাংলা ভাষার উপভাষা বৈচিত্র, নমুনা ও বিশ্লেষণ

বিশ শতকের বাংলা ভাষা ও সাহিত্য-�...

Advisor, Center for Bangla Studies (CBS)

Center for Critical and Qualitative Studies

Center for Critical and Qualitative Studies (CQS) is a research center jointly operated by University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh and University of Sussex, UK, based at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh which offers an interdisciplinary platform for various knowledge disciplines to collaborate, ensure effective knowledge transfer and develop innovative qualitative research tools and communications methods for undertaking a wide range of research and programs leading to high-quality knowledge production. The main objective of this center is to facilitate the development and use of critical thinking in research design and the use of qualitative research methods across a wide variety of academic disciplines.

Message from the Director

The Center for Critical and Qualitative Studies (CQS) is aimed at producing innovative and boundary-crossing research for an in-depth understanding human and social conditions, developing a generation of researchers skilled in qualitative research and ensuring a communication process by developing innovative tools and contextualized strategies. As a service provider, CQS will appear as a competitive actor in the field of consultancy and bid for research and research-led programs those fit into its core areas of expertise, both locally and globally.

Prof. Din M. Sumon Rahman, PhD

Director, Center for Critical and Qualitative Studies (CQS)

Center for Enterprise & Society

The mission of CES is to produce high-quality research and knowledge in order to bridge the theoretical and empirical interface between enterprises and society. Its vision is to enable an entrepreneurial society in Bangladesh, built on ethical foundations.

CES has a staff of full-time, part-time and affiliated researchers with deep experience in private sector research in industries such as financial services, consumer goods, energy and power, pharmaceuticals, textiles, leather, transportation, infrastructure, real estate, light engineering, information technology, and e-commerce. The Center’s research staff are also experienced in development sector research in areas such as skill development, financial inclusion, governance, regulatory reform, human rights, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH), health, and social enterprises.

Message from Director

Welcome to the web page of ULAB’s Center for Enterprise and Society (CES). CES is Bangladesh’s first university-based research center dedicated to conducting research on entrepreneurship and business with a view towards ethical, environmental and social sustainability.

Sajid Amit

Director of CES

Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning

The main goal of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning is to create a professional environment at ULAB that complies with the UGC directives on Quality Assurance. CETL will be responsible for developing and maintaining a Professional Development Program (PDP) for faculty and staff. The Center will also forge links with teaching and learning centers with international repute with a view to establishing exchange programs and research partnership. CETL’s objective is to enhance quality through establishing and maintaining excellence in all of our activities: teaching, learning, and research.

Director’s Message

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CETL) is a full fledged center established primarily for developing and implementing quality teaching practices for the faculty and staff at ULAB. As a leader in Liberal Arts education, we must promote and uphold a culture where excellence is celebrated and professional growth ensured in all aspects of teaching, learning and research. The values that ULAB stands for, particularly those that encourage innovation, pursuit of excellence and love of life-long learning, partly define our role. In order to achieve those values we need to have a clear understanding of what good teaching practice means, without which quality education cannot be ensured. CETL hopes to put in place a well-structured and transparent standard for teaching practice. One of the guiding principles of ULAB that directly speaks to a path of excellence in teaching is active learning. In order to enhance the core competencies of our faculty and staff, CETL will be instrumental in creating a learning ecology that facilitates Liberal Arts education. If you are practitioner in any of the disciplines taught at ULAB, this Center is for you. We hope to walk with you on the path to professional excellence.

Mohammad Shazzad Hossain, PhD

Director, CETL

Center for Language Studies

Since its inception in September 2014, the Center for Language Studies (CLS) has primarily aimed at imparting effective English language skills to the students of University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) through courses and teaching strategies that would make them suitably proficient to meet all kinds of academic and professional communicative requirements. CLS, therefore, generates the understanding of the opportunities and challenges of modern era by improving the quality of English language teaching and learning at ULAB. In addition, CLS addresses the professional language essentials of the staff and faculty members of the university.

As part of its far-reaching mission, CLS also emphasizes the enrichment of its faculty members’ research skills through symposiums-workshops-conferences on contemporary national and global English language teaching-learning issues.

Message from the Director

Admittedly, empowering the learners with 21st Century Skills is a key objective of our tertiary education where English plays a decisive role as the language of wider communication. And thus, we are dedicatedly engaged in creating self-motivated, autonomous learners who would academically and professionally excel regarding communication skills in English. And in doing so, we maintain a wholehearted student-friendly ambience in and outside our classrooms.

I am happy to see that the CLS team members, with their innovation and vivacity, have been resolutely bearing the spirit of excellence.

I am happy to see that the CLS...

Faheem Hasan Shahed, Ph.D.

Associate Professor & Director, Center for Language Studies (CLS)

Center for Sustainable Development

Our mission is threefold. First, we generate original research concerning all aspects of the Sustainable Development Goals, and how to overcome the serious and numerous obstacles to their achievement. Secondly, we educate and train the next generation of sustainability leaders in Bangladesh, particularly through our “Minor in Sustainable Development” course offering.Thirdly, we act as regional hub, hosting both junior and senior scholars with research interest closely aligned with our own, convening leading scholars from around the world at major academic conferences, and establishing innovative partnerships to deliver a disruptive research agenda with real world impact.

Message from Director

The Center for Sustainable Development (CSD) was established in 2006 and is the oldest research Center at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh. CSD is the only research institute in Bangladesh dedicated solely to the Sustainable Development dilemma: how can human development needs of all people be realized in a world of finite resources facing enormous environmental challenges, from the collapse of biodiversity to climate change? CSD conducts interdisciplinary research with local and international partners to address the complexities of natural and anthropogenic changes and to integrate sustainability in both policy and practice.

Dr. Samiya Selim

Associate Professor and the Director

Dhaka Translation Center

Dhaka Translation Center, founded in 2014 under the aegis of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, is a first-of-its-kind institution in Bangladesh whose primary goal is to promote translation as a career choice and develop a strong cadre of literary translators through the provision of workshops, mentorships with renowned experts in the field and fellowships that eventually lead to publication. The workshops organized by DTC are facilitated by international experts, including the prolific Indian Bengali-to-English translator Arunava Sinha, and help inculcate in participating fellows global best practices, strategies and insights into honing their craft.

Message from the Director

With increasing interest in world literature, translation has a vital role to play in making our writers accessible to interested common readers as well as scholars in the wider world. DTC is dedicated to the task of producing quality English translations of significant Bangladeshi literary works. So far books have been translated from Bangla, the state language, but in principle DTC is open to other Bangladeshi languages too, like those of the large number of relatively small ethnic communities in the country. DTC has already published an impressive array of titles, a number of them in the projected Library of Bangladesh series. More titles are under preparation. Occasional workshops organized by DTC are planned to train up aspiring young translators and thereby redress a dearth in a crucial aspect of our literary culture.

Prof. Kaiser Hamidul Haq

Director, Dhaka Translations Center (DTC)

Center for Health, Population and Development

CHPD is a national, regional, and international center of excellence. It is a space for collaborative research activities involving national and international research bodies and universities on topical health and development issues. It plans to hold regular seminar series that publicize the work of prominent academics and policymakers. It also intends to organize training workshops, a journal club for junior scholars and students, a working paper series, peer-reviewed publications, student internships for foreign students, and short courses on research methodology, data analysis, leadership for women in development, etc.

Center for South Asian Studies (C-SAS)

South Asia, a dynamic, hugely promising and sometimes turbulent region has witnessed rapid and varied socio-economic growth over several decades. Now the future needs to be secured. To do so requires a pragmatic outlook, and both policy-oriented and outcome driven partnerships in a range of crucial areas. These include Foreign Policy, Security and Strategic Issues, Trade and Investment, Education and Human Resources, Governance and Equitable Growth, Regional Connectivity, Climate Change, Management of River Waters, Mitigating Refugee Crises, and Migration. C-SAS aims to be there every step of the way.

Message from the Director

Welcome to C-SAS!

We invite you to partner with us to secure positive futures in Bangladesh and South Asia across a wide spectrum of action areas, including Foreign Policy, Multilateral Relations, Security and Strategic Issues, Trade and Investment, Governance and Equitable Growth, Regional Connectivity, Climate Change, Management of River Waters, Mitigating Refugee Crises, Migration, and Education and Human Resources.

C-SAS is an equal opportunity and outcome driven thought platform for research, dialogue, advocacy and dissemination in partnership with stakeholders in government, non-government organizations, academia, the private sector, and media in Bangladesh, South Asia and the world.

Journey with us!

Sudeep Chakravarti

Director, Center For South Asian Studies (C-SAS)