Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. A. B. M. Obaidul Islam returns home recently after an official visit in Japan and Korea. 
During the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Dhaka University and Kagawa University was signed to strengthen and expand academic cooperation. Vice-Chancellor of DU Prof. Dr. A. B. M. Obaidul Islam and President of Kagawa University Prof. Natsuo Ueda signed the MoU on behalf of their respective university.
The two universities have already initiated a five-year joint research project titled “The Project for the Development of a Flood Early Warning System for Haors” under the SATREPS (Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development) programme, jointly funded by JICA and JST. The project is being jointly implemented by the Department of Meteorology under the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Dhaka and the Faculty of Education at Kagawa University. The project period is from July 2026 to June 2031.
The primary focus of the project is to develop a science-based and effective early flood warning system for the haor regions of Bangladesh. It aims to strengthen flood forecasting capabilities and ensure the timely dissemination of early warnings. The project is also expected to make an important contribution to protect  the lives and livelihoods of people in the haor regions, particularly by safeguarding Boro rice cultivation and other agricultural resources.
DU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. A. B. M. Obaidul Islam said, Japan has long been an important partner for Bangladesh in education, science, technology, infrastructure, and human resource development. The MoU will further strengthen this existing relationship and create new opportunities for faculty and student exchanges, joint research, academic meetings, and wider knowledge sharing. 

During the visit, DU VC also took part in different high level meetings and held bilateral & multilateral talks with the authorities of Ehime University and Kagawa University, Japan for further strengthening on-going joint collaborative academic and research programs among DU and two renowned Japanese universities. 

The meetings focused on several key areas of ongoing and proposed cooperation, including the progress of the five-year SATREPS project, which commenced in July 2026. They highlighted the strong commitment of universities to expand their partnership through joint research, faculty exchange, institutional collaboration, and academic capacity building. Upgrading the existing MoU between the Faculty of Biological Sciences of DU and the Center for Marine Environmental Studies of Ehime University, into a comprehensive university-to-university agreement was also discussed in the meeting. They also discussed about establishment of an Ehime University Satellite Office at the University of Dhaka as well as an International Collaborative Research Laboratory (ICRL) to strengthen joint research activities and long-term academic cooperation. DU Fisheries Department will serve as the focal department for establishing the ICRL. Faculty cross-appointment as a means of promoting academic exchange and collaborative research was also discussed in the meeting. Dhaka University authorities have already granted permission for Prof. Dr. Anwar Hossain to undertake a one-year cross-appointment at Ehime University. 

Later, Prof. Dr. A. B. M. Obaidul Islam officially handed over an invitation letter to the President of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF), Japan Prof. Dr. Atsushi Sunami for attending the 54th DU Convocation as a Convocation Speaker. Executive Director of SPF Mr. Eiji Sakai received this invitation latter on behalf of SPF President. DU VC also took part in bilateral meeting with IGES President Prof. Takeuchi Kazuhiko for strengthening institutional research collaboration. 

DU VC visited Korea: DU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. A. B. M. Obaidul Islam visited South Korea to study the country’s entrepreneurship development ecosystem. The visit was designed to help these institutions cultivate an environment conducive to entrepreneurship and creativity, ultimately strengthening the entrepreneurship development ecosystem within their respective universities. The delegation included representatives from 14 higher academic institutions, with support from the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh.
The visit was organized under the project titled "Capacity Building of Universities for Promoting Youth Entrepreneurship (Creative Bangladesh)," funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
As part of this project, an eight-day management-level training program was held in South Korea from October 25 to November 1, 2026. Additionally, a training program for faculty members and instructors took place from October 25 to November 8, 2026. 
The project is being implemented under the administrative oversight of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh, with a focus on fostering innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship within higher academic institutions.
The primary objective of the program was to provide the participants—including institutional leaders and faculty—with practical insights into the core principles, technologies, institutional frameworks, and successful models of entrepreneurship development in South Korea. Particular emphasis was placed on developing entrepreneurship ecosystems within higher education institutions, establishing effective support mechanisms, and fostering the institutional growth of entrepreneurship initiatives. During the visit, participants gained practical experience regarding South Korea’s development model, university-led innovation and startups, industry-related initiatives, and the institutional frameworks in place for entrepreneurs. They also learned about the active collaborations among universities, the industrial sector, various organizations, and entities that support entrepreneurs.

 
(Md. Rafiqul Islam)
Director 
Public Relations Office
University of Dhaka