KBAD-A Real Time Opportunity for Sustainability Education During Covid-19

Abstract: In achieving Sustainable Development Goals, the university holds a leading position. However, throughout the year long pandemic attachment between university and student has moved towards a more virtual platform. It has become a great challenge for both students’ and educational institutions to continue education through online platform. Facing the challenges of pandemic IUBAT successfully continues the online educational program. KBAD-Knowledge Based Area Development, a UNU (United Nations University) Flagship project has proven effectiveness in building links with IUBAT to students across the country. This program is to produce at least one technical graduate from 87,963 villages ofBangladesh. Door to door proper guidance for higher education is provided in the remote villages with financial assistance and interest free loans for the meritorious and needy. Since 2010, a total 9,381 students have graduated and another 11,699 are currently studying under KBAD from 535 out of 550 Upazilas and Thanas across the country. In the year of 2018, Merit Scholarship has been given approximately BDT 164.9 million; Interest free loan approximately BDT 20 million; Special Scholarship BDT 0.66 million with a total sum 185.56 million BDT or 2.2 m USD.

Generally, 15% (Fifteen) more scholarship has been given to female students to ensure gender equity. There is no other such university sponsored scheme/program for financial loan available in the country. In the period of COVID-19, an additional 15% (fifteen) tuition fee waiver has been given to all, admission fee reduced 50%, a 6 USD fund transferred to the students to avail mobile data. Students have graduated with technical and ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) skills as it is a mandatory practice of this university. This nationwide education promotion made it a sustainable campaign outreaching the majority of remote villages of the country and encouraging technical education to the underprivileged group of the society along with the urban students. This unique program complies with SDG goals 4.3, 4.4 and 4.7. These goals ensure equal access of affordable, technical, tertiary and sustainable education to all leaving no one behind. KBAD is a model to eradicate educational discriminancy in a nation by removing financial barriers in tertiary education.

Key words: Sustainability Education,KBAD, Education Loan, Equal Access of Tertiary Education, Mentoring Rural Students

1.0 Introduction: Tertiary education is the highest level of education of a country. Tertiary education plays a crucial role in knowledge creation, innovation and intellectual leadership. However, the tertiary education in private institution is very expensive except for public universities that has limited number of seats. In Bangladesh there are 53 public universities and 107 private universities of University Grant Commission ( UGC) approved [1]. Majority of private universities (51 in number) are located in Dhaka division. As most of the private universities are located in the capital city, access to education for rural and less advantaged have limited scope to be accommodated in pursuing higher education in private universities. In considering the nature of expense of higher education, Sustainable Development Goal 4 has been proposed by United Nations [2] mentioning the equal access education in SDG 4.3: “By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university” and in SDG 4.4 and 4.7:increase number of youths with technical and ESD skills.

To achieve SDG-2030 of an affordable and quality education, IUBAT has been working for a decade since 2003 through a project named KBAD [3]. This education program acting on rural community to build the link with university and reshaping the image of university as a common property in 21st century. Along with providing proper guidance and specialized undergraduate curriculum, KBAD has education financing scheme to support meritorious and needy students. Thus, IUBAT is a pioneer and leading (WURI Ranked 43rd) tertiary institution assuring quality education accessible for all [4]. This education financing scheme is also sustainable on contrary to present education loan program of national banks financing the higher class of the society [5].