School of Social Work Professor Golam Mathbor, Ph.D., was invited by the Independent University of Bangladesh (IUB) to participate in the University’s celebration of Bangladesh’s Victory Day on Thursday, Dec. 16.
Mathbor’s participation required him to submit a piece that was then published by the IUB, titled, “Shifting from Public to Private: Governance and Modernization of Bangladesh’s Higher Education in the Changing Environment.”
The IUB first approached Mathbor because Monmouth’s School of Social Work has substantially contributed to the topics they were hoping to highlight during this celebration. Professor Imitiaz Hussain, Head of the IUB’s Global Studies and Governance (GSG) Program, told Mathbor, “Your participation would be an honor to us, a permanent testimony to future generations.” Mathbor, who is originally from Bangladesh, has taught all over the globe about coastal community development, disaster relief, and sustainable change in both the international arena and, more specifically, Bangladesh.
Professor Mathbor’s work commemorated the 50th Birthday Anniversary Souvenir of Bangladesh during the Independence Day of Bangladesh. “I feel honored to have been included in this national level historical project that focused on how the past 50 years will influence the next 50 years,” said Mathbor.
He further elaborated on what he aimed to highlight in his article, and how it related to this special commemoration. “Bangladesh is in a crossroad, shifting from public to private in terms of higher education. This article sheds light on governance and modernization of Bangladesh’s higher education in the changing environment, providing an overview of strategic management and effective leadership in higher education while also examining the major challenges to higher education in Bangladesh,” he said.
Mathbor has made several contributions to Bangladesh’s higher education sector, such as organizing, chairing, and delivering a keynote address at a national conference co-hosted by the American Institute of Bangladesh Studies and the University of Dhaka.
The faculty of the School of Social Work feel especially proud of not only Mathbor’s work, but also his recognition. Dean of the School of Social Work, Robin Mama, Ph.D., underscored Mathbor’s credibility to speak on the issue. “Dr. Mathbor’s research expertise is on Bangladesh. He brings this perspective and his experience to his teaching and in other opportunities for us to engage with other scholars from Bangladesh,” said Mama.
Professor Sanjana Ragudaran, Ph.D., said, “We are very happy that Professor Mathbor’s work has received such recognition. He truly exemplifies macro social work practice.” Likewise, Professor Anne Deepak, Ph.D., agreed, “The School of Social Work is proud to have Dr. Mathbor as a professor. His experiences make him the perfect ambassador to Monmouth social work students, particularly within our Global and Community Practice specialization. He is a great role model for international collaboration and human rights leadership.”
As for what Mathbor’s accomplishment means for the School of Social Work, Professor Ragudaran said, “We are an increasingly interconnected space where the local-global dynamic is at play. Higher education opportunities for people locally and globally are vital, especially now as we encounter so many crises, climate being at the forefront. Bangladesh has experienced the lashing of the climate crisis and as an expert in disaster relief, Professor Mathbor’s expertise is welcomed. We definitely need to care as it impacts us as well.” Dean Mama noted that generally speaking, “Knowledge about other parts of the world is always beneficial. We can learn a great deal from seeing how colleagues deal with issues that are similar to ours.”
