North South University

North South University (Bengali: নর্থসাউথ বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়) or NSU is the first government-approved private university of Bangladesh. The university follows the American system with all its distinctive features-semesters, credit hours, letter grades, one examiner system and so on. Its curricula, when first introduced, were reviewed by relevant departments of University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and University of California at Berkeley, USA, and duly approved by University Grants Commission. The academic programs are continually updated and adapted to meet the local needs.

Since joining NSU in 1993, Dr. Hafiz G. A. Siddiqi, the current Vice Chancellor, provided leadership in improving, expanding and diversifying various academic programs. NSU now has 234 core (full-time) and 149 part-time faculty members. Core faculty members teach roughly 72% of the courses offered. All faculty members have higher degrees from reputable foreign universities, with over 90% holding degrees from British, American, Australian and Canadian universities. Visiting faculty members from foreign universities including US, Canadian and Australian universities also teach at NSU. It is very selective in recruiting teachers and admitting students. Its current student enrolment is about 4000.

The first freshman classes of January 1993 had 137 students enrolled in three Departments: Business Administration, Computer Science, and Economics. Departments of Environmental Studies (DES), English and General and Continuing Education (GCE) were founded in May 1997. The Master’s program in Economics was introduced in 1994. The MBA program was launched in Summer 1997. Master’s in Development Studies and Bachelor’s in Computer Engineering were introduced in 2002 while MS in Computer Science is being offered from Summer 2003. Bachelor’s in Architecture was introduced in Fall 2004. Master’s in English was launched in Spring 2005. Pharmacy (Undergraduate) and Executive MBA programs came into being in Spring 2006 and Master’s in Biotechnology and Master’s in Public Health programs were started in Summer 2006. BS in Biotechnology, BS in Microbiology and BS in Biochemistry programs were introduced in Spring 2007. Master in Public Policy and Governance (MPPG) opened in Fall 2008, BS in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) and Master in Resources and Environmental Management (MREM) launched in Spring 2009 and Fall 2009 respectively. Recently the university launched Executive Master in Public Health (EMPH) during Summer 2010.

NSU has three Institutes and one Center : (i) Institute of Development, Environment and Strategic Studies (IDESS) (ii) Institute of Modern Language (iii) Confucius Institute, and (iv) Center of Information & Communication Technology (CICT).

NSU’s first convocation was held on 18 December 1996 when Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed, Honorable President of Bangladesh and Chancellor of NSU, conferred degrees upon 96 graduates. In the 2nd (1998), 3rd (1999) and 4th (2000) Convocations, degrees were conferred by the then Pro Vice Chancellor Dr. Hafiz G.A. Siddiqi as authorized by Chancellor Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed. In the 4th Convocation held on November 25, 2000, 165 graduates including the first batch of 45 MBA graduates were conferred degrees. The 5th Convocation on November 11, 2001 Professor Dr. lajuddin Ahmed, Honorable President of Bangladesh and Chancellor of NSU conferred degrees upon 203 graduates. The Chancellor conferred degrees upon 251 graduates at the 6th Convocation on November 2, 2002. In the 7th Convocation on 6 December 2003, 8th Convocation on 24 November 2004, 9th Convocation on 21 December 2005, 10th Convocation on 28 November 2006, 11th Convocation on 19 November 2007, 12th Convocation on 17 May 2009 and in the 13th Convocation on 9 January 2010 the numbers of graduates were 307, 375, 475, 518, 610, 1073, 726 respectively. In the 12th Convocation held on 17 May 2009, honorable Educatin Minister, Mr. Nurul Islam Nahid & in the 13th Convocation held on 9 January 2010, Mr. Md. Zillur Rahman, honorable President of The Peoples Republic of Bangladesh & Chencellor of NSU conferred degrees. In this 14th Convocation (2011) the Honorable Chancellor conferred degrees upon 1640 graduates thus bringing the total number of graduates produced by NSU to 6676. Most of these graduates are employed in national and multinational companies. Many are pursuing higher studies at renowned universities abroad.

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