RCE Greater Dhaka - 2021

KBAD-A Real Time Opportunity for Sustainability Education During Covid-19
Basic Information
Title of project : 
KBAD-A Real Time Opportunity for Sustainability Education During Covid-19
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Greater Dhaka
Contributing organization(s) : 
1. Centre for Global Environmental Culture (CGEC) of International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT)
2. IUBAT Institute of SDG Studies (IISS)
3. WWOOF Bangladesh
4. Gono Bishwabidyaloya University, Savar
5. Safiuddin Sarkar Academy & College, Tongi
6. Abdul Kadir Mollah City College, Narsingdi
7. Scholastica Model College, Uttara, Dhaka
8. Narsingdi Public College (NPC)
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Professor Selina Nargis
Organizational Affiliation: 
International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT)
Name: 
Professor Dr Mohammed Ataur Rahman
Organizational Affiliation: 
WWOOF Bangladesh
Name: 
Dr Muhammad Rehan Dastagir
Organizational Affiliation: 
IISS IUBAT Institute of SDG Studies
Name: 
Professor Dr Laila Parveen Banu
Organizational Affiliation: 
Gonobishwabidyaloa University
Name: 
Mr Mohammad Moniruzzaman, Principal
Organizational Affiliation: 
Safiuddin Sarkar Academy & College
Name: 
Mr Mohammad Mahmudul Hasan, Principal
Organizational Affiliation: 
Abdul Kadir Mollah City College, Narsingdi
Name: 
Mr. Mohammad Shahidul Baher Khan, Principal
Organizational Affiliation: 
Scholastica Model College, Uttara, Dhaka
Name: 
Mr. Alomgir Hossion Bhuiya, Principal
Organizational Affiliation: 
Narsingdi Public College (NPC)
Format of project: 
Manuscript, PowerPoint
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Monday, September 20, 2021
Additional resources: 
International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT) has secured a spot in the World’s Universities with Real Impact (WURI) ranking for 2021, for Ethical University category.https://iubat.edu/iubat-amongst-worlds-top-50-universities-for-ethical-university-category/
THE 7th INTERNATIONAL (VIRTUAL) WORKSHOP ON UI GREENMETRIC WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS 24-26 August 2020 Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia, https://youtu.be/ARb0vGuu7Do
International University of Business Agriculture Ranked 257th position by the UIGreenMetric overall ranking for Green Campus and Sustainability in 2020 https://greenmetric.ui.ac.id/rankings/overall-rankings-2020
Continuation of Higher Education During the COVID-19
At what level is the policy operating?: 
National
To provide ESD and SDG knowledge and practices
At what level is the policy operating?: 
National
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Asia-Pacific
Country: 
Bangladesh
Location(s): 
Dhaka and surrounding Rural Areas
Address of focal point institution for project: 
International University of Business Agriculture and Technology
4 Embankment Drive Road, Uttara Model Town, Sector 10, Dhaka 1230.
Ecosystem(s):
Urban/Peri-urban
Rural covering all villages of Bangladesh
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
The socioeconomic condition is very unequal, a huge gap between rich and poor, urban and rural. Religiously ignorant and conservative and many are deprived of education. During the pandemic situation many people have lost their jobs and livelihoods. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted Bangladesh profoundly. In addition to the impact on health, GDP growth decelerated, and poverty increased. The pandemic may also have long term economic implications as a result of reduced female labor force participation, learning losses, and heightened financial sector vulnerabilities. Bangladesh has a good record implementing SDGs but this progress has seriously been affected due to pandemic situation. The education sector, mostly the rising private education has affected badly and resulted huge unemployment, early marriages and social crimes.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
To overcome the sustainable development challenges only the skilled human resource can help in this pandemic situation. But due to closure of educational institutes this earnings is in bad situation. Since there are very limited natural resources are available here human resources are only the capital mainly the workforce for textile and apparel industries and for exporting overseas workforce. So, the country immediately needs ESD-skilled human resource development
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Period: 
March, 2020
Rationale: 
Bangladesh is densely populated country. About 180 million people live on a 147,570 sq. km. with limited natural resources, the country has to capitalize its human resources. IUBAT mission is to develop human resource by producing ESD-skilled quality graduates. KBAD is a program postulated by Professor M. Alimullah Miyan in 2003. He was the founder Vice-Chancellor of IUBAT and former Chairperson of RCE Greater Dhaka. KBAD to produce at least one graduate from a village. There are 87,963 villages in the country. The mechanism of KBAD is acting like “garlic bonding” working well in the socio-economic structure of a South Asian country Bangladesh where the family bondage is very strong. An educated graduate will develop and improve the mindset of the family members to a greater extent and become the model in the village inspiring potential students to pursue higher studies. This will also alleviate fear and distance for higher education in rural community and bring them in. The KBAD has been declared as Flagship project by the UNU-IAS in 2013 for its contribution to supporting access to higher education for vulnerable and marginalized groups in society. KBAD works in three steps. Firstly, the Outreach program in distant part of the country, secondly, Mentoring the student with specialized curriculum, thirdly, Education Financing. Implementing this mechanism IUBAT has successfully covered all 64 districts of the country and in 2018 it supported the needy and meritorious students with 185.56 million Bangladeshi Taka. With extending further support through the present project, it continued education program online without missing a semester during the COVID-19 and it received World University Real Impact (WURI) ranking in 2021 (https://iubat.edu/iubat-amongst-worlds-top-50-universities-for-ethical-university-category/)
Objectives: 
1. To extend support to the students and staffs for continuation of higher education in IUBAT during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
2. To provide logistic support for awareness program against Corona virus with PPE, online awareness campaign and providing skilled nurses and youths.
3. To support students with online equipment viz. laptop, smart phone, Wi-Fi data for attending the classes.
4. To facilitate study additional 15% tuition fee waiver and 50% registration fee waiver, BDT 500 per month for purchasing data to all students
5. To take care of infected students and staffs with treatment
Activities and/or practices employed: 
IUBAT the host institute of RCE Greater Dhaka have taken an immediate plan to continue online education during the pandemic period, as, from the previous records nobody knows when the pandemic will end. IUBAT provided financial and emergency medical facilities with training to save the students and staffs. Inspired by IUBAT other universities also started to follow online education with logistic supports especially by the private universities.
Size of academic audience: 
5561
Results: 
It is an ongoing project. During the COVID-19 pandemic situation, work has been continued maintaining hygienic protection and social distance. The classes are held online. Only in the first lockdown period the classes were not held for the Spring 2021 partially. But this was covered with by taking additional classes and now IUBAT is regular with no backlog. Now other private universities are following online classes to continue higher education.
Lessons learned: 
It is a great success to continue higher education utilizing the technological benefits extending financial support. It is a great work that if proper facilities are extended then it is easy to overcome the difficult situations like global pandemic. It becomes easier in global communications and learnings. This will be a role model for many countries including Bangladesh.
Key messages: 
KBAD: Knowledge based area development is a key to support higher education for the needy students to continue even in difficult situation. Active participation of every individual of the country in building a prosperous Bangladesh based on knowledge will give rise to a drive towards nation building and it is a worth emulating paving the way for development of the country.
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
This project has been progressing with the all-out cooperation and coordination of RCE Greater Dhaka Partners. IUBAT Institute of SDG Studies (IISS) has extended the work with the Governments SDG Office of Prime Minister and also communicating the General Economics Division (GED) of the Planning Commission of Bangladesh. RCE Greater Dhaka organized webinars on world environment day and also implementing programs as per ESD Road Map and a national program On Campus Sustainability was one of them (Ref RCE Bulletin Issues 112, 118, 120) also actively participating RCE Global and Regional Meetings and World River Day organized be RCE Kuching and THE 7th INTERNATIONAL (VIRTUAL) WORKSHOP ON UI GREENMETRIC WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS 24-26 August 2020 Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia. RCE Greater Dhaka is sharing its activities among its partner members locally and the local institutes and colleges are being involved.
Funding: 
International University of Business Agriculture and Technology

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon Todate Area Coverage map through KBAD.jpg (787.64 KB) Todate Area Coverage Map Through KBAD N. Islam
Image icon Student Coverage throughout Bangladesh in 2020 during COVID-19.jpg (603.09 KB) N. Islam New students' enrolment in IUBAT in 2020 During COVID-19 Through KBAD Program
References and reference materials: 
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
Direct
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Direct
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Direct
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Direct
SDG 5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 
Direct
SDG 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 
Direct
SDG 7 - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all 
Indirect
SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all 
Direct
SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation 
Indirect
SDG 10 - Reduce inequality within and among countries 
Direct
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Direct
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Indirect
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Direct
SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 
Indirect
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Direct
SDG 16 - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 
Direct
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Direct
Theme
Disaster Risk Reduction 
Direct
Traditional Knowledge  
Indirect
Agriculture 
Direct
Arts 
Direct
Curriculum Development 
Direct
Ecotourism 
Indirect
Forests/Trees 
Indirect
Plants & Animals 
Indirect
Waste 
Direct
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Developing capacities of educators and trainers 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 4 - Mobilizing youth 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
state: 
Direct
Update: 
No