Launching function of South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG)

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1 Volume 11, Issue 1 January 2019 Royal University of Bhutan Launching function of South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) A launching function of South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) of North South University was held on 13 October, The Institute is established with an aim to be the leading academic institution and think tank in the field of Policy and Governance in South Asia. The institute has already admired by the scholars because of its relentless endeavor in knowledge creation and dissemination of policy and governance issues across national, cross national and regional level. The uniqueness of the institute is the effective South South and North South Partnership in the field of academic and research with countries such as, Norway, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. Editorial BOARD continued to page 2 >>> Chairman Professor Salahuddin M. Aminuzzaman Members Professor Sk. Tawfique M. Haque Dr. M. Mahfuzul Haque Editorial Assistants Sazzad Nayeem 1

2 Editor s Note The fall of 2018 was more like a sigh of brief relief from the busy schedules loaded with class sessions and holding examinations prior to the semester end. It was also the time in early August 2018, when the students transfer to University of Bergen, Norway takes place each year. Even though, with subtle emptiness, SIPG passed a busy semester as usual. Major highlights include, the launching of the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG), organizing a special training program on Managing Change for Innovation for the officials of the Economic Relations Division (ERD), Government of Bangladesh. In two phases, about 75 officials of ERD underwent the training - cum- workshop on Managing Change organized by SIPG at Shere Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. introducing online Examination System at North South University, Dhaka. Students of MPPG now are required to take on-line examinations during the course. A talk on Election Process of Bangladesh with eminent journalists from different news media, signing of an MoU with the Center for Peace and Justice of BRAC University, a meeting with Professor V K Unni, Professor of IIM Calcutta, holding a consultation meeting with MPPG Alumni, and lastly, organizing the Graduation Farewell Function for the MPPG 7 th Batch of students, bore some important highlights of SIPG during this period. With the transformation of MPPG to SIPG, this has also ushered a new hope and opportunity for research and publications. Keeping the South Asian region into the purview, SIPG must strive and leverage every opportunity to achieve its goal. Other important events include holding an International Joint Seminar with Confucius Institute, PPG celebrates decade of partnership >>> Continued from page 1 Dr. Akbar Ali Khan, eminent scholar and former adviser of Caretaker Government of Bangladesh graced the event as Chief Guest. Besides, Ambassadors of Norway and Nepal attended the ceremony as Special Guests. Mr. M A Kashem, the former President and Member of NSU Board of Trustees, also attended the ceremony as Special Guest. Prof. G U Ahsan, Pro Vice Chancellor of NSU chaired the session. A book titled Civil Service Management and Administrative Systems in South Asia published by Palgrave Macmilan has also been launched. 2

3 SIPG Research & Training International Seminar on Ecological and Environmental Risks Management organized by Confucius Institute, NSU Confucius Institute at North South University along with South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) of NSU; Department of Environmental Science & Management, NSU; Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, YNU; School of Resources, Environment and Earth Science, YNU; National Center for International Research on Photoelectric and Energy Materials, YNU; and School of Agriculture, YNU jointly organized the international seminar. The theme of the seminar was Ecological and environmental Risks Management under Global Changes which was participated by eminent scholars and researchers. Signing of an MoU between SIPG, NSU and Center for Peace and Justice, BRAC University A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) of North South University and Center for Peace and Justice of BRAC University on 31 October 2018 at NSU Premise. Both of the institutes agree to collaborate on a range of activities including, joint research, organizing conferences, and public lectures, facilitating exchange programs for students. Professor Atiqul Islam, Vice Chancellor of North South University and Let. Colonel Md. Foyzul Islam (Retd) signed the MOU on behalf of their respective institutions. Brig. Gen. (Retd) M Sakhawat Hussain, PhD joined SIPG as Honorary Fellow Former Election Commissioner, Brig. Gen. M. Sakhawat Hussain, PhD (retd.) has recently joined at South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) of North South University as an honorary fellow. As a fellow, Brig. Gen. M. Sakhawat Hussain, PhD (retd) will devote to research and scholarly activities. 3

4 SIPG Training & Extension SIPG facilitates Managing Change for Innovation for Government Officials South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) of North South University has partnered with Economic Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance to facilitate Managing Change for Innovation thru short training programs. The Economic Relations Division is the focal point of the government for interfacing development partners and coordinates all external assistance inflows into the country. The training provided a wide range of coverage in terms of training in two successive programs from 19-20th September, 2018 and from 26-28th November 2018 respectively. The training was part of the on-going effort to equip the officials 4 with the concepts and techniques of Innovation and change management keeping in view the future challenges of ERD. In the inauguration ceremony, Professor Dr. Gowhor Rizvi, International Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister, Government of Bangladesh attended as chief guest. Mr. N M Zeaul Alam, Secretary (Coordination and Reforms), Cabinet Division and Mr. Sudipto Mukerjee, Country Director, UNDP Bangladesh graced the session as special guest. Mr. Kazi Shofiqul Azam, Secretary, Economic Relations division, Ministry of Finance chaired the session.

5 Students Exchange Program Students transfer to University of Bergen, Norway under NORPART Under the student exchange initiative, the 8th Batch MPPG students were transferred for a semester in the University of Bergen, Norway in August A total of 11 students of went to UiB, Bergen, Norway and completed a semester. Likewise, students from Norway will also have an opportunity to complete a semester at North South University in every spring semester. Student Exchange Initiative would go a long way not only in knowledge sharing and transfer, but also an exchange of culture. Farewell of MPPG 7th Batch A farewell dinner was arranged for the MPPG 7th Batch of students in August of 2018 at North South University. The students made speeches and reflections on their academic journey at NSU and expressed continuation of further academic pursuits. At the end, a token of appreciation was given to the students by Professor SK Tawfique M Haque, Director of SIPG and the Adviser. 5

6 Visits & Events VISITS Meeting with Dr. V K Unni, Professor of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta Professor Salahuddin M Aminuzzaman, Adviser of the institute has recently visited Indian Institute of Management, (IIM Calcutta). The purpose of his visit was to explore opportunities/ potential of institutional partnership with IIM, Calcutta. During the visit Professor Salahuddin met with the Dr. V K Unni, Director of Public Policy and Management Department of the Institute. Both PPM of IIM and SIPG of NSU agreed in principle to explore opportunities for effective bilateral collaboration/engagement in regional studies on mutually agreed thematic issues in policy and governance. Key Note Speaker of Regional Workshop of Anti-Corruption Agencies of Asia Pacific Professor Salahuddin M Aminuzzaman, adviser of the institute attended the regional workshop on AntiCorruption Agency Strengthening Initiative held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 13th-15th December Professor Aminuzzaman presented Key Note Paper on the Methodological Approaches on ACA Assessment System for Asia Pacific Region. During the workshop, a meeting was held between Laode Muhammad Syarif, Commissioner of Corruption Eradication Commission, Indonesia and Professor Aminuzzaman, adviser of the institute. EVENTS Talk on Election Process of Bangladesh with eminent journalists A talk on Electoral Process in Bangladesh was held at South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) of North South University with three eminent journalists of Bangladesh namely, Farzana Rupa, Mithila Farzana and Nobonita Chowdhury. Brig. Gen M. Sakhawat Hussain (retd) Phd, Honorary Fellow of South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance of North South University took part in the discussion as an expert on election issues. Brig. Gen M. Sakhawat served as an Election Commissioner of Bangladesh and made extensive studies on electoral governance in South Asia. Professor Salahuddin M Aminuzzaman, Adviser of SIPG and young faculty members of the Department of Political Science and Sociology (PSS) of North South University also attended the program. 6

7 MPPG Alumni Consultation Meeting with MPPG Alumni SIPG organized a consultative meeting with the MPPG alumni on 14th September The purpose of the meeting was to share the formation of SIPG and gather their view points as MPPG alumni for its potentials and further growth in areas of academic curriculum, research and on-going training needs. The meeting is the first in the row of several upcoming consultative meetings with the other stakeholders of the institute. The program was inaugurated with the welcome speech delivered by Dr. M Mahfuzul Haque, on behalf of the institution. Director of the Institute presented a brief on SIPG to the audience. The discussion session was moderated by adviser of the Institute Professor Salahuddin M. Aminuzzaman. 7

8 Institute s Milestone SIPG introduces On-line Examination System at North South University The idea of introducing on-line examination system for MPPG students at SIPG came more as a requirement prior to their departure for a semester in Norway under student exchange program. In University of Bergen, Norway students are required to take online examinations. Therefore, from the experience of first batch of such exchange program, it was seen as advantageous to have such orientations. The first online exam of MPPG program was successfully conducted on 11 th July. The honorable Chairman of BoT, Members of BoT, Vice-chancellor and Pro Vice-Chancellor (D) made a visit during such examination and lauded the initiative taken by SIPG and IT Department. This is considered as a first step to establish NSU as the first Green University/paperless University of the country in coming years. On policy and governance issues across national, cross national and regional levels. A formal launching of the institute is planned in October Comparative Data of the SAARC countries Corruption Perception Index (CPI) & Growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Bangladesh India Sri Lanka Pakistan Nepal Bhutan Muldives Afghanistan CPI Score 2017 Real GDP Growth 2017 Data Source CPI : CPI: Transparency International & GDP: World Bank : The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ranks the countries on a scale of 100 (very clean) to 0 (highly corrupt). Executive Masters in Policy and Governance (EMPG) PPG Program will launch an evening graduate program titled as Executive Masters in Policy and Governance (EMPG) from Summer 2019 Semester. Admission circulars are expected to be published in different daily newspapers and SIPG website soon. The targeted audience of the program would be fresh graduates, new entrants and mid-level working professionals from bureaucracy, private sector executives, embassy officials, and officials from NGOs. For further information interested persons may contact with SIPG Office. Major Features of EMPG Classes on Friday and Saturday One-year master 3 semesters 36 credits Specialization on: Policy Analysis Human Resource Development Program Management. Contact Us SIPG Office, North South University Room No : NAC 1074/1076, Bashundhara, Dhaka-1229, Bangladesh Phone : , Ext. 2163/ sipg@northsouth.edu Website : Published By: South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance North South University Layout and Design:, Farhana.Ferdous@gmail.com 8