The University of Canberra has expressed interest in setting up a branch campus in Bangladesh under the supervision of the Bangladesh Army. The announcement came after an eight-member delegation from the Australian university met with University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed on Monday evening. The UGC confirmed the discussion in a press release issued on Tuesday. The delegation was led by Major General Md Hasan Uz Zaman, chairman of the Jolsiri Housing Project, and included senior university officials such as Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Bill Shorten and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Lincoln.

During the meeting, both sides discussed the potential for establishing the campus to enhance higher education and international collaboration. The delegation noted that the initiative would allow Bangladeshi students to access world-class education and improve professional skills without leaving the country. UGC Chairman welcomed the proposal, emphasizing that it could expand employment opportunities and support the development of a knowledge-based economy.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of incorporating subjects like artificial intelligence, big data, and machine learning into curricula to align with global demands and improve students’ competitiveness in the international job market.