PUST Yet to Establish Central Alumni Association After 18 Years

Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST) has yet to establish a central alumni association, even after 18 years of academic operations. Many of its former students are now working in teaching, research and other important professional fields at home and abroad, with some earning places on the list of the world's top 2% of scientists.

Despite these achievements, the university has no central platform to bring its alumni together and facilitate the exchange of experience and expertise with current students. The absence of such an initiative has raised questions about whether opportunities for institutional networking and mutual cooperation between former and current students are being fully utilised.

According to the university's history, the law establishing PUST was passed on July 15, 2001, while its academic activities began on June 5, 2008. The university has since completed 18 years of academic operations, making progress in higher education, science and technology-based learning, and research. However, efforts to establish a central alumni association to strengthen institutional ties between former and current students have yet to materialise.

PUST graduates are now working at various public and private universities, research institutions and in other professional fields across the country. Many have demonstrated their skills and qualifications at institutions both at home and abroad. Their progress in teaching, research and professional careers serves as a source of inspiration for current students.

According to people concerned, an effective central alumni association could put former students' experience, expertise and achievements to work for the benefit of current students. Such an organisation could play an important role in job preparation, access to higher education, research collaboration, internships, career planning and professional networking with institutions at home and abroad. Alumni could also contribute to university development, the research environment and various educational initiatives.

Although former students from different departments and graduating batches maintain personal connections and pursue separate initiatives, no central platform has yet brought them together under a common structure. Students hope that a unified network would strengthen communication and cooperation among alumni while allowing current students to benefit from their experience, advice and professional guidance.

They expect the university administration, teachers, alumni and current students to work together to establish an effective central alumni association soon. Such a platform could connect graduates from all departments and batches, facilitate the sharing of professional and research experience, and organise regular career-related activities for current students.

Moha: Ohidul Islam, a student of PUST's second batch in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) and convener of the EEE Alumni Association, is currently working as deputy manager and in-charge (electrical) at UK Bangla Cement Limited, part of City Group.

He said, “It is disappointing that PUST has not established an effective central alumni association despite nearly 18 years having passed. An alumni association can play an important role in providing career guidance, job preparation, internship opportunities, and support for higher education and research to junior students, as well as improving relations between the university and industrial establishments.

“In particular, the experience and opinions of former students are extremely important for implementing Outcome-Based Education (OBE) and improving the quality of education. We want the university administration and former students to jointly establish a transparent, accountable and inclusive central alumni association as soon as possible, serving as a common platform for graduates from all batches.”

G M Mehedi Hasan, a former student of the Department of Electrical and Electronic and Communication Engineering (EECE) from the university's fourth batch, is currently working as an assistant network engineer under the Connected Bangladesh Project of the Department of Information and Communication Technology.

He said, “A university's success is not limited to its infrastructure, curriculum or the degrees it awards. The contributions its former students make to society, the state and their workplaces are also an important measure of its success. Over Pabna University of Science and Technology's 18-year journey, countless students from different departments have established themselves in professional careers, teaching, research and higher education. Their achievements, experience and expertise are extremely valuable assets for the university. However, there has been no visible initiative to bring these former students under a well-organised institutional structure, which is disappointing.”

He added, “An effective central alumni association could strengthen communication and mutual cooperation among former students while playing an important role in developing the careers, higher education prospects, research capabilities and professional skills of current students. Experienced alumni could help younger students advance through mentorship, career advice, internship opportunities and the sharing of practical workplace experience. Their involvement in the university's research, education and overall development could also increase.

“Therefore, the university administration and former students need to work together to establish an effective central alumni association as soon as possible. This would create a lasting bridge between former and current students and accelerate the university's progress.”