Country’s pioneering international education provider Universal College Bangladesh (UCB) has penned a new partnership with leading private bank Eastern Bank PLC. (EBL) to provide exciting career prospects to UCB students. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the two organizations with a vision to bridge the gap between industry and academia for the meritorious students.

Over the recent months, UCB has undertaken a series of partnership initiatives with different reputed organizations where students can gain valuable exposure to practical learning after the completion of their degrees. Following the successful continuation, this MoU was signed on September 8, 2024, at the UCB Campus.

Manas Singh, CEO of STS Group, and M. Khorshed Anowar, DMD, Head of Retail & SME Banking of Eastern Bank PLC., signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations. The signing ceremony also witnessed the presence of other higher officials from both organizations, including Syed Zulkar Nayen, Head of Business, Retail & SME Banking, Trisha Taklim, Head of Payroll Banking from Eastern Bank PLC.; Kingshuk Gupta, Chief Operating Officer, S M Rahmatul Mujeeb, FCA – Chief Financial Officer of STS Capital Ltd, Mustafa Waki Chowdhury FCA, Head of Finance and S. M. Risalat Rahman, Assistant Manager, from UCB.

This initiative is expected to enhance UCB students' career opportunities through exclusive placement and internship opportunities in the partner organization. Students are to also receive training programs, knowledge-sharing sessions, guest lectures, career guidance, and mentoring sessions throughout their time at EBL. The partnership underscores the significance of collaboration between academia and industry and will provide students with access to industry-leading resources and networking opportunities. UCB students will be able to take their academic journey to a new dimension as they will receive hands-on training, solutions to real-life challenges, and mentorship to be well-equipped to meet the evolving needs of the competitive job market.

Manas Singh, CEO of STS Group, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are very excited to have partnered with Eastern Bank PLC., one of the leading names in the local banking sector. We at UCB aim to create and empower the next generation of industry leaders of the country. And, this partnership will go a long way in securing future for our bright students by enriching their educational experiences and exposing them to the practicality of the industry”.

M. Khorshed Anowar, DMD, Head of Retail & SME Banking of Eastern Bank PLC., said, “We are excited to meet the bright UCB students joining here with us. We believe this industry-academia collaboration will surely propel them towards thriving careers in the financial and corporate sector of the country. We aim to equip them with all the knowledge necessary for them to adjust into the practicalities of work life which we believe will significantly boost their employability in newer future”.

UCB is enabling students to accelerate their journey to degrees at Monash University, University of London – LSE, University of Central Lancashire, and overseas for students who have completed their O/AS/A/HSC levels. UCB offers international programs in Bangladesh, and UCB students study the same academic curriculum as UCB’s global partners. This unique approach gives Bangladeshi students international higher education for extremely cost-effective tuition fees