How mentorship shapes students’ career path by Ms. Aura Rahman

Most of us have one or a few teachers who leave their marks on our lives, not just through academic teaching but the love and compassion they shower us with. They are the ones who guide us through many obstacles when we did not have the maturity, strength and sense of direction.

Some of these teachers are early mentors from school days. It is they who put their students on the right path so that their naive steps lead them towards a bright future and contribute to social transformation. Such mentorship sets the pathway in ensuring proper education.

However, in our country, not everyone is lucky enough to come across such mentors who possess the capacity and intent to change their lives and society. For those, navigating the next steps in education or career feels like making it out of a maze, blindfolded. Its tough trying to figure it all out on ones own, especially when someone is willing to pursue education abroad.

Its our conviction that navigating the complexities of higher education requires more than just academic skills. It demands guidance that is both insightful and comprehensive. The right advice can set the stage for future success. The mentors do more than teaching; they guide, inspire and support students through their growth journeys, ensuring the young prospects are prepared for the challenges ahead.

Good teachers, in this context, go beyond the traditional role of imparting knowledge. They become go-to career advisors, academic guides and psychological counsellors.

Such an approach ensures that students are not simply academically equipped but are also mentally prepared for the rigours of their chosen paths. The educators bring together the critical aspects of career planning, academic success and personal development under one roof, offering a supportive environment for students to thrive.

The value of personalised mentorship in higher education is critically important as tailored advice on personal growth is incredibly beneficial, particularly in a global educational environment. Teachers who bring multicultural perspectives to their mentoring enrich the learning experience significantly. Exposure to diverse viewpoints and cultural sensitivities prepares students for globally competitive education and workforce. This global exposure is necessary in todays interconnected world, equipping students with a competitive edge.

Mentorship further plays a critical role in preparing students for their future careers by equipping them with skills required for job market and elsewhere. Beyond the curriculum, mentors impart life skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and leadership.

They are able to provide insights into industry trends, networking opportunities, and practical applications of theoretical knowledge, preparing students for the realities of their chosen fields. This comprehensive skill set ensures students are not just ready for their careers but are poised to excel.

This is where Pathway programmes come in, where the responsibility shifts to the educators of the institutions they join. They are the ones who guide these students through every detail involved in their academic and professional journey. Certain institutions in Bangladesh recognize the importance of this support. They commit to providing mentorship that fills the gaps left, ensuring that the transition from school to university, and eventually from university to the professional world, is less intimidating.

We have seen that a mentor can essentially be anyone – family, friend, acquaintance, or a teacher. Still educators carry the bigger responsibility to fulfil this role, bridging the gap between academic theories and practical applications.

In the journey through higher education and beyond, right mentorship can make decisive differences. By equipping students with a broad range of skills and knowledge, and preparing them for a globalised workforce, the next generation of professionals can be made truly resilient, and adaptive for golden success.

The writer is a Lecturer and Coordinator for the Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY) program at Universal College Bangladesh (UCB)

 

 

Published in: Daily Observer

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Prof. Hew Gill

Pro Vice-Chancellor

Ms. Aura Rahman

Lecturer, Biology

Aura Rahman

Lecturer

Aura Rahman is a lecturer at Universal College Bangladesh. She is also acting as a coordinator for the Monash University Foundation Year program. Aura attained her bachelor’s (BSc in Biomedical Sciences) from University College London, United Kingdom. She then completed her master’s (Msc in Biotechnology) from North South University. Her research interest lies in the field of genomic epidemiology of infectious diseases. Her contribution in several local and international research projects have led to publications in several highly ranked peer-reviewed journals including BMC Genomics, Nature Scientific Reports, Science and FEMS Microbiology Letters.

Mr. Md Kamal Hossain

Lecturer, Mathematics

Md. Kamal Hossain

Lecturer

Mr. Kamal Hossain is working as a Lecturer at Universal College Bangladesh. He completed B.Sc. in Mathematics and M.Sc. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Dhaka. He is an M Phil researcher at BUET. His research interests are mathematical modeling in biology, machine learning programming, etc. Some of his research papers are in the pipeline for publication in international journals. He is a lifetime member of the Dhaka University Mathematics Alumni Association.

Ms. Ambreen Zaman

Adjunct Senior Lecturer, CSE

Ambreen Zaman

Senior Lecturer

Ambreen Zaman is a senior lecturer with eight years of experience in various local universities in Bangladesh. She is currently pursuing a PhD degree at the University of Bremen, Germany. She obtained a master’s degree in information technology from the Institute of Information Technology at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Her research papers have been published in national and international journals and conferences. The area of research she is most interested in is human-computer interaction.

Mr. Dewan Muhammad Nur -A Yazdani

Senior Lecturer, Global Studies

Dewan Muhammad Nur -A Yazdani

Senior Lecturer

Dewan Yazdani is a Senior Lecturer at the Universal College Bangladesh. He is also acting as the MONASH University Foundation Program Coordinator. Dewan attained his MSc (Research Methods) from Liverpool Hope University, United Kingdom. He also has a master’s degree in international business from the University of Wollongong, Australia. His research interest lies in the field of Social Media Marketing, Digital Marketing, Higher Education Marketing, Service Marketing, Public Health, and Consumer Behavior. Dewan Yazdani also published in leading local and international academic journals such as PLOS ONE, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Health Security, Annals of Global Health, Journal of Advanced Research in Economics and Administrative Sciences.

Ms. Tazin Islam Nova

Adjunct Lecturer-Law, UCB

Mr. Monirul Hasan

Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Computer Science

Ms. Nahida Parvin

Lecturer, Business Studies

Nahida Parvin

Lecturer

Nahida Parvin is a lecturer at Universal College Bangladesh. Before joining UCB, she worked as a lecturer of accounting and marketing at Ahsanullah University of Science & Technology (AUST). Nahida has received her MBA & BBA degrees, majoring in Accounting & Information Systems, from the University of Dhaka. She has been the recipient of “Dean’s Honor Award 2018”, awarded by the University of Dhaka. Currently, Nahida is on study leave. She is pursuing her second master’s degree in “Quantitative Finance & Data Science” at Oklahoma State University, USA. Her research interest lies in the field of ESG accounting, ESG finance, circular economy, and data analytics in the field of accounting and finance. Apart from being a lecturer, Nahida also served as a program coordinator for Monash University Foundation Year program at UCB from August 2021 to May 2023.

Ms. Habiba Kibria

Lecturer, Marketing

Habiba Kibria

Senior Lecturer

Ms Habiba Kibria is a working as a Senior Lecturer at Universal College Bangladesh. She completed her Masters in Marketing from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia and holds a double degree in Bachelor of Marketing and Human Resource Management from North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. She has been in academia throughout her career- from being a Lecturer to a Student Councilor to a Country Manager for a foreign university. Her area of interest lies in customer service management, consumer behavior and digital marketing. She holds the Duke of Edinburgh award at Broze level and has been awarded as one of the best project coordinators during her high school community service days. She was an active volunteer at Jaago Foundation and participated in multiple fundraising events. She was also the official Master of Ceremony for her university both in Bangladesh and in Australia.

Ms. Farin Daulah

Lecturer, English

Farin Daulah

Senior Lecturer

Ms Farin Daula is working as a senior lecturer at UCB. She is a trained education professional from the UK and has a degree in Education and English from University of Surrey, UK. She also holds a Master’s in management from Westminster University, UK. Ms Farin received her teacher training at the department of Continuing Education, University of Oxford, UK. Ms Farin is the founder of the education platform, One Circle. She is a certified mental health first aider and a life coach. She has extensive experience in the life-skills education sector, working in various schools and non-profit organizations in London and Dhaka. She is the author of the Tara and Joy children’s book series. The first book of this series called “Tara and Joy: Body Safety” is available now both in Bengali and English version.

Ms. Sumaiya Binte Kabir

Senior Lecturer, Business Studies

Sumaiya Binte Kabir

Senior Lecturer

Sumaiya Binte Kabir is working as a senior lecturer at Universal College Bangladesh. She is also acting as the Monash College MCD of Business Program Coordinator. Sumaiya has attained both her BSS and MSS degree majoring in Economics from University of Dhaka. She has achieved the Bangladesh Bank Governor’s Scholarship for academic excellence. She is also actively involved in voluntary work in different animal welfare organizations. Her research interest lies in the field of public economics, environmental economics, development economics, consumer behavior and higher education marketing.

Dr. Sadia Afreen

Assistant Professor, Chemistry

Dr. Sadia Afreen

Assistant Professor

Dr. Sadia Afreen is an assistant professor at the Universal College Bangladesh (UCB). She completed BSc in Chemical Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology (BUET). She obtained her PhD from the University of Nottingham and then completed her postdoctoral research at Nanjing University in the field of chemical engineering. Her research expertise is in applied chemistry and nanotechnology. She has significant publications in her areas of research, and she contributed as a journal reviewer to prestigious journals in her fields of expertise. She earned the Postgraduate Student Teachers Certificate during her postgraduate study at the University of Nottingham. She worked in the hall committee, conference committee at the University of Nottingham; teaching and learning subcommittee, and program coordinator in the Monash College MCD program at UCB. She worked in industry and had several engineering and research training at home and abroad.

Prof. Muhammad Ismail Hossain

Dean of Academic Affairs, Monash & LSE Program

Prof. Muhammad Ismail Hossain

Professor & Dean of Academic Affairs

Muhammad Ismail Hossain is a Professor and Dean of Academic Affairs, Monash & LSE Program at Universal College Bangladesh. He is on leave from his earlier appointment as Professor of Marketing at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Prof. Hossain received his Ph.D. in consumer behavior from Monash University, Australia. He is an MBA from the University of Dhaka and also has a Master’s degree in International Business from the University of Melbourne, Australia. His research interests lie in the fields of tourism, consumer behavior, and supply chain management. He is one of the co-authors of the book Social Media Storms: Empowering Leadership beyond Crisis Management published by Routledge. He has more than 50 publications including books, research monographs, journal articles, newspaper articles, and keynote papers. His work has been published in many international high-impact journals such as the Journal of Supply Chain Management, Journal of Travel Research, Tourism Recreation Research, Current Issues in Tourism, International Journal of Tourism Research, and Journal of City, Culture, and Society among others. He is an editorial board member of the Journal of Travel Research, the leading tourism journal in the world. He has received a notable amount of external research funding locally as well as internationally as part of various international and local research groups. The value of such local and international funding is BDT 1.06 crores and USD 827,873 respectively. As a consultant, he worked for government projects, not-for-profits, and for-profit local and international organizations.