Bangladesh Open University - Overview
Bangladesh Open University (BOU) is a public university established on 21 October 1992, located in Board Bazar, Gazipur District. It is the only public university in Bangladesh using distance education as its delivery method and is the 8th largest university in the world by enrollment.
Administration
- Chancellor: President Mohammed Shahabuddin
- Vice-Chancellor: A. B. M. Obaidul Islam
- Pro Vice-Chancellor (Administration): Vacant
- Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic): Vacant
- Treasurer: Mostafa Azad Kamal
- Registrar: Md. Shafiqul Alam
History
Distance education in Bangladesh began with radio distribution in 1962, evolving into the Audio-Visual Education Centre (AVEC), National Institute of Educational Media and Technology (NIEMT), and Bangladesh Institute of Distance Education (BIDE). BIDE offered distance Bachelor of Education validated by Rajshahi University. In 1992, the Bangladesh Open University Act established BOU. In 2009, the president became its chancellor. In 2024, BOU signed an MoU with the Directorate of Youth Development for youth empowerment.
Vice-Chancellors
- A. B. M. Obaidul Islam (Present)
- Syed Humayun Akhter
- M. A. Mannan (2012 to 2021)
Academics
BOU offers formal and non-formal programs through seven schools, 12 regional resource centres, 80 coordinating offices, and 1,000 tutorial centres nationwide.
Formal Programs
21 academic programs leading to qualifications up to a master's degree.
Non-Formal Programs
19 programs in health, environment, disaster management, science, agriculture, food, nutrition, and other areas to promote literacy and human development.
Schools and Programs
School of Education (SoE)
- Bachelor of Education (BEd)
- Master of Education (MEd)
- Certificate in Education (CEd)
School of Social Science, Humanities & Languages (SSHL)
- MA/MSS (Preliminary & Final)
- LLB (Honours)
- BA/BSS (Honours) in various subjects including Bangla, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, English, History, Islamic History and Culture
- BELT
- Certificate in Arabic/English Language Proficiency
School of Business (SoB)
- BBA
- MBA, PMBA, CEMBA, CEMPA
- PGDM
- Certificate in Management
- MPhil and PhD
School of Agriculture & Rural Development (SARD)
- Bachelor of Agricultural Education
- MS in seven subjects (Agronomy, Entomology, Soil Science, IWM, Aquaculture, Poultry Science)
- Diploma in Youth in Development Work
- Certificates in Livestock, Poultry, Pisciculture, Fish Processing
School of Science & Technology (SST)
- BSc in Computer Science and Engineering
- MDMR for MBBS Doctors
- Master of Public Health
- PG Diploma in Medical Ultrasound
- Diploma in Computer Science and Application
Open School
- MBA in Bangla
- Masters in Criminology and Criminal Justice
- BBA in Bangla
- BBS (3-year)
- SSC and HSC programs
Accreditation
BOU confers degrees under Clause 6(c) of the BOU Act 1992. It is recognized as a national university by the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh and is a founding member of the SAARC Consortium on Open and Distance Learning (SACODiL).
Clubs
- Bangladesh Open University Computer Club (BOUCC)
- Open University Programming Club
- Open University Computer Society (OUCS)
- Open University Students Union of SST (OUSUS)