The New Nation - Internet Edition

Since its inception in 2006, the Department of English at Southern University Bangladesh has been attracting the learners and academics of the country.

The Department of English is housed in the Academic Building I of the university. It is rich with sufficient number of faculties having required training in teaching English language and literature. Apart from the in-house faculty, distinguished professors from different public universities teach here as visiting professors. From the very beginning veteran educationist and former Principal of Cox's Bazar Govt Women's College Prof AZM Shamsuzzaman Khan has been teaching here as the Head of the department.

The Department of English offers graduate and undergraduate programmes in English providing the students with an opportunity to learn and appreciate the literary works of different nations so that they can develop literary and linguistic aptitudes of their own.

The syllabuses of this department are designed in such a way that the graduates of this department can make them fit for professions like teaching , executives, journalism, management and information technology.

Students have free access to the two full-fledged computer labs with internet connections available. Students can use the English language lab which is the only English language lab in all the private universities in Chittagong. The university has a growing library with a rich collection of books and journals on English literature and language.

An interview with Prof AZM Shamsuzzaman Khan, Head of the Department of English of Southern University Bangladesh has recently been taken by Pankaj Barua (PB), a lecturer of Southern University Bangladesh. The interview has been given below:

PB: Sir, would you please tell us about the prospects of English in the present context?

Prof SZK: The prospect of English in our country is immense. Though it is not declared by the government, yet English is used as the official language in our country. English is the medium of instruction in the fields like banking, trade and commerce, foreign affairs, international relations and education at the tertiary levels. We know that as a language English has suffered a set back in our country during a few years after the independence and the loss that we have incurred is irreparable. So, I think it is high time for us now to recover and be up and doing in our attempts at having a good command over the language.

PB: Do you think the syllabuses of your department are "up to date"?

Prof SZK: Actually preparation of a syllabus is a continuing process. No syllabus should be so rigid as to having no scope for further change or alterations. The most important function of a university is the transmission of newer knowledge and the syllabus for any program is prepared keeping this view in mind. I think the expression "up-to-date" is misleading in the sense that what is "up to date" to day can be outdated tomorrow. But in our syllabus we have tried to include what is new and modern within the field. Provisions are there to include, exclude, change and alter any thing that is found necessary by the learned members of the committee engaged in preparing the syllabus.

PB: What methods do you apply in teaching?

Prof. SZK: well, we have not totally discarded the time old lecture method in our university. For finishing a course a learner has to attend a minimum of contact hours while things like group discussions , class tests and writing of dissertations play a significant role in determining the fate of the students. We have a full fledged language lab.

PB: How do you prepare your students to be the useful human resources?

Prof. SZK: As ours is a private university we observe and survey the recent trends in the global market both within and outside the country. We believe that we should fulfill the needs of the society as such our production of trained and educated manpower should be in proportion with the requirements. From the very beginning we put importance on improving the language four skills of our students so that they can be fluent in the use of the English language. Apart from the core subjects, our students have to study the courses like Computer Fundamentals and Application, Sociology, Bangladesh Studies, International Relations. These courses are very useful for the students to have a fair knowledge about the society and the country, about science and technology and the international affairs and the foreign policies of the countries of the world.

PB: Do you offer any scholarship or waiver for the poor , meritorious students?

Prof SZK: Yes, we are in full agreement with the recommendations made by the UGC in this regard. In addition to the suggested waivers, our university supports the poor, meritorious students with financial assistance in the form of stipends, scholarships and waivers in every semester.