GAU moves to integrate CABI courses into curriculum

A consultative meeting was held on Tuesday at Gazipur Agricultural University (GAU) to explore the inclusion of courses from the CABI Academy into the university’s curriculum, aiming to make higher education more practical, future-ready and globally aligned. 

The initiative seeks to move learning beyond textbooks by equipping students with real-world problem-solving abilities, professional skills and a strong sense of purpose. 

CABI’s academic courses offer internationally benchmarked content, problem-based learning, flexible online and self-paced modules and recognised certification, creating a dynamic platform that bridges theory with practical application, particularly in agriculture and environmental sciences. 

The meeting was chaired by GAU Vice-Chancellor Prof GKM Mustafizur Rahman. 

Among those present were Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof M Moynul Haque, CABI Bangladesh Country Representative Dr Md Saleh Ahmed, and CABI’s Global Lead for Digital Tools Dr Malvika Chowdhury, along with deans, faculty members and CABI experts. 

The session opened with welcome remarks by Dr Saleh Ahmed, who highlighted CABI’s global initiatives and its commitment to advancing education. 

Dr Malvika Chowdhury then delivered an engaging presentation on the CABI Academy and its digital learning portfolio, introducing participants to innovative, technology-driven learning opportunities. 

An open discussion, led by the vice-chancellor, focused on pathways to integrate CABI’s research-based, internationally recognised courses into GAU’s academic programmes. 

The goal is to ensure that students gain not only theoretical knowledge but also hands-on, research-informed skills. 

Following constructive deliberations, the university administration expressed principled agreement to move forward with curriculum integration. 

The meeting also explored future collaborations, including linking GAU’s digital herbarium with CABI resources, incorporating GAU citations into CABI-indexed journals and jointly delivering training programmes and certifications initiatives that promise to open new avenues of academic and professional exchange. 

In his remarks, VC Mustafizur Rahman said, “In today’s world, degrees alone are not enough; practical skills and innovative thinking are essential. Collaboration with an international organisation like CABI will empower our students and contribute to meaningful progress in agriculture and environmental sustainability.” 

CABI is an international, intergovernmental, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving lives worldwide by applying scientific expertise and information to address challenges in agriculture and the environment, making communities more resilient, productive and sustainable.