Bangladesh Open University is committed to expanding access to quality education through open and distance learning.
The development of distance education in Bangladesh and the establishment of Bangladesh Open University.
The need for an open university in Bangladesh was felt long ago. The history of distance education in Bangladesh dates back to 1956 when the Education Directorate was assigned with the responsibility for distribution of 200 radio receivers to educational institutions.
This led to the creation of an Audio-Visual Cell, which was upgraded to the Audio-Visual Education Centre in 1962. No further progress in distance education was made till 1971.
After Independence, Bangladesh faced the challenge of meeting the educational needs of mass people. To meet this challenge the necessity for a new mode of education was widely felt. As a sequel to that feeling, the School Broadcasting Pilot Project was launched in 1978.
The School Broadcasting Pilot Project was transformed into National Institute of Educational Media and Technology (NIEMT) in 1983.
NIEMT was later replaced by the Bangladesh Institute of Distance Education (BIDE) in 1985. Apart from producing audio-visual materials, BIDE offered the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) program in distance mode.
The success of BIDE encouraged policymakers to take up a major plan for establishing an open university. The plan became a reality in October 1992 when the Bangladesh Open University Act 1992 was passed in the Parliament.
Bangladesh Open University strives to ensure education for all in the country through open and distance learning system and excel as a caterer of higher education.
The mission of BOU is to spread quality education, both general and need specific, among all sections of citizens of the country, irrespective of their age and gender in a flexible manner by using a suitable mix of educational media and technologies.
A snapshot of Bangladesh Open University's institutional structure and academic reach.
| BOU Established | October 21, 1992 |
|---|---|
| Type | Public University |
| Chancellor |
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir
Honorable President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh |
| Vice-Chancellor | Professor Dr. Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan |
| Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) | Professor Dr. Anisur Rahman |
| Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) | Professor Dr. Md. Serajul Islam |
| Treasurer | Professor Dr. Shaikh Rafiqul Islam |
| Location | Board Bazar, Gazipur, Bangladesh |
| Area | 35 Acres |
BOU maintains academic and institutional connections with international organizations and universities.
Memoranda of Understanding and institutional agreements reflecting BOU's academic and collaborative activities.
| Sl # | Description of MOU | Subject of MOU | Signing Time | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Yunnan Open University, the Peoples Republic of China and Bangladesh Open University the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh | Cooperation Agreement | 16-08-2023 | |
| 2. | Memorandum Of Understanding Between Ho Chi Minh City Open University and Bangladesh Open University | Training and Research | 28-05-2023 | 5 Years |
| 3. | Memorandum Of Understanding Between The Trustees Columbia University in the city of New York Columbia Climate School (CU) and Bangladesh Open University. | Collaboration Agreement | 21-11-2022 | 3 Years |
| 4. | Memorandum Of Understanding Between Anadolu University and Bangladesh Open University. | Training and Research | 22-08-2022 | |
| 5. | Memorandum Of Understanding Between Bangladesh Open University and Netaji SuBhas Open University. | Centre for Language, Translation & Cultural studies (CLTCS), School of Humanities | 3 Years | |
| 6. | License Agreement between Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada and BOU | License Agreement | 24-05-2021 | 5 years (01-06-2021 to 31-05-2026) |
| 7. | Contribution Agreement between Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada and BOU | Developing a policy and model for accommodating children with disabilities in the open schooling system in Bangladesh | 29-10-2021 | |
| 8. | License Agreement between Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada and BOU | License Agreement to the offering of the Commonwealth Executive Master of Business Administration (CEMBA) and Commonwealth Executive Master of Public Administration (CEMPA) programme | 24-05-2021 | 5 years 01 06-2021 to 31-05-2026 |
| 9. | MOU between Saylor Academy,USA and Bangladesh Open University (BOU), Board Bazar, Gazipur-1705, Bangladesh. | Supplement Skill Development Agreement | 03-04-2021 | 3 years 03 04-2021 to 02-04-2024 |
| 10. | Contribution Agreement between Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada and BOU | Support for implementation of Phase I and Phase II of the Higher Education Integrated model. | 27-10-2019 | |
| 11. | Contribution Agreement between Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada and BOU | Developing a Policy and Model for Accommodating Children with Disabilities in the Open Schooling System in Bangladesh | 03-10-2019 | |
| 12. | MOU between Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), India and BOU | Impacting Education and Open Schooling through OER- Making a Difference among the Learners, 2nd Year: August 2019-June 2020 | 09-08-2019 | |
| 13. | MOU between Centre for language, Translation and Cultural Studies (CLTCS), Netaji Subhas Open University, India and Bangladesh Open University (BOU), Board Bazar, Gazipur-1705, Bangladesh. | To cooperate and collaborate different academic initiative in the educational arena for the institutional mutual interest. | 30-06-2019 | 02 Years (30-06-2019 to 29-06-2021) |
| 14. | Agreement between BOU Commonwealth Secretariat, COL and the University of West Indies Open Campus | Common desire to deliver the Degree in Youth Work and related courses, and promote the professionalization of Youth Work in the Commonwealth | 02-01-2019 | |
| 15. | Contribution Agreement between Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada and BOU | Master of Public Health Online at Bangladesh Open University | 30-10-2018 | |
| 16. | MOU between BOU and The Commonwealth Secretariat | Delivery of the Faith in the Commonwealth Global Citizenship Education Module | 01-07-2018 | |
| 17. | MOU between Yunnan Open University, China and BOU | Cooperative Education Agreement | June 2018 | |
| 18. | MOU between BOU and Gujarat Forensic Sciences University, India | Collaboration Agreement | 07-03-2018 | |
| 19. | MOU between BOU and Tianwen Digital Media Technology Co., Ltd., 21st floor, Huiyi Culture Creative Center, No.99 Xjangfu East Road, Yuhua District, Changsha City, Hunan Province, 100088, P.R. China. | Collaboration Agreement | 19-04-2017 | |
| 20. | License Agreement between Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada and Bangladesh Open University (BOU), Gazipur, Bangladesh. | License Agreement to the offering of the Commonwealth Executive Master of Business Administration (CEMBA) and Commonwealth Executive Master of Public Administration (CEMPA) programme | 21-08-2016 | 5 years (01-06-2016 to 31-05-2021) |
| 21. | Contribution Agreement between Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada and Bangladesh Open University (BOU), Gazipur, Bangladesh. | Training of Tutors using the Train the Trainers Model | 04-11-2015 | |
| 22. | Cooperation between the Open University, UK and Bangladesh Open University (BOU), Gazipur, Bangladesh. | Joint activities for the supervision of Mphil/PhD Students | 26-11-2014 | |
| 23. | MOU between Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada and Bangladesh Open University (BOU), Gazipur, Bangladesh. | COL Review and Improvement Model (COL-RIM) Implementation at BOU | 03-11-2014 | |
| 24. | Cooperative Education Agreement between Yunnan Open University, China and Bangladesh Open University (BOU), Gazipur, Bangladesh. | Cooperative Education Agreement | April 2014 | |
| 25. | Contract between BOU-British Council-Open University, UK | For INSPIRE Project (Round 4) | 20-02-2014 | |
| 26. | Contribution Agreement between Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada and Bangladesh Open University (BOU), Gazipur, Bangladesh. | Institutional Symposium on Open Educational Resources (OER) Policy. | 17-02-2014 | |
| 27. | MOU between Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) and Bangladesh Open University (BOU), Gazipur, Bangladesh. | On the areas of mutual academic benefits and training interest | 05-02-2014 | |
| 28. | Contribution Agreement between Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada and Bangladesh Open University (BOU), Gazipur, Bangladesh. | Instructional Design Workshop | 24-10-2013 | |
| 29. | Contribution Agreement between Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada and Bangladesh Open University (BOU), Gazipur, Bangladesh. | Learner Support Workshop-Bangladesh | February 2011 | |
| 30. | MOU between Commonwealth of Learning (COL) (on behalf of the Commonwealth Secretariat) and Bangladesh Open University (BOU), Gazipur, Bangladesh. | For the Delivery of the CYP Diploma in Youth in Development Work (5th Cycle) | 05-02-2009 | 1.5 Year 01-02 2009 to 31-07- 2010 |
| 31. | MOU between Orebro University, Sweden and Bangladesh Open University (BOU), Gazipur, Bangladesh. | Collaboration Agreement | 05-03-2007 | |
| 32. | MOU between Commonwealth Youth Programme (on behalf of the Commonwealth Secretariat) and Bangladesh Open University (BOU), Gazipur, Bangladesh. | For the Delivery of the CYP Diploma in Youth in Development Work (4th Cycle) | 18-09-2006 | |
| 33. | MOU between Open University Malaysia (OUM), Jalan Tun, Ismail, 50480, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Bangladesh Open University (BOU), Board Bazar, Gazipur-1705, Bangladesh | Collaboration Agreement | 19-09-2005 | 3 Months (19-09-2005 to 31-12-2005) |
| 34. | MOU between Commonwealth Youth Programme (on behalf of the Commonwealth Secretariat) and Bangladesh Open University (BOU), Gazipur, Bangladesh. | For the Delivery of the CYP Diploma in Youth in Development Work (3rd Cycle) | 22-06-2004 | |
| 35. | MOU between Commonwealth Youth Programme (on behalf of the Commonwealth Secretariat) and Bangladesh Open University (BOU), Gazipur, Bangladesh. | For the Delivery of the CYP Diploma in Youth in Development Work (2nd Cycle) | 15-10-2003 | |
| 36. | MOU between Commonwealth Youth Programme (on behalf of the Commonwealth Secretariat) and Bangladesh Open University (BOU), Gazipur, Bangladesh. | For the Delivery of the CYP Diploma in Youth in Development Work (Pilot Cycle) | 28-04-1999 |
| Sl # | Description of MOU | Subject of MOU | Signing Time | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Memorandum Of Understanding Between Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST) and Bangladesh Open University. | Collaboration Agreement | 15-06-2023 | 5 Years |
| 2. | MOU between BOU and Green University of Bangladesh (GUB) | Educational and Scientific Cooperation | December 2020 | |
| 3. | MOU between BOU and Daffodil International University (DIU), Bangladesh | B.Sc. (Hons) in Food science and Nutrition | 15-12-2019 | |
| 4. | MOU between BOU and Fareast International University (FIU), Bangladesh. | Collaboration Agreement | 27-03-2019 | |
| 5. | MOU among BOU and Skill Development for Mobile Game and Application Project, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division and Access To Information (a2i) Programme, ICT Division. | For development of “Course, Contents, Apps and Games” | 04-11-2018 | |
| 6. | MOU between BOU and Daffodil International University (DIU), Bangladesh | Collaboration Agreement | 29-11-2017 | |
| 7. | MOU between Bangladesh Open University (BOU), Gazipur and Sonali Bank Ltd. Bangladesh | Sonali Seba Service | 20-11-2017 | |
| 8. | MOU between International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT), Bangladesh and Bangladesh Open University (BOU), Gazipur, Bangladesh. | Collaboration Agreement | 26-11-2014 |