A group of BRAC University students took part in the leadership and civic-engagement oriented Get Engaged Conference 2023 on invitation from Open Society University Network (OSUN) which funded and organized the event at Central European University in Budapest, Hungary from 28 June to 3 July, 2023.
Competitively chosen, Ayesha Maliha Khan of the Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Arian Nuhan of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Owowo Wisdom Chikaodiri of the School of Pharmacy and Masuba Aron of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering presented their civic engagement project on creating better communities.
The conference attendees also included representatives of Global Commons, an online publication project for students by OSUN. Managing Editor Umma Maimuna Alam of the Department of English and Humanities and social media and Outreach Manager Md Ahsanul Mahbub Labby of BRAC Business School were invited to share their experience with the new and old participants about the importance of amplifying student voices through Global Commons for the Fall 23 issue. Fahmida Rahman, Lecturer and Program Coordinator from the School of General Education, facilitated and led the cohort of students from BRAC University.
Over 60 students from 17 OSUN-affiliated institutions from 16 countries including the American University of Beirut (Lebanon), National Sun Yat-sen University (Taiwan), Universidad de los Andes (Colombia), Parami University (Myanmar), University of the West Indies and Talloires Network of Engaged Universities showcased civic and leadership projects during the 7-day conference. The conference highlighted OSUN opportunities, projects and impacts and included critical workshops, a cultural day, hackathons and site visits.
OSUN was announced and inaugurated in 2020 by George Soros, the founder of Open Society Foundation. OSUN’s key mission is to establish collaborations between universities, institutes and think tanks around the world towards teaching, research and other forms of exchanges between faculty members, students and university administrators. BRAC University is the only university in South Asia chosen to join OSUN.