Curriculum Review Workshop of the Physics and Applied Physics & Electronics program of MNS Department, Brac University was held on February 14, 2019 from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm at GDLN Centre at University Building 02. The workshop was inaugurated by Professor Vincent Chang, Vice Chancellor of Brac University. Professor Mohammad Tamim, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Brac University was also present in the inauguration.
Professor Dr. Saleh Hasan Naqib (Department of Physics, Rajshahi University), Professor. M. Arshad Momen (Department of Theoretical Physics, University of Dhaka) and Professor Dr. Khawza Iftekhar Uddin Ahmed (Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, United International University) were invited as external expert in the workshop. Dr. Md. Firoze Hassanul Haque, Convener, Curriculum Review Workshop of Physics and Applied Physics & Electronics Program conducted the workshop.
Professor A.F.M. Yousuf Haider, Chairperson of MNS department, all Physics and Applied Physics & Electronics program faculty members along with some faculty members of Mathematics, Statistics, Microbiology, Bio-technology and Environment & Geography of MNS department including respective program coordinators actively participated in the workshop. Chairperson and representative from EEE, CSE, Pharmacy, BBS, Law, Architecture, ENH and ESS department of Brac University were invited and present in the workshop. All current students, alumni of the programs and employer of the graduates were invited and most of them took part in the workshop.
A revised version of curriculum was proposed, emphasizing on the unification of introductory level physics courses for CSE, EEE, APE, Physics and Mathematics major students. It was decided that laboratory would be integral part of these courses for CSE, EEE and Mathematics major students, but APE and Physics students would take separate laboratory classes. Introductory Mathematics courses were also proposed to be unified and restructured and a strategy to implement that was agreed by the participants.
The experts questioned the relevance of the Applied Physics & Electronics program while the university has an EEE department. They suggested that the program can be restructured and all the first and second year courses can be merged with physics courses and student can take upper level courses from EEE and CSE departments.