EducationUSA @ The American Center

EducationUSA Outreach at Dhaka University, Dept. of Sociology

EducationUSA, along with two vice consuls, spoke at the Department of Sociology at Dhaka University about U.S. higher studies and student visas.
Dhaka University is the oldest and largest public university in Bangladesh. The students of the sociology department requested EducationUSA to talk about opportunities for higher studies and the admissions process. Often there is misinformation regarding the U.S. admissions and visa process. Our presence helped answer many questions and correct misconceptions.

EducationUSA Int'l Education Week 2011, Women and American University

EducationUSA celebrated International Education Week from Nov. 20-23, 2011. On the 2nd day of the week, EducationUSA hosted a program for women interested in U.S. higher education. "Women and American University" seminar was paneled by Fulbright students and alumni of U.S. universities. EducationUSA finds fewer women attend regular public advising sessions. In order to reach out to specifically women, this seminar was designed for young women only to address women specific issue. One of the panel speakers included a Bangladeshi woman that overcame difficulties in order to pursue her dreams of a U.S. education. The panelists answered questions on a wide range of issues including religion, culture and lifestyle.

EducationUSA Int'l Education Week 2011, Annual Luncheon

EducationUSA held its annual luncheon with local teachers, counselors and advisors on the last day of International Education Week 2011.
Teachers, counselors and advisors are important contacts for EducationUSA. These contacts have direct relationships with students and through whom students receive information. The annual luncheon is designed to update our contacts about EducationUSA's year. It also provides new information for the contacts. The luncheon is an opportunity to meet and network with Embassy representatives to build stronger relationships and form good impressions of U.S. culture so that in turn they will share and inform their students about U.S. higher studies.

RENEWABLE ENERGY with Professor Saifur Rahman, Virginia Tech Advanced Research Institute

On October 4th, 2011, Professor Saifur Rahman, spoke to an audience of over 100 students, lecturers and industry professionals on the current trends and development in the field of renewable energy at The American Center, Dhaka. The lecture demonstrated the hands on work being conducted by engineering students at American universities, inspiring and motivating local students. Professor Rahman stood as a role model for prospective students in Bangladesh who are interested in the field of renewable energy and pursuing higher studies in the U.S. Professor Saifur Rahman is the founding director of the Advanced Research Institute at Virginia Tech where he is the Joseph R. Loring professor of electrical and computer engineering. He also directs the Center for Energy and the Global Environment. He is the editor-in-chief of the IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy. He is also vice president of the IEEE Power and Energy Society (PES) and a member-at-large of the IEEE-USA Energy Policy Committee. Currently he is serving as the chair of the US National Science Foundation Advisory Committee for International Science and Engineering.

American University Roadshow

On Sunday, September 25th, 2011, over 350 high school students met with twenty seven American university representatives in Dhaka. The event, American University Roadshow, was jointly hosted by EducationUSA, American International School Dhaka (AISD) and International School Dhaka (ISD). It was attended by students of Grades 11 & 12 from over 10 reputed local high schools. Over 400 students had requested to be registered for the event but many had to be turned away due to space constraints. The American University Roadshow included the largest group of international admissions representatives from universities all over the United States including, Bryn Mawr, Tufts, Northwestern and St. Olaf. It was the first time a group of this size has visited Bangladesh to solely speak to potential undergraduate students. The representatives discussed financial aid options and provided advice on how to create a strong application package. Bangladeshi students are still learning about the U.S. university admissions process and many reported it was the best experience and left feeling more hopeful about achieving their goals of becoming students in the U.S. The highlight for the students was being able to talk face to face with twenty seven representatives and receiving first hand information while forming relationships with the universities. The representatives departed Dhaka the next day overwhelmed by the unexpected response. The American University Roadshow was the first stop for the twenty seven universities in the CIS Tour (Council of International School) conducted every two years in South Asia.