Educating Asia's Women, One Scholarship At A Time

Sparking the Minds of Young Female Scientists

Closing Ceremony of the AUW Math & Science Summer School

The Asian University for Women (AUW) has taken strides this summer to empower young women in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The AUW Math & Science Summer School, powered by Chevron, selected 61 of the brightest female high school students across Bangladesh to participate in an intensive five-week program focused on STEM subjects. The summer program equipped students with the competence and skills necessary to excel in further STEM-oriented studies and careers.

The AUW Math & Science Summer School concluded with a Closing Ceremony at the Asian University for Women campus in Chittagong, Bangladesh on August 8, 2019. Special guests of the event included Mr Ismail Chowdhury, Director of Corporate Affairs of Chevron Bangladesh and Mrs Waseka Ayesha Khan, Member of Parliament, Chattogram, Bangladesh. Mr Chowdhury commended the initiative and is pleased with the collation between AUW and Chevron. Mrs Khan believes programs such as this one will actively encourage young Bangladeshi women to engage in STEM education.

The Chief Guest, Hon'ble Minister of Information of the Government of Bangladesh, Dr Hasan Mahmud, addressed the audience, "AUW brings a source of pride for Bangladesh and Chittagong. AUW is a world-class university by all standards and AUW doesn't only educate women; it empowers women. I encourage you all not just to dream big, but to combine your dreams with your efforts to reach your goals."

All students were awarded a Certificate of Merit in recognition of completing the program. Family and friends of the students attended the Closing Ceremony. Two students, Tasnia and Shorna, received the Emerging Woman Leader in STEM Award for their exemplary academic performance and leadership skills.

Tasnia said, "Winning this award means a lot to me because it has made me believe in myself… the diversity here has helped me break out of my shell. This recognition has enhanced my [personal] confidence and self-esteem." Shorna Biswas said, "I will pursue a PhD one day, and this program has increased my love for science while giving me a network of mentors to guide me."

"Students of this program are more prepared for university and further qualified for the modern workforce," said Geoff McConohy, Guest Faculty of the AUW Math & Science Summer School and PhD scholar at Stanford University. "By supporting our students with real-world examples, we can better prepare them for what they will face in the workforce in STEM pathways."

"It was great how students from diverse backgrounds came together at AUW to pursue a shared interest in math and science. They were enthusiastic and eager to learn from day 1. Over five weeks, the students were able to improve their problem-solving skills, work on their English, and apply their creativity to hands-on projects. They became more accustomed to 'figuring things out' opposed to being told what to do," said Ms Sun, Guest Faculty and Physics Instructor from Phillips Academy, Andover in the U.S.

"The Math & Science Summer School students are bright, capable, and energetic learners who will undoubtedly go on to become leaders in their requisite fields. Over the course of this program, we have seen these students bloom and flourish by challenging themselves – and each other – to grow to their highest potential. I am so pleased by their progress and am eager to see what the future holds for each of them," says Mr Goldbach, SAT Instructor.

The curriculum of the Math and Science Summer School focused on Physics, Mathematics, and Bioinformatics. These courses were taught by a cohort of international and local faculty with academic backgrounds from Stanford, MIT, Notre Dame, and the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia. A group of visiting undergraduate students helped with peer tutoring and organized many extracurricular activities. The program was also designed to include prominent international scientists and mathematicians who volunteered to provide remote lectures:

• Tim DeVoogd's Remote Lecture on Neuroscience Professor and Neurobiologist in the Department of Psychology Cornell Arts & Sciences at Cornell University
• Bruce Alberts' Remote Lecture on the Evolution of Science Chancellor's Leadership Chair in Biochemistry and Biophysics for Science and Education at the University of California
• Deborah Hughes Hallett's Remote Lecture on Calculus Adjunct Professor of Public Policy and Professor of Mathematics at the University of Arizona
• Shomit Ghose's Remote Lecture on Science Innovation and Entrepreneurship General Partner at Silicon Valley venture fund, ONSET Ventures
• Alan Lightman's Remote Lecture on Einstein's Theory of Relativity Professor of practice of the humanities at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

The AUW Math & Science Summer School allowed students to delve deeply into the world of STEM through blended hands-on activities and lectures. Students walk away from this program with a broader understanding of future careers, coupled with enhanced critical thinking and problem-solving.

Asian University for Women Celebrated Seventh Commencement in Chattogram

On May 11, 2019, Asian University for Women celebrated its Seventh Commencement in Chattogram to the tunes of Tagore's Anondoloke and Aguner Poroshmoni sung by the University's choir representing students from many countries.  100 students from 12 countries, majoring in Philosophy, Politics and Economics; Economics; Environmental Sciences; and Public Health were awarded with Bachelor's degrees on the occasion.  

The Chancellor of the University, Mrs. Cherie Blair, presided over the Commencement.  In her address Mrs. Blair commented to the graduating class "You have the talent and the skills, and now the qualifications, to be successful and service-oriented members of the workforce, to be change-makers in your spheres and become ethical and compassionate leaders.  She noted that "Equal opportunity is of particular significance to us here at the Asian University for Women.  This university is one of the battlegrounds on which women refighting for their equal right to education."    She went on to say that "Whilst individual dedication to upholding these values is crucial, it is also the responsibility of the lawmakers and the policy makers of the world to nurture and protect these principles".

Two distinguished guests were honored by AUW with honorary doctorates at the Commencement.  Dr. Mohammad Humayon Qayoumi, Minister of Finance and Chief Advisor to the President in the Government of Afghanistan was awarded an honorary degree of laws.  Prior to returning to Afghanistan, Dr. Qayoumi was president of California State University East Bay and then served as President of San Jose State University.  An engineer with four graduate degrees to his credit, Dr. Qayoumi is an author of eight books and dozens of articles.  

In presenting the honorary degree to Dr. Qayoumi, AUW Founder Kamal Ahmad remarked:  "We honor him today not only for his extraordinary achievements in academia and in government but also for his own life's example which echoes the core ideals of AUW.  Growing up in a rural suburb of Kabul, Dr. Qayoumi, the son of a carpenter in a family of six children,  would walk several miles three times a week receive English lesson.  A scholarship to the American University of Beirut, and subsequently for graduate studies in the United States, altered his life's journey.  He, in turn, is now impacting the prospect of peace, stability, and well-being for the people of Afghanistan.  His deep commitment to expanding the opportunities of an AUW education to women across Afghanistan's 34 provinces have brought us into close partnership."

The noted proponent of Ravindra Sangeet Rezwana Chowdhury Bannya was awarded an honorary degree of doctorate of arts.  In presenting the honorary degree to Rezwana Choudhury Bannya, Kamal Ahmad noted "Tagore's vision of a world  "Where the mind is without fear.., Where knowledge is free, Where the world has not been broken up into fragments..." is all the more important at a time when these core values are under attack almost everywhere.  Rezwana Chowdhury Bannya through her unstinting efforts in cultivating the music and knowledge and philosophy of Tagore is inspiring this nation and others to abandon the insidious hate against the other and embrace the dignity of our common humanity as propounded by Tagore."

Vice Chancellor Professor Nirmala Rao, OBE, FAcSS remarked that AUW graduates have already made a profound impact on the economic, cultural and social fabric of the communities in which they live.  They work in the private sector with major national and multinational companies; they are also deeply involved with the not for profit organizations working with UN agencies such as UNHCR, WFP, the World Bank and others.  She further noted that AUW graduates, now over 800, span continents and industries, but is tied together beach individual's commitment to transforming their chosen field and contributing to the betterment of their communities.  

About Asian University for Women (AUW)

Founded in 2008 and located in Chittagong, Bangladesh, Asian University for Women is the first of its kind: a regional institution dedicated to women’s education and leadership development – international in outlook but rooted in the contexts and aspirations of the people of Asia. Chartered by the Parliament of Bangladesh, AUW exists solely to support a rising network of women leaders, entrepreneurs, and change makers from across the region. It seeks out women who have significant academic potential and demonstrate courage and a sense of outrage at injustice and are empathic to the woes of other people.

Students from 17 countries attend AUW. 85% of AUW students are on full or near-full scholarship funded by private donors from around the world. A majority of AUW graduates find employment in the private sector in their home countries while about 25% go on to pursue graduate studies. AUW graduates or former students have been admitted to Oxford, Stanford, Columbia, New York University, Surrey, SOAS, Ewha, and a host of other leading universities around the world.