Universities In Bangladesh Research Articles

Detection of Vibrio cholerae as a Potential Microbiological Hazard from Water Samples Used for Cleaning Purpose of Pani-puri Serving Plates in Dhaka City, Bangladesh

Abstract BACKGROUND: Cholera remains a significant public health concern, particularly in endemic regions like Bangladesh. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and characteristics of Vibrio cholerae contamination in pani-puri plate wash water in Dhaka city, employing biochemical, microscopic, and antibiotic resistance analyses. METHODS: A total of 20 pani-puri plate wash water samples were collected from various locations in Dhaka between August 2023 and October 2023. The samples were analyzed at the Department of Microbiology, Stamford University Bangladesh. RESULTS: V. cholerae was found to be highly prevalent, especially in crowded urban areas. Biochemical tests confirmed the identity of the isolates as V. cholerae. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed concerning resistance patterns, with 100% resistance to commonly used drugs such as meropenem and ampicillin. In addition, resistance to cefixime, nalidixic acid, and chloramphenicol was observed, emphasizing the need for alternative treatment options. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the significance of ongoing monitoring of V. cholerae populations for virulence factors and changes in antibiotic resistance to inform public health interventions and cholera control measures. The study underscores the importance of strict hygienic standards in the preparation of street food, particularly in endemic locations such as Dhaka, Bangladesh, to reduce the risk of waterborne diseases. Continuous surveillance for drug resistance and microbiological contamination is crucial for effective cholera treatment and prevention.

Test Anxiety Among STEM Students: The Case of Higher Education in Bangladesh

Tests or examinations are an essential part of education, creating test anxiety among students. Several studies identified a negative correlation between test anxiety and STEM students' academic performance in higher education, and female students in STEM subjects showed more test anxiety before and during an examination. Studies also identified that STEM students could pay less attention to their examinations due to test anxiety. Such evidence in the context of Bangladeshi universities is yet to be understood. This study investigated the level of test anxiety among Bangladeshi university students of STEM subjects., including gender differences and the relationship between test anxiety and academic performance. We considered the quantitative research design to understand the status of test anxiety among undergraduate STEM students. A survey was conducted online from two STEM departments of a private university in Bangladesh using the shorter version of the CAEX test anxiety instrument, and a total of 246 undergraduate students participated. The findings show that Bangladeshi undergraduate STEM students generally felt slight anxiety during or before the examination. Female students were more anxious before or during a test than male students, and no significant relationship was found between test anxiety and academic achievement. The study reflects the need to conduct further research to understand the physiological, cognitive, and psychological factors leading to test anxiety among university students, as well as establishes a demand to identify the reasons behind having no relationship between test anxiety and students' academic performance.

Adoption of Fintech for Sustainable Administrative Efficiency of Higher Educational Institutions: Bangladesh Perspective

Fintech solutions offer innovative tools and platforms that streamline financial operations, enhance convenience, and improve efficiency. The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of fintech on administrative efficiency among universities in Bangladesh. To fulfil this purpose, this research assesses the current level of fintech adoption among university students in Bangladesh and seeks to gain insights into students’ perceptions and attitudes towards fintech, particularly in relation to its impact on administrative tasks within their respective universities. Finally, this research identifies the challenges and opportunities associated with the integration of fintech in administrative processes and explores potential strategies to address them effectively. This research used both quantitative and qualitative strategies to achieve these goals. A survey was conducted to collect quantitative data from the university students of Bangladesh. Findings show that the adoption and usage of fintech have a statistically significant positive impact on administrative efficiency, resource allocation and utilisation, enhanced communication, and a sustainable and eco-friendly administrative environment.

Pattern of SAQ Used in MBBS First Professional Anatomy Question Papers of Public Universities of Bangladesh

Introduction: Assessment is a very important method of measurement of medical education. Anatomy is an essential part of undergraduate medical curriculum. Short answer question (SAQ) has a better content coverage as compared to long essay question. Objective: To be assess the pattern of SAQ in MBBS first professional written anatomy question papers of public universities of Bangladesh. Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Armed Forces Medical College in the department of Anatomy, Dhaka Cantonment. For this study, SAQ papers of anatomy of nine first professional MBBS examinations of Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), Dhaka University (DU) and Chittagong University (CU) from May 2017 to November 2021were collected. These were classified as parts and segments. Each segment was categorized as definition, draw and label, unique and open type. They werecalculated as number of segments as well as total weightage. Result: On analysis it was found that the percentage of weightage of definition type questions of BUP, DU and CU were 3.53±2.03, 2.43±1.42 and 2.89±1.12; draw and label type 12.84±4.44, 15.98±3.13,17.053±.65; unique type 24.16±9.88,31.33±6.14, 26.47±3.84 and for open type 56.13±4.77,60.72±5.15, 53.73+5.29. Significant difference was found in draw and label type question in between BUP and CU, in unique type question in between BUP and DU and DU and CU, in open type question in between DU and CU. Conclusion: Different types of SAQ are used to determine the level of cognitive domain. Proper distribution of types of SAQ shall ensure the proportion of these domain mentioned in the curriculum. JAFMC Bangladesh. Vol 19, No 2(December) 2023: 7-11

Bridging theoretical abstraction to professional practice: an assessment of LIS students’ experience of their internship program

Purpose Internships are widely used as one of the best learning tools for professional practice. The purpose of this research paper is to comprehend to what extent the LIS interns become competent with practical tasks through this program, current facilities offered by the internship-offering institutions and their plan in this regard. Design/methodology/approach This study used a mixed-method approach. To examine LIS students’ practical experience, this study conducted a survey. Participants were 110 students having internship experience from the LIS bachelor’s degree offering universities of Bangladesh. For qualitative data, representatives of internship-offering institutions were interviewed. Findings Results indicate that there is a certain lack of coordination between theoretical knowledge with practical demonstrations. Some essential ICT-based tasks missed out from this program like library automation software (e.g. KOHA); online-based cataloging such as Machine Readable Cataloguing, Resource Description and Access; digital library software (Greenstone); Institutional Repository software (Dspace, EPrint, etc.); virtual library services; radio frequency identification, etc. which should be taken into consideration in internship modules. Including faculty members and practitioners is suggested for a model internship framework ensuring ever-advanced LIS education. There is no significant difference between interns’ gender with their satisfaction level. Research limitations/implications The major limitation of this study is the absence of coverage of faculty perceptions regarding Internships. As in the higher education institution, the three stakeholder groups’ subsets, namely, faculty members, practitioners and students are parallelly important to take any initiative. Practical implications The input from interns will assist the industries in redesigning their modules in light of interns’ feedback to best prepare interns for the competitive job market. Originality/value Internship in LIS education is not a new research area; however, research attempts to show students’ experience along with organizations’ preparedness in offering internships is new in nature.

An Empirical Study of Student Satisfaction at Selected Private Universities in Bangladesh

Satisfying students in higher education has proven to be a difficult task, although universities are striving to meet student needs and expectations. Private universities are trying to become more student-oriented and are seeking to understand students’ perceptions of higher education facilities. This research was designed to measure the gap between students’ expectations and perceptions of various aspects of private universities in Bangladesh. It uses a SERVQUAL framework and the Gaps Model of Service Quality. The population of students at private universities in Bangladesh is represented by a sample of 412 respondents from five top-tier private universities. Findings indicate that the overall service quality of private universities fails to meet student expectations. Students’ perceptions are lower than their expectations in every aspect. Students expect more for acceptance of their degree, availability of on-campus jobs, maintenance of a proper study environment, and provision of prompt advising, counseling, and assistance to solve problems. The most expected SERVQUAL dimensions are assurance and empathy, while the dimension most perceived is assurance. The biggest gaps between expectation and perception lie in the dimensions of responsiveness and empathy. The article offers useful information by which to understand students’ expectations, perceptions, and the gaps between them, which has several implications for university and government authorities.

Effects of transformational leadership on psychological empowerment and employee engagement: a comparative study of Bangladesh and Thailand

PurposeGrounded in the transformational leadership theory, conservation of resource theory and job demands-resources model, this paper aims to examine the effect of transformational leadership on psychological empowerment and employee engagement of faculty members in Bangladesh and Thailand. This study also integrates Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory to justify whether transformational leadership could affect psychological empowerment of faculty members in these two countries differently.Design/methodology/approachSurvey data were collected from a total of 457 faculty members from two universities in Bangladesh (n = 243) and two universities in Thailand (n = 241). This study used partial least squares structural equation modeling for analyzing the proposed model.FindingsThe evidence shows that faculty members who worked for department heads and who exhibited transformational leadership demonstrated high level of psychological empowerment and employee engagement. Psychological empowerment also mediates the effect of transformational leadership on employee engagement. Moreover, the degree to which transformational leadership positively affects psychological empowerment is stronger for faculty members in a higher power distance culture (Thailand) than for those faculty members in a lower power distance culture (Bangladesh).Practical implicationsBecause human capital plays a crucial role in determining the potential of universities to achieve superior performance, universities should provide leadership training to help department heads understand the key elements of transformational leadership and apply them in their management practices to promote empowerment and engagement of their faculty members.Originality/valueThe finding provides new evidence that broadens the knowledge from existing research about the cross-cultural effectiveness of transformational leadership, which has not been explored in the area of psychological empowerment.

Impacts of COVID‐19 on social work teaching and learning in Bangladesh

AbstractThe COVID‐19 pandemic had a significant impact on both classroom instruction and practical learning within Social Work Departments in Bangladesh. This research took two state universities in Bangladesh as case studies, using a qualitative methodology. Researchers conducted 10 Key Informant Interviews, with professors and field supervisors, 20 in‐depth interviews with Master of Social Sciences (MSS) students and two Focus Group Discussions with MSS students. During the pandemic, University faculty experimented with virtual classrooms, pre‐recorded lectures, and online chat forums to interact with postgraduate students. However, these approaches were not completely successful due to the limitations of digital infrastructure at the Universities and at students' residences. Shortcomings in virtual education included technological barriers, insufficient access to educational resources, and an unusual mental health situation for many students. Student practica were difficult to organize, due to technological barriers, restricted field placement opportunities, disruption in client interaction, and community outreach, interruptions in fieldwork and data collection, as well as insufficient faculty supervision and support. Universities ought to take proactive measures to integrate technology into teaching and learning in normal times so that both can continue during public health emergencies without adding educational crisis to the general state of emergency.

Attitudes towards research and publication among the public University teachers: A case study of Bangladesh

As part of a large research project, the present study reports the attitudes of university academics toward engaging in research and publication. A quantitative research method was employed to collect data from 347 university academics from five public universities in Bangladesh. An attitude survey scale and background questionnaire were administered. The findings revealed that university academics held positive attitudes towards research and publication. Significant variations were found based on gender and overseas qualifications as participants’ background variables. The research findings have promising implications for public universities, particularly in fostering an environment that is conducive to conducting high-quality research and publishing activities. Teacher’s World: Journal of Education and Research, 49 (2),151-172

Association of Radiation-Induced Acute Esophagitis With Dosimetric Parameters of Oesophagus in Breast Carcinoma Patients Receiving Supraclavicular Nodal Irradiation.

We conducted this investigation to ascertain the dosimetric properties such as the mean and maximum radiation dosage during radiotherapy as well as the extent of radiation exposure to the esophagus. These factors can potentially impact the development of esophagitis in breast cancer patients undergoing supraclavicular radiation. From January to June 2023, an observational study was conducted at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in Bangladesh. The patients received radiation therapy (40.05 Gy in 15 parts) to the chest wall and supraclavicular node for three weeks. We were able to guess the following from the dose volume histogram (DVH) data: the length of the esophagus in the treatment area (i.e., the size of the esophagus that was visible on the planning CT scan), the maximum dose (Dmax), the mean dose (Dmean), and the volume of the 10Gy (V10Gy) and 20Gy (V20Gy) doses that were given to the esophagus. During radiotherapy, patients were checked on once a week, and the radiotherapy oncology group was used to evaluate and grade esophagitis Results: Patients with left-sided breast cancer showed a higher Dmean, Dmax, and length of the esophagus compared to those with right-sided breast cancer. Specifically, the Dmean was 6.7 (±2.1) Gy, the Dmax was 39.2 (±1.5) Gy, and the length of the esophagus was 6.1 (±1.2) Gy. Patients with left breast cancer had elevated V10Gy and V20Gy values for the esophagus, but the difference was not statistically significant. The incidence of V10Gy for right-sided breast cancer and left-sided breast cancer was 4.2% (±2.6%) and 19.8% (±9.2%), respectively. The V20Gy was 2.4% (±0.9%) for right-sided breast cancer and 13.09% (±5.0%) for left-sided breast cancer Conclusion: In conclusion, there is a strong association between the mean oesophageal dose and radiation to the left supraclavicular region following surgery in women with breast cancer and acute esophagitis. We can reduce esophageal toxicity by prescribing dose restrictions and performing precise delineation of the esophagus.

The interplay of religious values, servant leadership and teacher job satisfaction in Bangladeshi education institutions

The interplay of principals’ religious values and servant leadership can play a prominent role in promoting job satisfaction among teachers in Bangladeshi schools and colleges. This study aimed to examine the mediating role of servant leadership style in the relationship between the principals’ religious values and the job satisfaction of teachers in Bangladesh. The study surveyed 335 participants from schools and colleges using a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed the data using Partial Least Square Structural Equations Modeling (PLS-SEM) via Smart PLS 4 software. The findings showed that principals’ religious values and servant leadership style have a positive impact on teachers’ job satisfaction, with servant leadership serving as a mediator in the relationship. The research expands upon the servant leadership theory in an educational setting where religious values play a significant role. It offers valuable insight into the impact of principals’ religious values and servant leadership style on teachers’ job satisfaction. The study has practical implications, in a setting where Islam as a dominating religion, for educational administrators, as it sheds light on how principals’ religious values and servant leadership impact teachers’ job satisfaction in schools and colleges in Bangladesh.

Assessment of Mental Health Status and Its Association With Willingness to Take Vaccine Against COVID-19 Among the Students of Public and Private Universities in Bangladesh.

The study investigated mental health status of the students of public and private universities, their willingness to take vaccine against COVID-19, and its association with fear, anxiety, and depression. A cross-sectional electronic survey was conducted from July 26 to September 15, 2021, using a well-structured questionnaire among 504 university students. The average age of the participants was 22.92 ± 2.28 years and 76.98% of them were willing to vaccinate against COVID-19. The fear of COVID-19 was found mild, and depression level was demonstrated moderate among the students irrespective of the university types. Moreover, Masters/MPhil/PhD students and the students living in semi-urban areas had the highest rate of willingness to vaccinate. The study demonstrated that level of fear, anxiety, and depression was directly associated with increased willingness to vaccinate among the tertiary level students in Bangladesh. The outcome of this study sketched a positive association of knowledge and education with better management of pandemic in a society.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on teaching learning process in pre clinical medical education in selective medical college in Bangladesh

Background: The corona virus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has caused major disruption in educational sector including medical education. This disease outbreak has changed the medical education curriculum from traditional platform to elearning for students including Bangladesh. Objective: To observe the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on teaching learning process in medical education in Bangladesh. Methods: This qualitative survey was done among the 68 pre-clinical students aged 19 to 23years, of a non-government medical college in Bangladesh, from march to December 2021. All study participants were first year undergraduate MBBS students from anatomy, biochemistry and physiology. Data was collected by administering pre-tested questionnaires through Google form. Results: About 75% of the participants agreed that online classes were helpful during the home stay period of COVID pandemic, but about 92.2% of them were skeptical about the success of this online system for their future medical education. About 80.9% had difficulty in keeping their concentration during online class. About 94% found difficulty to follow online practical classes. Majority of the students (82.4%) feel anxious whether they were capable of doing their job properly since this method needs technical knowledge. About 50% students had limited access to internet, there were technical issues like power cut (76.5%), and poor network of internet (69.1%) also reduced the effectiveness of online education. Online class also disrupt teacher-student relationship. Conclusion: The internet based classes served the purpose of continuation of academic activity in medical education during adverse condition of COVID . But due to uneven use of technology it had some obstacles also. Student’s ability to learning in medical education was also hampered in the absence of physical classes. This online method of education system needs much improvement to be effective in medical education. J Bangladesh Soc Physiol 2022;17(2): 64-71

Implementing quality assurance in tertiary-level colleges in Bangladesh: readiness and leadership support

Bangladesh’s college sector is in crisis. Poor governance and leadership, staff and student quality, inadequate resources and a weak accountability and monitoring system are among the many challenges. In 2017, the Government of Bangladesh established large-scale Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training for leaders, teachers and policymakers from the National University affiliated colleges to build capacity and improve the overall quality of teaching and learning. This mixed-method study uses Holt’s Readiness Instrument and Focus Group Discussions to identify participant readiness and leadership support in implementing quality assurance activities in these colleges. The study shows that CPD participants are generally more ready to implement quality assurance activities than non-participants. However, the study indicates a lack of leadership support for implementing quality assurance activities in the colleges. The article concludes that, irrespective of participant readiness, committed senior leaders are critical for success and improving institutional readiness to implement quality assurance activities.

Examining Teachers' and Learners' Perspectives on Multimedia Integration in Language Classrooms

The purpose of this study is to investigate the perceptions of teachers and learners’ about using multimedia and how the use of multimedia helps in language classroom. The study has been conducted at one of the leading universities of Bangladesh- International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC). The participants were MELT students and teachers of the department of English Language and Literature (DELL). Qualitative method was followed and interviews were taken from the participants for the descriptive findings of the study. Findings showed that multimedia is a motivating tool for language class and using multimedia technology combined with traditional teaching method is very helpful for learners. The study also marked up some limitations of using multimedia in language classroom. Keywords: Perception, technology, multimedia, language learning, language classroom.

In vitro and In vivo Studies for Screening of Anti-inflammatory, Thrombolytic and Acute Toxicological Activity in Camellia Chrysantha (Hu) Tuyama

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of methanol-prepared leaves extract of Camellia Chrysantha (Hu) Tuyama. on several in vitro activities, including anti-inflammatory and thrombolytic effects. Additionally, the study aimed to assess the acute toxicological activity of the extracts in an animal model. Place and Duration of Study: The research study was carried out from Nov 2023 to Feb 2024 at the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Laboratory of Pharmacology, University of Asia Pacific and the Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, as well as the Laboratory of Microbiology at Stamford University Bangladesh, Dhaka. Methodology: The methodology involved various doses of methanolic leaves extract of Camellia Chrysantha (Hu) Tuyama, and employed techniques such as the Inhibition of Protein Denaturation Assay for anti-inflammatory test and the clot lysis test for thrombolytic assay. The acute toxicological activity was assessed by Cinnamon oil induced toxicological and administration of acetic acid induced writhing responses in Swiss albino mice. Result: The Inhibition of Protein Denaturation Assay test yielded findings indicating its anti-inflammatory properties against all strains used in this research. The findings from the study examining the anti-inflammatory properties indicate that Chrysantha (Hu) Tuyama exhibits a significant efficacy of 86.54% in inhibiting inflammation at a concentration of 1000 µg/mL. This level of efficacy is comparable to that of acetylsalicylic acid, which also has a similar efficacy of 98.54 % at the same concentration. Thrombolysis test is a controlled laboratory procedure that assesses the ability of plant extracts to dissolve blood clots. The study found that MECCL can reduce blood clots. Table 2 shows that MECCL's thrombolytic potential was 95.69%, which is much higher than the usual value of 91.304%. Our research found that MECCL did not induce any harmful effects in mice during the acute toxicity test, as determined by the toxicological assessment. No signs of illness or death were reported throughout the acute toxicity trial. Conclusion: The Camellia chrysantha (Hu) Tuyama plant exhibits privileged qualities that could lead to the discovery of novel therapeutic substances. It has anti-inflammatory, thrombolytic, and mild acute toxicity properties. Further exploration of this plant could be beneficial. Our study results contribute to the growing body of evidence demonstrating that natural products may potentially have favourable effects on human health.

Compliance status of tobacco control laws in the university setting of Bangladesh: an analytical study followed a mixed-method approach

BackgroundImplementation of National Tobacco Control Laws (NTCLs) in university settings was found to be worse in Bangladesh.ObjectivesThis study aimed to depict the compliance status of tobacco control laws (TCLs) and...

Are University Librarians Thoughtful About Knowledge Management? A Case with Private Universities in Bangladesh

Librarians contribute significantly to the efficient implementation of KM projects as custodians and disseminators of information within the organization. This research provides an overall picture of KM in private university libraries in Bangladesh. The primary aim of this study is to analyze the present status of KM practices in private university libraries in Bangladesh. Library professionals’ level of understanding of KM as well as the methods of recording knowledge in these libraries is also identified. This is a quantitative study. A structured survey questionnaire was distributed among the 11 private university library professionals of Bangladesh to collect primary data. The overall response rate was 89.1%. The collected data has been analyzed by IBM SPSS Statistics Version 25 Software. The results revealed that there is no formal theoretical as well as practical application of KM in Bangladesh’s private university libraries. The library professionals’ understanding of KM is at a generally satisfactory level. The present study also suggests that the most frequently utilized methods to record tacit and explicit knowledge in these libraries are ‘Social interaction’ and ‘Journals’ respectively.

Institutional Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: The Moderation Effect of Ethical Consideration

This research study aims to examine the impact of institutional artificial intelligence (AI) implementation on students’ academic achievement considering the role of ethical considerations. A quantitative approach was employed and data was collected using a non-probability convenience sampling technique, targeting students from different universities in Bangladesh. A total of 214 valid responses were collected and the partial least squares-structural equation modeling estimation procedure was performed using WarpPLS software. The results demonstrate a positive correlation with the rising trend of AI utilization in higher education. Nonetheless, this connection weakens when ethical aspects are considered as a moderator that highlights the originality of this study.

Enhancement of Learners’ Attentiveness in ESL Classroom with CGW Using Web 2.0 Tools: An Intervention Study

Students’ attentiveness in the classroom especially in ESL classrooms is an inevitable alignment of effective learning as well as teaching English as a second language. However, students are erratic in their attendance, and even when they do show up, they lack their attentiveness and are not focused on the lessons taught in the classroom. As a result, their ability to learn is being hindered more than ever. This is a significant issue in teaching and learning in tertiary-level education at most colleges and universities around the world. The research aims at reducing the lack of learners’ attention to learning in ESL classrooms and enhancing students’ attentiveness through the intervention of collaborative group work (CGW). The study was conducted in a mixed method that included a questionnaire survey, observation and some previous relevant Content Analysis (CA). The settings of the research were the departments of English of a College of the National University in Bangladesh and three colleges of the King Khalid University in Saudi Arabia. The study found that before an intervention, 62.75% of students were not paying attention, while only 31.75% were paying attention in their ESL classroom. But after the intervention, 63.50% of ESL students were more attentive, while 32.50% were no longer attentive. This indicated a significant change. So, the study successfully proved that if the collaborative group work (CGW) using web 2.0 tools were well performed among the students in the ESL classroom, the present and future learners could be capable of enhancing their attentiveness in the classroom and flexibly learning English as a Second Language than before.