BRAC University

BRAC University (BRACU) is a private research university in Merul Badda, Dhaka, Bangladesh, established in 2001 as the higher-education branch of Sir Fazle Hasan Abed's development organisation BRAC, making it one of Bangladesh's most prominent private universities.孟加拉BRAC大学（BRAC University，缩写 BRACU）是位于孟加拉国达卡梅鲁尔巴达的一所私立研究型大学，2001 年由法兹勒·哈桑·阿贝德爵士创办的发展机构 BRAC 设立，为其高等教育分支，也是孟加拉国最知名的私立大学之一。

It was founded under the Private University Act 1992 and is modelled on the American liberal arts college, reflecting the liberal-arts ethos of its founding organisation, and its motto is "Inspiring Excellence".该校依据 1992 年《私立大学法》创办，借鉴美国文理学院模式，体现其创办机构所倡导的文理教育理念，校训为「Inspiring Excellence」。

It is the fourth-ranked university in Bangladesh in the 2027 QS World University Rankings and the second among the country's private universities.在 2027 年 QS 世界大学排名中，该校位列孟加拉国第 4 位，为孟加拉私立大学中的第 2 位。

History

• Sir Fazle Hasan Abed founded BRAC University in 2001 as part of the non-governmental development organisation BRAC, under the Private University Act of 1992.法兹勒·哈桑·阿贝德爵士于 2001 年在非政府发展机构 BRAC 旗下创办该校，依据 1992 年《私立大学法》。
• The university was formally inaugurated by the President of Bangladesh and its Chancellor, Shahabuddin Ahmed, at Osmani Memorial Hall in Dhaka on 16 June 2001, at a ceremony that marked the formal launch of the institution.2001 年 6 月 16 日，该校由孟加拉国总统、时任校监沙哈布丁·艾哈迈德在达卡奥斯马尼纪念堂正式揭牌成立，该典礼标志着这所院校的正式开办。
• Based on the American liberal arts model, it began with just three departments and about 80 students in 2001 at a temporary campus in Mohakhali, Dhaka.该校以美国文理学院模式为蓝本，2001 年最初仅设 3 个系、约 80 名学生，坐落于达卡穆哈卡利临时校区。
• The university held its first convocation in January 2006, marking the first degrees awarded under its own charter.该校于 2006 年 1 月举行首次毕业典礼，标志其在自有办学章程下首次授予学位。
• Sir Abed regarded a high-quality library as central to the new institution, and the Ayesha Abed Library, named after his first wife, was digitised shortly after its inception.阿贝德爵士视高质量图书馆为新机构的核心，以他元配阿伊莎·阿贝德命名的图书馆成立后不久即完成数字化。
• The university had grown to about 11,200 students across 20 schools, departments and institutes by 2020.到 2020 年，该校已发展至约 11,200 名学生，分布在 20 个学院、系与研究所中。
• In 2023 the university authorities proposed changing its name to "Sir Fazle Hasan Abed University", but the University Grants Commission declined the request after reviewing the proposal.2023 年，校方提议将校名改为「法兹勒·哈桑·阿贝德爵士大学」，但孟加拉大学拨款委员会在审议提案后未予批准。
• Construction of the permanent campus in Merul Badda began in 2017, a project designed to consolidate the university on a single site, and from November 2023 all academic activities moved there.位于梅鲁尔巴达的永久校区于 2017 年动工，旨在把大学集中于单一校园，自 2023 年 11 月起全部教学活动迁往该处。
• The Residential Campus at Savar was founded in 2003 and was substantially expanded in 2012, and now houses students during their mandatory residential semester.位于萨瓦尔的住宿校区 2003 年创办，并于 2012 年大幅扩建，如今在强制性住宿学期期间为学生提供住宿。
• Every undergraduate must complete a mandatory Residential Semester at Savar, taking courses in the Bengali language, Bangladeshi history, English and ethics, alongside community-service placement.每位本科生都须在萨瓦尔完成强制性的住宿学期，修读孟加拉语、孟加拉国历史、英语与伦理课程，并参加社区服务。
• All students on the residential campus are assigned community-service activities and are encouraged to pursue further community-driven work.住宿校区的全体学生均被安排参加社区服务活动，并被鼓励继续投身社区公益。
• The current governance structure was established in 2011, with the President of Bangladesh serving as the university's Chancellor and the University Grants Commission regulating it.现行治理架构于 2011 年确立，孟加拉国总统担任该校校监，大学拨款委员会负责监管。
• The board of trustees is the highest policy-making body and has 12 members, one of whom is the Vice-Chancellor, drawn from within and beyond the university.校董会是最高决策机构，由 12 名成员组成，其中一名为校长，成员选自校内外。
• The Syndicate, chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, supervises academic and administrative functions, while the Academic Council makes education-policy recommendations, typically meeting several times a year.由校长主持的校务委员会监督学术与行政事务，学术委员会则提出教育政策建议，通常每年召开数次会议。
• The university administration is led by the Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar and the heads of academic units, supported by deans and administrative staff.该校行政由校长、注册主任与各学术单位负责人领导，并由各学院院长与行政人员协助。
• The Office of Student Life was created in 2019 to oversee career services, alumni affairs and clubs and societies.学生生活办公室于 2019 年设立，负责统筹就业服务、校友事务以及社团与协会。
• On 14 November 2021 a BRAC University team became the first Bangladeshi team to win the Cambridge Intervarsity debate tournament, defeating teams from across the region.2021 年 11 月 14 日，BRAC 大学代表队成为首支在剑桥大学校际辩论赛夺冠的孟加拉国队伍，击败了来自本地区的各支队伍。
• The university was founded specifically to support financially disadvantaged students, with early backing from the BRAC Ford scholarship programme, a legacy that continues today.该校的创办宗旨之一是资助经济困难的学生，早期即获得 BRAC 福特奖学金的资助，这一传统延续至今。
• The Open Society Foundation and the Open Society University Network have supported student activities and education at BRAC University.开放社会基金会与开放社会大学网络曾资助该校的学生活动与教育项目。
• Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, who founded BRAC in 1972, was knighted in 2009 and received the Yidan Prize for Education Development in 2019.法兹勒·哈桑·阿贝德爵士于 1972 年创办 BRAC，2009 年获封爵士，2019 年获一丹奖教育发展奖。
• During the 2010s the university broadened its graduate provision, adding master's programmes and, with SOAS University of London, a joint doctoral programme.2010 年代，该校拓展研究生教育，增设硕士项目，并与伦敦大学亚非学院合办联合博士项目。
• In 2012 the Savar residential campus was substantially expanded to accommodate a growing undergraduate population.2012 年，萨瓦尔住宿校区大幅扩建，以容纳不断增长的本科学生规模。

Academics

• Diverse academic units serve the university's mission, with schools granting degrees, institutes acting as autonomous research entities, and centres as project-based units.该校以多元学术单位服务办学使命：学院授予学位，研究所为自主研究实体，中心则承担项目型职能。
• The ten schools include the BRAC Business School, the BSRM School of Engineering, and the James P Grant School of Public Health.十个学院中包括 BRAC 商学院、BSRM 工程学院以及詹姆斯·P·格兰特公共卫生学院。
• The BSRM School of Engineering, named after a leading Bangladeshi steel company, offers programmes in computer, electrical and electronic engineering.以孟加拉知名钢铁企业命名的 BSRM 工程学院，开设计算机、电气与电子工程等专业。
• The BRAC Business School offers a Bachelor of Business Administration, a Master of Business Administration and an Executive MBA.BRAC 商学院开设工商管理学士、工商管理硕士以及高级工商管理硕士（EMBA）项目。
• Other schools include those of Architecture and Design, Data and Sciences, General Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Law, Life Sciences, and Pharmacy.其他学院还包括建筑与设计、数据与科学、通识教育、人文与社会科学、法学、生命科学以及药学学院。
• The BRAC Institute of Educational Development, the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development and the BRAC Institute of Languages serve as autonomous institutes conducting research and training across Bangladesh.BRAC 教育发展研究所、BRAC 治理与发展研究所以及 BRAC 语言研究所为该校的自主研究机构，在孟加拉全国开展研究、培训与政策工作。
• Departments include Architecture, Biotechnology, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Mathematics and Natural Sciences, each offering programmes at bachelor's and master's level.其系科包括建筑学、生物技术、计算机科学与工程、电气与电子工程，以及数学与自然科学，各系均开设本科与硕士层次的专业。
• Research centres include the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research, the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and the Centre for Peace and Justice, which carry out applied research on national development challenges.其研究中心包括气候变化与环境研究中心、创业发展中心以及和平与正义中心，针对国家发展议题开展应用研究。
• The university offers bachelor's degrees in architecture, business administration, law, pharmacy, and various sciences and social sciences.该校开设建筑学、工商管理、法学、药学以及理科学科与社会科学等多类学士学位。
• Postgraduate provision includes master's degrees in business administration, development studies, disaster management, public health and teaching English to speakers of other languages.研究生教育涵盖工商管理、发展研究、灾害管理、公共卫生以及对外英语教学等硕士学位。
• The university offers a doctorate in the Political Economy of Development as a joint PhD programme with SOAS University of London, the only such arrangement operated by a Bangladeshi private university.该校与伦敦大学亚非学院合办发展政治经济学博士项目，是孟加拉私立大学中唯一的此类联合博士项目。
• Professional certificates are offered in fields such as data science, machine learning, the Internet of Things and financial crime and compliance, aimed mainly at working professionals.该校还开设数据科学、机器学习、物联网以及金融犯罪与合规等领域的专业证书课程，主要面向在职人士。
• The university has developed several scholarship programmes for national and international students, including merit awards and need-based support, to widen access to higher education.该校为本土与国际学生设立了多项奖学金计划，包括择优奖学金与基于经济需求的资助，以扩大高等教育的入学机会。
• In 2024 five of its faculty members were recognised in the Stanford/Elsevier list of the world's top two percent of scientists.2024 年，该校有五位教师入选斯坦福/爱思唯尔「全球前 2% 科学家」名单。
• The James P Grant School of Public Health, named for a former UNICEF executive director, focuses on public health in developing countries, especially health systems and equity.以联合国儿童基金会前执行主任命名的詹姆斯·P·格兰特公共卫生学院，聚焦发展中国家的公共卫生研究，尤其关注卫生系统与公平。
• Teaching is conducted in English, and the university follows a credit-based semester system modelled on North American practice.该校以英语授课，并采用借鉴北美做法的学分制学期体系。
• Research at the university spans public health, climate change, governance, engineering and the social sciences, supported by its institutes and centres, giving it a broad research footprint across disciplines.该校研究覆盖公共卫生、气候变化、治理、工程与社会科学，由各研究所与中心提供支撑，形成横跨多学科的研究版图。
• The university's academic life is shaped by its liberal arts foundation, which emphasises critical thinking, writing and interdisciplinary breadth.该校的学术生活以其文理教育根基为底色，强调批判性思维、写作与跨学科视野。

Campus

• The permanent city campus in Merul Badda, Dhaka, was designed by the Singapore-based architectural firm WOHA Designs to house the university's growing academic community.位于达卡梅鲁尔巴达的永久城区校区，由总部在新加坡的建筑事务所 WOHA Designs 设计，以容纳不断壮大的学术共同体。
• The campus is a 13-story building with three basements, a total area of 157,935 square metres, and a capacity for around 12,000 to 15,000 students.该校区为一栋带三层地下室的 13 层建筑，总面积 157,935 平方米，可容纳约 12,000 至 15,000 名学生。
• Facilities include a 700-seat auditorium, a multipurpose hall for gatherings and indoor sports, classrooms, laboratories, design studios and lecture theatres.设施包括 700 座礼堂、用于集会和室内运动的多功能厅，以及教室、实验室、设计工作室与阶梯教室。
• The campus also provides an IT data centre, CCTV, a cafeteria, an e-library, a parking lot, recreation facilities and a rooftop playground.校区还配备信息技术数据中心、监控系统、餐厅、电子图书馆、停车场、休闲设施与屋顶运动场。
• The new campus was a 2017 LafargeHolcim Asia Pacific Bronze winner, awarded by the LafargeHolcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction.该新校区获 2017 年拉法基豪瑞亚太地区铜奖，由拉法基豪瑞可持续建筑基金会颁发。
• Until November 2023 teaching took place at the temporary Mohakhali campus, after which all activities moved to Merul Badda.2023 年 11 月之前，教学在穆哈卡利临时校区进行，此后全部活动迁往梅鲁尔巴达。
• The Ayesha Abed Library forms the academic heart of the campus and was among the university's earliest digital resources.阿伊莎·阿贝德图书馆是校区的学术核心，也是该校最早的数字化资源之一。
• The Residential Campus at Savar includes residence halls and teaching facilities, under the supervision of the Office of Student Life, and requires students to live on site for a semester.位于萨瓦尔的住宿校区设有宿舍与教学设施，由学生生活办公室负责管理，并要求学生在此住校一个学期。
• The residential campus runs courses on the Bengali language, Bangladeshi history, English and ethics as part of the mandatory Residential Semester.住宿校区在强制性住宿学期中开设孟加拉语、孟加拉国历史、英语与伦理等课程。
• The Merul Badda site lies near Hatirjheel and Rampura, placing the university within easy reach of central Dhaka.梅鲁尔巴达校区邻近哈提尔吉尔与兰普拉，使该校与达卡市中心往来便利。
• The Merul Badda campus includes design studios for architecture and laboratories for engineering and the life sciences.梅鲁尔巴达校区设有建筑学设计工作室，以及工程与生命科学实验室。

Reputation

• In the 2027 QS World University Rankings, BRAC University is placed in the 1001 to 1200 band globally, a tied range for this cycle.在 2027 年 QS 世界大学排名中，孟加拉BRAC大学位列全球第 1001-1200 位区间（并列区间）。
• The university ranked in the 1001 to 1200 band of the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.该校在 2027 年泰晤士高等教育世界大学排名中位于 1001-1200 位区间。
• BRAC University did not enter the 2026-2027 U.S. News Best Global Universities ranking.孟加拉BRAC大学未进入 2026-2027 年度《美国新闻》全球最佳大学排名。
• It also did not enter the 2026 Academic Ranking of World Universities, so no placement applies for that ranking.该校亦未进入 2026 年软科世界大学学术排名，该榜无相应名次。
• Within Bangladesh, the university was the fourth-ranked institution and the second among private universities in the 2027 QS rankings.在孟加拉国内，该校在 2027 年 QS 排名中位列全国第 4 位，为私立大学中的第 2 位。
• OpenAlex records 8,597 scholarly works by BRAC University affiliated authors with 187,184 cumulative citations.OpenAlex 收录孟加拉BRAC大学作者学术成果 8,597 篇，累计被引 187,184 次。
• In 2024 five faculty members were named in the Stanford/Elsevier ranking of the world's top two percent of scientists, a marker of research standing.2024 年，该校五位教师入选斯坦福/爱思唯尔全球前 2% 科学家榜单，成为其科研地位的标志。
• The James P Grant School of Public Health is widely regarded as a leading centre of public health research and training in South Asia.詹姆斯·P·格兰特公共卫生学院被广泛视为南亚地区领先的公共卫生研究与培训中心。
• The university is the only private institution in Bangladesh to operate a joint doctoral programme with a British university, through its SOAS partnership.该校是孟加拉唯一与英国高校合办联合博士项目的私立机构，即与亚非学院的合作。
• Its rise in the QS rankings to the national top four reflects the growing standing of private universities in Bangladeshi higher education.其在 QS 排名中升至全国前四，反映出私立大学在孟加拉高等教育中地位的上升。

Student life

• The university's motto is "Inspiring Excellence", adopted from the wider BRAC organisation, of which the university is the higher-education arm.该校校训为「Inspiring Excellence」，承自其所隶属的更大机构 BRAC，而该校正是 BRAC 的高等教育分支。
• The Office of Student Life, created in 2019, supervises career services, alumni affairs, and the university's clubs and societies.2019 年设立的学生生活办公室，负责统筹就业服务、校友事务以及校内社团与协会。
• Many private-university students in Bangladesh live with their parents, but BRAC University requires a residential semester at Savar.孟加拉许多私立大学学生与父母同住，而 BRAC 大学则要求学生在萨瓦尔完成住宿学期。
• The residential semester includes community-service activities and is a requirement for graduation, encouraging civic engagement among undergraduates.住宿学期包含社区服务活动，并为毕业的必修要求，鼓励本科生参与公共事务。
• The university's debating team won the Cambridge Intervarsity tournament on 14 November 2021, a first for a Bangladeshi team.该校辩论队于 2021 年 11 月 14 日赢得剑桥大学校际辩论赛冠军，为孟加拉国队伍首次夺冠。
• Student activities are supported by the Open Society University Network and other donors, funding clubs, events and educational initiatives.学生活动得到开放社会大学网络及其他捐赠方的支持，为社团、活动与教育项目提供经费。
• The Ayesha Abed Library and the e-library form a central part of student academic life, reflecting the founder's emphasis on learning resources.阿伊莎·阿贝德图书馆与电子图书馆是学生学术生活的核心，体现创办者对视学习资源的重视。
• The permanent Merul Badda campus with its rooftop playground, recreation facilities and cafeteria anchors student social life in central Dhaka.兼具屋顶运动场、休闲设施与餐厅的梅鲁尔巴达永久校区，把学生的社交生活锚定在达卡市中心。

Notable people

• Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, founder of BRAC and of BRAC University, was one of the world's most prominent anti-poverty campaigners, knighted in 2009 and awarded the Yidan Prize in 2019.法兹勒·哈桑·阿贝德爵士是 BRAC 与 BRAC 大学的创办人，也是全球最杰出的反贫困行动者之一，2009 年获封爵士、2019 年获一丹奖。
• Jamilur Reza Choudhury, a leading Bangladeshi civil engineer, served as an early vice-chancellor of the university.孟加拉著名土木工程师贾米鲁尔·雷扎·乔杜里曾任该校早期校长。
• Salehuddin Ahmed, a former governor of Bangladesh Bank, taught at the university's business school before serving as an adviser in Bangladesh's 2024 interim government.孟加拉银行前行长萨莱胡丁·艾哈迈德曾在该校商学院任教，其后出任孟加拉 2024 年临时政府顾问。
• Ainun Nishat, an authority on water resources and climate change in the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta, has been associated with the university as a professor.恒河—布拉马普特拉三角洲水资源与气候变化问题权威艾努恩·尼沙特，曾作为教授在该校任教。
• Syed Saad Andaleeb, a marketing scholar and academic administrator, has served in the university's leadership.市场营销学者与学术管理者赛义德·萨阿德·安达利卜，曾担任该校领导职务。
• Syed Ferhat Anwar became Vice-Chancellor of BRAC University on 11 September 2024, with more than 38 years in education, research and consultancy.赛义德·费尔哈特·安瓦尔于 2024 年 9 月 11 日出任 BRAC 大学校长，其教育与研究及咨询生涯逾 38 年。
• Sayed Mahfuzul Aziz serves as Pro Vice-Chancellor of the university, supporting its academic administration.赛义德·马赫福祖尔·阿齐兹任该校副校长，协助学术行政工作。
• Nuhash Humayun, a film director and writer, and Yash Rohan, an actor, are among the university's notable graduates.电影导演兼编剧努哈什·胡马云与演员亚什·罗汉，均为该校知名毕业生。
• Rafiath Rashid Mithila, an actress, singer and education activist, is a graduate of the university.演员、歌手与教育公益人士拉菲亚特·拉希德·米蒂拉，是该校毕业生。
• Hochemin Islam, a student of the university, became a prominent figure during the 2024 quota-reform movement in Bangladesh.该校学生霍切明·伊斯兰在 2024 年孟加拉配额改革运动中成为知名人物。
• Vincent Chang, an academic leader in South Asian higher education, has served at the university.南亚高等教育领域的学术领导者文森特·张曾在该校任职。
• The university's faculty have included the environmental scientist Ainun Nishat and the economist Salehuddin Ahmed, both influential public figures in Bangladesh.该校教师队伍曾包括环境科学家艾努恩·尼沙特与经济学家萨莱胡丁·艾哈迈德，两人均为孟加拉颇具影响的公共人物。