SHLC’s team at the University of Glasgow were thrilled to host Vice-Chancellor Professor Mohammad Fayek Uzzaman, Professor Shamim Mahabubul Haque and Dr Shilpi Roy from our partner institute, Khulna University.

Responding to rapid and uneven urbanisation requires strengthening urban research so that effective policies and practices can help build sustainable cities. With a limited number of national urban research institutes in place, universities are often the incubators for crosscutting urban studies in Bangladesh. Khulna University visited the University of Glasgow to share their experiences and to learn from each other how to improve a supportive and collaborative urban research environment.

The team from Khulna University spent two days at the University of Glasgow and met with academics and staff from across the organisation, including Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, business development teams and SHLC researchers, to discuss a variety of topics from research support to international collaborations and urban resilience.

Welcoming colleagues from Khulna University, SHLC’s Principle Investigator Professor Ya Ping Wang said:

“At SHLC, collaboration and partnership lie at the heart of our research. We aim to connect academic experts from many different developing counties and regions around the world to share knowledge, work together and understand fast-growing cities from the inside out. Through our collaboration with Khulna University, our international research team are benefiting greatly by learning about the diversity of Bangladesh’s neighbourhoods as well as learning about innovative methodological and analytical approaches from their highly-skilled research team.”

Khulna University team with Professor Ya Ping Wang and Principal and Vice Chancellor Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli.
Khulna University team with Professor Ya Ping Wang and Principal and Vice Chancellor Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli.

The team from Khulna University also toured the School of Engineering’s innovative 5G test lab. Dr Faisal Tariq, Dr Yusuf Sambo and Dr Joao Pedro Battistella Nadas demonstrated how this innovative technology could be used in the aftermath of a natural disaster in hard-to-reach or dangerous places.

Dr Yusuf Sambo, University of Glasgow, demonstrating 5G communication technology. Image credit: Gail Wilson, University of Glasgow.
Dr Yusuf Sambo, University of Glasgow, demonstrating 5G communication technology. Image credit: Gail Wilson, University of Glasgow.

During their visit to Glasgow, Khulna University team delivered a public lecture showcasing the challenges and opportunities of doing urban research in Bangladesh. The team also presented forthcoming findings of the SHLC research at Khulna University that highlights the pattern and process of urban growth and structure and differentiation of neighbourhoods in Bangladesh’s cities.

SHLC’s CO- Investigator Dr Shilpi Roy said:

‘‘Building sustainable cities will require integrated development approach that promotes liveable, viable and equitable neighbourhoods and healthy living and learning environment in the cities. This fundamental consideration is inadequately reflected in the planning and development practices in Bangladesh. Large-scale international collaborative research like SHLC will offer invaluable neighbourhood level data and new findings to inform Bangladesh's future urban development.’’

Dr Shilpi Roy delivering a presentation at the University of Glasgow. Image Credit: Gail Wilson, University of Glasgow.
Dr Shilpi Roy delivering a presentation at the University of Glasgow. Image Credit: Gail Wilson, University of Glasgow.

Professor Mohammad Fayek Uzzaman added:

‘‘This visit created opportunities for Khulna University to co-learn about how universities in Bangladesh can create enabling research environment. Our visit will play a crucial role in fostering innovative ideas for researches in Khulna University.’’

Bangladesh cities GCRF knowledge exchange neighbourhoods urban research