Photo: BSS

KHULNA, Aug 23, 2026 (BSS) - Vice-Chancellor of Khulna University (KU) 
Professor Dr Md Rezaul Karim today said rapid advancement of information 
technology has made digital transformation indispensable in the education 
sector.

"We have to embrace the positive aspects of technology. There is no 
alternative to digital transformation," he said, adding that KU had started 
adapting to digital transformation long ago.

He made the remarks at a workshop titled "Empowering Educators through 
Digital Knowledge Enhancement under the HIEP Project" was held at the 
journalist Liakat Ali Auditorium at KU to enhance teachers' digital knowledge 
and skills.

The ICT Cell of KU organised the workshop in collaboration with Bangladesh 
Research and Education Network (BdREN) under the Higher Education 
Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) Project of the University Grants 
Commission (UGC).

The university has introduced smart classrooms, digital attendance and e-
nothi services under digital administration, smart laboratories and an 
innovation hub as part of its digital transformation initiatives, the VC 
said.

He also stressed the need to equip students with soft skills and ethical 
values alongside academic education.

Dr Rezaul Karim highlighted initiatives including internship programmes in 
different disciplines, opportunities to learn a third language besides Bangla 
and English, establishment of a language centre and stronger industry-
academia collaboration to prepare students for their careers.

KU Treasurer Prof Dr Md Nurunnabi, speaking as a special guest, said teachers 
should not only adapt to technology but also learn its effective use.

Existing resources should be utilized properly to advance technologically, he 
said, stressing the need for greater awareness about various BdREN services.

He also emphasized automation in human resource management, pension and 
financial management, saying it would increase transparency and 
accountability in administrative activities.

Deputy Project Director of Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation 
(HEAT) Prof Md Asaduzzaman also spoke at the event.
The programme was chaired by KU ICT Cell Director Prof Dr Sheikh Alomgir 
Hossain. BdREN General Manager (Systems and Services) K. Rashedul Arefin made 
a presentation on the scope of the HEAT Project and various BdREN services 
while BdREN Manager (Sales) Biplab Chandra Mahanta delivered the welcome 
address.

Following the inaugural session, technical sessions were held on cyber 
security awareness, generative AI for teaching and research, e-journals and 
plagiarism, and AI applications in higher education.

HEAT Project Technical Specialist Prof Dr Mohammad Shafiul Alam Khan and 
BdREN's Md Ariful Islam Arman conducted two sessions on cyber security 
awareness. 

Rashedul Arefin and Abu Naser Md Nafeu conducted the session on generative AI 
for teaching and research.

BdREN Assistant Manager (Knowledge and Research) Ahmed Al Hossain discussed 
e-journals and plagiarism, while Abu Naser Md Nafeu conducted a session on AI 
applications in higher education.

Around 60 teachers, including deans of different schools and heads of 
disciplines of KU participated in the workshop.