BRAC University, marking its 25th anniversary this year, is redefining the role of higher education institutions in the Global South by focusing on knowledge creation tailored to local realities and preparing graduates equipped for both professional and societal challenges. Founded on June 16, 2001, by Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, the university was established to address two key issues facing Bangladesh: the disproportionate flow of knowledge from the Global North to the Global South and a growing gap between university qualifications and graduate preparedness for the workforce.
Historically, much of the world’s research and academic frameworks have been developed in institutions located in the Global North, with countries like Bangladesh primarily serving as sources of data and case studies. This imbalance is reflected in research output and investment: between 2012 and 2021, G20 countries accounted for three-quarters of global scientific publications, while Bangladesh invested only 0.30 percent of its GDP in research and development during 2020–21, with minimal funding directed to basic research. Simultaneously, Bangladesh faces significant graduate unemployment, with a rate of 13.5 percent in 2024 despite nearly 24 percent gross tertiary enrolment, underscoring a mismatch between education and economic demands.
BRAC University’s founding philosophy emphasizes that the Global South should not merely be a laboratory for theories developed elsewhere but a source of original inquiry and practical solutions. The institution integrates this approach through initiatives such as its collaboration with SOAS University of London, established in June 2025, offering a jointly supervised PhD program in the political economy of development. This partnership enables doctoral candidates to conduct research either in Dhaka or London, challenging the conventional model where scholars from the Global South relocate northward for training.
Curriculum development at BRAC University embodies an educational philosophy rooted in South Asian traditions and influenced by thinkers like Rabindranath Tagore and Paulo Freire. Students across disciplines engage in courses covering language, history, ethics, and social studies alongside technical subjects. A distinctive feature is the Residential Semester, where undergraduates spend approximately 90 days living on campus in Khagan, Savar, participating in communal activities and community engagement. This experience aims to foster humility, empathy, and leadership grounded in service.
The university’s impact extends beyond education into research and innovation. Notably, in 2017, BRAC University graduates designed and operated Bangladesh’s first nanosatellite, BRAC Onnesha, launched from the International Space Station and tracked locally. The institution’s teams have also received international recognition, such as the Mongol Tori rover achieving eighth place globally in the 2025 University Rover Challenge. Various institutes within the university focus on governance, public health, education, peace, entrepreneurship, climate change, and social innovation, frequently working directly with affected communities.
Sustainability is integrated into the campus design as well. In a densely populated area of Dhaka, the Merul Badda building incorporates natural ventilation, water recycling, rainwater harvesting, and solar panels. These features earned the university the RIBA Asia Pacific Award for Sustainability and Resilience in December 2025, demonstrating practical applications of climate-responsive architecture in urban environments.
Looking ahead, BRAC University aims to align its expansion with national priorities that cannot be outsourced, including artificial intelligence, life sciences, agritech, healthcare, fashion design, and sustainability. Its silver jubilee theme, "Reimagining Excellence," calls for education to be judged not solely by global metrics but by its relevance and impact within local contexts.
Twenty-five years after its founding, BRAC University remains committed to generating knowledge, serving communities, and cultivating leadership that addresses Bangladesh’s unique challenges while contributing to global discourse.