BRAC University launched the first batch of its Professional Certificate Course on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) on 6 February 2026.
The orientation session of first batch brought together professionals from leading industries across Bangladesh, marking a significant step toward strengthening ESG capacity within the country’s corporate and development sectors.
With this initiative, BRAC University becomes one of the first private universities in Bangladesh to offer a comprehensive professional ESG programme tailored to industry professionals.
The course has been developed in collaboration with Swisscontact, the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in Bangladesh. It is designed not only as a short-term training initiative, but as a structured academic response to critical skill gaps in ESG knowledge and practice within the industry.
The course has been introduced by the Department of Economics and Social Sciences of BRAC University in response to the growing demand for structured, future-ready ESG education.
The session was inaugurated by Dr. Wasiqur Rahman Khan, chairperson of the Department of Economics and Social Sciences, who highlighted the urgent need for institutionalized ESG learning to support Bangladesh’s evolving sustainability and governance landscape.
The event featured insights from industry representatives, including Kazy Mohammad Iqbal Hossain, South Asia sustainability manager and global climate actions lead at Lindex HK Ltd and ABM Faqrul Alam, head of sustainability at Urmi Group.
Academic perspectives were shared by BRAC University faculty members, Dr. Shahidur Rahman, professor, Department of Economics and Social Sciences and Dr. Syed A. Mamun, PhD, FCMA, professor Department of Economics and Social Sciences creating a dynamic exchange between industry practitioners and scholars.
Following the orientation, the programme transitioned directly into its first academic session.
Professor Rahman delivered an overview of the course structure and learning outcomes, followed by a session on the evolution of ESG led by sustainability expert Kazy Mohammad Iqbal Hossain of LINDEX—symbolically marking the shift from vision to implementation.
This initiative aligns closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). By equipping industry professionals with structured ESG knowledge and practical tools, BRAC University is contributing to responsible business practices, sustainable economic development, and Bangladesh’s broader commitment to global sustainability targets.
