ULAB Launches Advanced Transnational Doctoral Education Project with the University of Portsmouth
ULAB and the University of Portsmouth-UK, officially launched the CoDoc initiative on 6 August 2026
The University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) and the University of Portsmouth (UoP), United Kingdom, officially launched the CoDoc initiative on 6 August 2026. Funded by the British Council, the initiative seeks to co-create a dual doctoral degree framework in the Social Sciences between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom, promoting international academic collaboration and contributing to the advancement of doctoral education in Bangladesh.
The launch featured a workshop on the opportunities and challenges of Transnational Education (TNE) PhD programs in Bangladesh. The workshop brought together university leaders, academics, researchers, human resource professionals, and quality assurance experts to exchange perspectives on the policy, governance, academic quality, research collaboration, and sustainability considerations involved in developing joint doctoral programs.
Professor Shamsad Mortuza, PhD, ULAB Vice Chancellor, welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of internationalizing higher education and ensuring that private universities have a meaningful role in advancing Bangladesh’s engagement with global higher education. Ms. Jaina Hunt (UoP) hosted the program.
The workshop featured contributions from Dr. Jacqueline Priego, Associate Dean (Global Engagement), University of Portsmouth; Prof. Jude William R. Genilo, PhD, Pro Vice Chancellor, ULAB; Bobby Mehta, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement, University of Portsmouth; Piers Wall, Head of International Quality Assurance and Enhancement, Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA); Dr. Md. Musharrof Hossain, Federation of Bangladesh Human Resource Organizations (FBHRO); and Prof. Shahnaj Husne Jahan(ULAB).
Through interactive discussions, participants examined critical issues surrounding transnational doctoral education, including regulatory frameworks, institutional governance, quality assurance, academic standards, supervision, research collaboration, student experience, and sustainable implementation. The discussions also highlighted the importance of developing a framework that is both responsive to Bangladesh’s higher education context and aligned with international expectations for doctoral education.
Participants actively shared recommendations for developing an effective, credible, and internationally recognized framework for dual doctoral degrees. The outcomes of the workshop will be communicated to relevant stakeholders to contribute to evidence-based policymaking and inform the future development of transnational doctoral education in Bangladesh.
The CoDoc initiative represents an important step in ULAB’s continuing efforts toward internationalization, research capacity development, academic excellence, and quality enhancement. By exploring innovative models of doctoral education and strengthening partnerships with international universities, ULAB seeks to create new opportunities for faculty members and doctoral researchers while contributing to the broader development of Bangladesh’s higher education system.