North South University (Bengali: নর্থ সাউথ বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়, also known as NSU) is a privateresearch university in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was established in 1992 under the Private University Act, 1992 by the then Foundation for Promotion of Education and Research (FPER), a charitable, non-profit, non-commercial and non-political organization. The FPER later was renamed as the NSU Foundation and is presently called The North South Foundation for Education and Research.[3]
The university is ranked among the top universities in Bangladesh.[4][5] Its business school is the first Bangladeshi university to receive American accreditation from the ACBSP in 2015.[6]
Campus
The university's campus is located in Bashundhara Residential Area in Dhaka. It is one of the largest private universities in Bangladesh in terms of student population. The foundation of the campus was laid on 30 January 2003 by Begum Khaleda Zia, then prime minister of Bangladesh.[7] Classes started in the permanent (current) campus from 9 June 2009.[8]
The campus can serve up to 12,000 students with amenities and facilities. It contains six buildings with three basements on seven acres of land having 1,250,000 square feet of floor space.[9]
Library
The NSU library has over 70,000 square feet (6,500 m2) floor area on the southeastern side of the campus. It is the first fully automated university library in Bangladesh using its own library management software.[10][11] which supports RFID system, web-based online circulation system, full-text e-books and online journal article repository services. The library can accommodate over 1,200 students at a time in its reading rooms. On average 2,000 students use the library every day.
As of August 2014, the library holds 49,500 books, 50,000 online books, 6,000 bound journals (foreign and local), magazines, 1,890 CD-ROM databases, books, 226 DVDs and videos, 159 audio-cassettes, and other resources.[12]
Administration
There is a separate admin building dedicated to administration activities.
The School of Business and Economics (SBE) at North South University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).[17] It is the first Business school in Bangladesh to receive American accreditation.[6] SBE of NSU secured the Global Rank of 401–450 in Business and Management Studies in the QS World University Rankings 2020.[18] The School of Business and Economics (SBE) consists of four departments.
Department of Accounting & Finance
Department of Economics
Department of Management
Department of Marketing & International Business
School of Engineering & Physical Sciences (SEPS)
The School of Engineering & Physical Sciences (SEPS) intends to be a center of excellence in innovation and technological entrepreneurship by building a knowledge and skill-based learning environment for students in the field of engineering, architecture and physical sciences with adequate technical competency, social responsibility, communication skill and ethical standard.
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has three majors in undergraduate programs.
Department of Architecture
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering [19]
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering (BSCSE) [20]
Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (BSEEE)[21]
Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering (BSETE) [22]
School of Humanities & Social Sciences (SHSS)
Department of English & Modern Languages
Department of Law
Department of History & Philosophy
Department of Political Science & Sociology
School of Health & Life Sciences (SHLS)
Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology
Department of Environmental Science and Management
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Department of Public Health
Institutes
NSU has several institutes and centers.
In front of Central Library
Institute of Development, Environment and Strategic Studies (IDESS)
The Institute of Development, Environment and Strategic Studies (IDESS) is a research center.[23]
NSU Global Health Institute (NGHI)
The NSU Global Health Institute (NGHI) at NSU was established NGHI for the discovery and competency development of human welfare aiming to build strengthen the emerging field of global health response and leadership.[24]
NSU Genome Research Institute (NGRI)
The NSU Genome Research Institute (NGRI) at NSU was established on 14 May 2017, for the discovery and competency development of human welfare aiming to build and strengthen the emerging field of genomic research field leadership, which is the first genomic research institute in Bangladesh [25]
Confucius Institute
The Confucius Institute at NSU was established in February 2006, the only language institute in Bangladesh which offers Chinese-language only education.[26]
Student Counselling Center (SCC)
The North South University-Student Counseling Center (NSU-SCC) is a support system for the students of the university and addresses their emotional well-being. It serves as a primary mental health care unit, and as such it offers taking therapy and advice for further referrals. It has no jurisdiction over the academic and administrative affairs of the university.[27]
Career and Placement Center (CPC)
The Career and Placement Center (CPC) is a comprehensive career management support platform for NSU students.[28]
Center for Infrastructure Research and Services (CIRS)
Center for Infrastructure Research and Services (CIRS, NSU) can offer access to the university's state-of-the-art laboratory equipment and facilities to companies of all sizes for a wide range of testing and analysis services. The services which it offers reflect the breadth and depth of the university's research capabilities, from independent testing services to collaborative prototype generation. The center has expert technicians, servicemen, and staff under the direct supervision of faculty members to carry out the tests and analyses. CIRS undertakes research, testing, and consultation work in the field of engineering, construction management, and environmental issues as required by private, government, or autonomous bodies.[29]
NSU Center for Business Research (NSU CBR)
There was a strong need at the NSU business research community for a platform focusing on building, storing, investigating, analyzing, and learning through research activities on business and economic phenomena in Bangladesh and the world. Based on these overarching needs, a new Center for Business Research was established.[30]
Economics Research Platform (NSU ERP)
This platform was established with the intention of facilitating economic research and policy analysis. It currently holds seminars, workshops and conferences.[31]
Publications
The university publishes a journal called Panini.[32]
In the latest World University Rankings 2023 published by Times Higher Education, NSU ranked joint top among all universities in Bangladesh.[40] In the 2024 QS World University Rankings, NSU achieved a ranking of 851-900 globally.[41] In the same year, they ranked 191st among all Asian universities.[42] Furthermore, they ranked 351-400 and 451-500 in the QS subject rankings for "Business and Management Studies" and "Economics and Econometrics" respectively.[43] In addition to which, they also ranked in the 651-700 band for "Computer and Information Systems".[43]
Moreover, they ranked 301–500 in the "Graduate Employability Ranking 2020"[44] published by the higher education information service provider Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), which indicates how well students from a university can gain a foothold in the global job market.
Corruption allegation: In 2012, University Grants Commission found some instances of corruption by the university trustee board's chairman. So, the education ministry dissolved the trustee board.[54] One of the trustee members was charged with corruption.[55]
Former students involved in militancy: In 2016, some former students of NSU and faculty members were found to have links with militant activities.[56] Some of them were involved in violent armed assaults.[57][58] Later, investigators found printed materials published by militant groups in a library.[56] UGC suggested measures to curb the involvement by student attendance tracking, online monitoring by guardians and student participation in social activities.[59]
In 2021 some of the trustees allegedly used the university and misused power,[60] they allegedly raised their sitting allowance to up to 10 times the approved rate and got themselves luxury cars[61] at the expense of the students.[62][63]
