Engaging with the Community - 2

The first formal orientation of OfP Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) students was held on September 14, 2023 at the OIST building in Balagram.

Prof Golam Mostofa, himself an educator and also a former Member of Parliament, attended as Guest of Honour. Prof Mostofa has visited OIST previously and is an important supporter from the wider community. He welcomed all the participants with flowers (to OIST Math Instructor Kalyani Roy in the photo, with Bluebell Head Teacher Altaf behind).

Rabiul Islam presided over the orientation. OIST students and their parents, teachers and staff members participated in the orientation. The speakers all spoke of the importance of technical and vocational education for employment, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development. In this rural community where many adults do not complete higher secondary school, OIST is a critical resource for improving lives.

Engaging with the community

OfP President, Rabiul Islam, met recently with students and faculty at OIST. Rabiul is a very engaged leader, meeting frequently with participants in all the OfP projects: students, families, OfP staff and volunteers and community members. International visitors are typically invited to a community forum to hear first hand about concerns and priorities from the local beneficiaries of OfP activities. At the session shown below, the community described public health concerns that led to creation of OfP's chronic illness screening program.

At recent meetings in Balagram, Rabiul (seated at the front desk in the photo below) is hearing directly from students about their experience in the first "batch" at OIST. In separate meetings he also heard from stakeholders at Bluebell Primary School.

Student sports

Like colleges all over the world, OIST promotes games and sports for the health and social development of its students. OIST teams participate in national and local competitions such as the recent Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Inter-College Football Tournament. This was held in June at Sheikh Kamal Stadium in the sub-district centre, Nilphamari. OIST won their match 2-0 against a team from Nilphamari Alia Fazil Madrassa but did not proceed further in the tournament – on this occasion.