U.S. Ambassador Peter Haas on Wednesday announced the resumption of U.S. Fulbright program after six years and jointly launched the “Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)”, a Department of State global initiative with BRAC University to promote small and medium enterprise (SME) and fostering local women entrepreneurs, especially from underprivileged backgrounds.
Officials from the Ministry of Education, University Grants Commission (UGC), established and budding entrepreneurs, and prominent public and private sector business professionals also joined the celebration, the embassy said.
The Fulbright program is one of United States’ flagship exchange programs that strengthens and expands people-to-people ties and educational linkages between the United States and Bangladesh.
With more than 4000 State Department Exchange program alumni, including 650 Bangladeshis who travelled to the United States under the Fulbright exchange programs and more than 250 Americans who have conducted research and/or taught in Bangladesh, U.S. Embassy Dhaka continues to fulfill its commitments toward ensuring quality education in Bangladesh by offering academic and professional development opportunities for students, teachers, and scholars.
In partnership with BRAC University, the U.S. Embassy is resuming the U.S. Fulbright program after a six-year suspension following the 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery attack.
The Women Empowerment Center of BRAC University’s Business School (BBS) is hosting Dr. Sharon Hart, the first Fulbright Specialist to help develop a curriculum for women entrepreneurship and leadership training, design research questions on gender and women economic empowerment issues and build the capacity to conduct workshops for researchers and BBS faculty members.
The resumption of the U.S. Fulbright program is yet another significant strive of U.S. Embassy Dhaka as it continues to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the United States and Bangladesh.
In addition, the Embassy also celebrated the launch of “Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)” program, a Department of State global initiative which gives enterprising women the knowledge, networks and access they need to launch and scale successful businesses.
In collaboration with BRAC University, the U.S. Embassy Dhaka plans to work with youth on promoting the small and medium enterprise (SME) and fostering local women entrepreneurs, especially from underprivileged backgrounds.
This is the first time a Bangladeshi university will be conducting such a program through which 50 women entrepreneurs will have access to mentorship opportunities with successful business owners as trainees to understand the practical challenges on the ground.
This AWE project directly supports the U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality.