Newly appointed Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) Vice-Chancellor Professor Mohammad Iqbal has pledged to strengthen research, innovation and industry-academia collaboration to position the university as a globally recognised institution.
Speaking at a reception and views-exchange meeting at his office in Gazipur on Thursday, the vice-chancellor said he would work with all stakeholders to advance engineering and technological education at DUET, the university said in a press release.
Deans of different faculties, heads of departments, directors of institutes, and leaders of the Teachers’ Association, Officers’ Association and Employees’ Association accorded him a floral reception following his appointment.
“I first express my gratitude to Almighty Allah for entrusting me with the guardianship of DUET, one of the country’s leading engineering and technology universities,” he said.
“By utilising the opportunities of the global village and with everyone’s cooperation, I will work to establish DUET as one of the world’s leading institutions through engineering and technological education, research, publications, innovation and industry-academia collaboration.”
He sought cooperation from teachers, students, officers and employees to achieve the goal.
According to a notification signed by the Deputy Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division under the Ministry of Education, Professor Mohammad Iqbal joined the post on May 14 following approval from the President and Chancellor.
Before joining DUET, he served as Vice-Chancellor of North East University Bangladesh in Sylhet.
During his 34-year career, he held several administrative positions at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, including Syndicate Member, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, Head of the Industrial and Production Engineering Department, and Head of the Petroleum and Mineral Engineering Department.
He also served as Hall Provost and Acting Principal of Sylhet Engineering College.
In 2018, he worked as a Visiting Research Scholar at the Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center of Texas A&M University in the United States.
Professor Dr Mohammad Iqbal completed his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Sri Venkateswara University College of Engineering in Andhra Pradesh, India.
He later earned a master’s degree from the Industrial and Production Engineering Department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and completed his PhD at Dublin City University in Ireland.
More than 35 of his research papers have been published in local and international peer-reviewed journals, while he has presented over 90 papers at international conferences.
His academic and research expertise includes ergonomics and human factors engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial and production engineering, and environment-related studies.
He received the Distinguished Professor and Leadership Award from the Industrial Engineering and Operations Management Society International, alongside several honours for best research papers at international conferences.
Professor Mohammad Iqbal is a life member of Industrial Engineering and Operations Management Society International and the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh.
He is also an active member of ASHRAE Bangladesh Chapter, Bangladesh Computer Society and Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
