BRAC University and Swisscontact signed an agreement on Sunday to collaborate on developing a professional certificate course on ESG tailored for Bangladesh鈥檚 export-oriented industries.
ESG stands for environmental, social and governance and refers to a set of standards used to measure an organisation鈥檚 environmental and social impact.
BRAC University registrar David Dowland, Professor Wasiqur Rahman Khan, chairperson of the ESS department; Professor Syed A Mamun, and Khairul Basher, director of the office of communications, attended the signing ceremony on the university鈥檚 Merul Badda campus in Dhaka.
Ikramul H Sohel, senior programme officer, Inclusive Economic Development, Embassy of Sweden; Helal Hussain, country director, Swisscontact Bangladesh; Sayedul Arefin, coordinator, PROGRESS; Nowshin Anjum, senior officer; and Syeda Suhaymah Ahmed, senior officer, were also present.
The deal aims to establish a nationally recognised learning pathway for professionals and graduates seeking sustainability-focused careers. It also seeks to address the urgent need for organisations to embed ESG practices as a core business strategy to achieve sustainable growth and meet stakeholder expectations.
This course will equip students with knowledge on ESG frameworks, reporting, measurement, financing, and industry case studies. It will also target factory professionals working in compliance, HR, and sustainability functions, as well as graduates, development practitioners, and staff from global brands and buying houses.
The initiative is also a part of Swisscontact鈥檚 Promoting Green Growth in the Ready-made Garments Sector through Skills (PROGRESS) project, funded by the Embassy of Sweden and the Embassy of Switzerland.
A total of 24 companies shared their insights and parameters necessary at a focus group discussion last week, said Professor Shahidur Rahman of the Department of Economics and Social Sciences (ESS) while addressing the signing ceremony.
BRAC University will explore the skills required and hopes to develop an effective curriculum by December 10, he said. The first batch of students is expected to enroll in January 2026 whereas the second in May or June, he added.
BRAC University has been looking into ESG for quite some time and talked to international partners alongside universities in the United Kingdom that offer such courses, said Vice-Chancellor Professor Syed Ferhat Anwar.
Swisscontact is supporting a green transition and decarbonization in Bangladesh鈥檚 garment industry, said Farzana Amin, team leader of PROGRESS.聽
Amin and BRAC University Treasurer Ariful Islam penned the deal representing the respective sides.
BRAC University鈥檚 collaboration with Swisscontact on the ESG professional certificate course advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 (Quality Education), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).