Khulna, 24 August 2026: A day-long workshop titled “Empowering Educators through Digital Knowledge Enhancement under the HEAT Project” was held today at Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET), aiming to enhance the digital knowledge, skills, and technology adoption capabilities of university educators.

The workshop was organized under the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) Project of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh, with the Bangladesh Research and Education Network (BdREN) serving as the technical partner. Around 60 faculty members of KUET participated in the programme.

The inaugural session began with an opening address by Biplab Chandra Mahanta, Manager (Sales), BdREN. Khandakar Rashedul Arefin, General Manager (Systems & Services), BdREN, delivered the keynote speech, highlighting the scope of the HEAT Project and the role of BdREN in supporting digital transformation across higher education institutions. The session was also attended by senior officials of KUET and the HEAT Project, including the Director of the ICT Cell, Registrar, Deputy Project Director (DPD), Vice-Chancellor, and Chairman of the Central Computer Center.

The technical session featured a series of presentations and interactive discussions on key areas of digital education and research. Professor Dr. Mohammed Shafiul Alam Khan, Technical Specialist, HEAT, and Md. Ariful Islam Arman, BdREN, conducted two sessions on Cybersecurity Awareness, focusing on essential cybersecurity practices and emerging digital threats.

A dedicated session on Generative AI for Teaching & Research was conducted by Khandakar Rashedul Arefin and Abu Naser Md. Nafew of BdREN, highlighting the growing applications of generative artificial intelligence in academic teaching, learning, and research.

The workshop also included a session on E-Journals & Plagiarism, conducted by Ahmed Al Hossain, Assistant Manager (Knowledge & Research), BdREN, which focused on scholarly electronic resources and responsible academic practices. The final technical session, AI Application in Higher Education, was conducted by Abu Naser Md. Nafew, BdREN, exploring practical applications of artificial intelligence in the higher education sector.

The programme concluded with a feedback session, followed by closing remarks from Biplab Chandra Mahanta, Manager (Sales), BdREN.

The workshop reflects the continued efforts of the HEAT Project and BdREN to strengthen digital capacity among educators and promote the effective use of digital resources, cybersecurity practices, and emerging technologies in teaching and research. The HEAT Project identifies digital transformation and professional development as key areas for strengthening Bangladesh’s higher education ecosystem.