Khulna, 23 August 2026: A day-long workshop titled “Empowering Educators through Digital Knowledge Enhancement under the HEAT Project” was held today at Khulna University (KU) to enhance the digital knowledge, skills, and technology adoption capabilities of university educators.

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

The inaugural session began with a welcome address by Biplab Chandra Mahanta, Manager (Sales), BdREN. Khandakar Rashedul Arefin, General Manager (Systems & Services), BdREN, delivered the keynote presentation, highlighting the scope of the HEAT Project and the digital services offered by BdREN.

The session was attended by the Registrar, Khulna University; Deputy Project Director (DPD), HEAT Project; Pro-Vice-Chancellor; Vice-Chancellor; and Director of the ICT Cell, Khulna University, who shared their perspectives on digital transformation and the importance of strengthening educators’ technological competencies.

Addressing the workshop, Professor Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim, Vice-Chancellor of Khulna University, emphasized the importance of embracing digital transformation in higher education. He noted that the rapid advancement of information technology has made digital transformation indispensable for the education sector. He also highlighted KU’s ongoing initiatives, including smart classrooms, digital attendance, e-nothi services, smart laboratories, and an innovation hub.

The technical sessions focused on several critical areas of digital education and research. Professor Dr. Mohammad Shafiul Alam Khan, Technical Specialist, HEAT, and Md. Ariful Islam Arman, BdREN, conducted sessions on Cybersecurity Awareness, covering both foundational and advanced aspects of cybersecurity.

A dedicated session on Generative AI for Teaching and Research was conducted by Khandakar Rashedul Arefin and Abu Naser Md. Nafew, BdREN, focusing on the potential applications of generative AI in academic teaching and research activities.

The workshop also featured a session on E-Journals & Plagiarism, conducted by Ahmed Al Hossain, Assistant Manager (Knowledge & Research), BdREN, providing participants with insights into digital research resources and responsible academic practices. The final technical session, AI Application in Higher Education, was conducted by Abu Naser Md. Nafew, BdREN.

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

The initiative reflects the continued commitment of BdREN and the HEAT Project to strengthening the digital capacity of higher education institutions in Bangladesh and promoting the effective use of technology, digital resources, cybersecurity practices, and emerging AI tools in teaching and research.