Founded in 1993, Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) is one of the oldest and leading private universities in Bangladesh where academic excellence is a tradition, teaching a passion and lifelong learning a habit. IUB currently has more than 9,800 undergraduate and graduate students and over 13,700 alumni. The students of IUB experience an exciting academic life with copious opportunities to explore and nurture their innate talent.
Live in Field Experience (LFE) is a signature course of IUB. It allows IUB students, most of whom come from urban settings, to have an immersive experience of everyday life in rural Bangladesh. Unique in Bangladesh, the overarching idea, which owes its roots to some of the leading social thinkers of this region, is to bridge the gap in knowledge that an urban student has about their rural counterparts. As part of the LFE, which is a mandatory course, small groups of students (usually 5-10, mix of male and female, and English and Bangla medium backgrounds) spend a certain amount of time at different locations in Bangladesh and experience life in the fields.
CGP&AR and Midland Bank Collaborates to Promote Entrepreneurial Ventures and Financial Inclusion
13/05/2024
In a move to foster entrepreneurship among the youth and encourage financial inclusion, Midland Bank Limited organized a day-long fair at the Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) in collaboration with the Office of Career Guidance Placement and Alumni Relation (CGP&AR). The event, held on August 23, 2023, aimed to introduce students to the bank's innovative start-up loan campaigns and student-focused banking services.
The fair was aligned with the newly launched initiative by the Bangladesh Bank to provide start-up loans for IUB students, named the CMSE Financing Facility for Start-up Business. Midland Bank's presence on campus served as an opportunity to educate and engage students on the various ways the bank could support their entrepreneurial aspirations.
The bank showcased its two distinct start-up loan programs, namely MDB IT UDDOG and MDB START-UP, designed to cater to a wide range of start-up ventures, including those related to technology, products, services, and finance.
One of the highlights of the event was the provision of student savings accounts equipped with prepaid or debit cards. These accounts offered the convenience of dual currency transactions, both locally and internationally. This feature generated significant interest among students, who welcomed the prospect of managing their finances conveniently without the need to visit a bank branch.
Expressing his enthusiasm, a representative from Midland Bank stated, "Interacting with IUB students who are eager to join the banking industry straight out of their academic journey has been truly heartening. Witnessing their smiles and excitement as they learn about our student savings accounts has been a rewarding experience."
Samiur Rahman, an undergraduate student pursuing a BBA degree, lauded the bank's efforts, saying, "Midland Bank's initiative to support and inspire aspiring entrepreneurs through accessible financial solutions is commendable. As a small business owner myself, I found their start-up loans to be practical and business-friendly."
A computer science and engineering student shared his thoughts on the initiative, expressing, "The option to open a student account with Midland Bank directly on campus is a fantastic convenience. The inclusion of a dual currency debit card is particularly appealing. I plan to save a portion of my earnings for future investments using this account."
Midland Bank's collaboration with IUB stands as a testament to its commitment to nurturing young talent and facilitating their entrepreneurial journeys, aligning with the broader goals of promoting innovation and economic growth in Bangladesh.