University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh

ULAB’s founder, Kazi Shahid Ahmed, believes in creating works that benefit the people of Bangladesh and are of service to the country. In this spirit, he created a place of learning where well-rounded students would be fully steeped in the values of their own heritage, yet trained to face the modern global workplace.

The sponsors planned for many years, and the idea of the University was initiated at a public colloquium, in February of 2002, attended by leading academics, cultural figures, and entrepreneurs. Permission for the opening of ULAB was received from the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh in November of 2003.  ULAB was formally launched at a ceremony on October 1, 2004. For its first two years the university operated from its original campus in Mohakhali, Dhaka.  The purpose-built campus in the heart of Dhanmondi was opened in the Fall of 2006. This fully-dedicated building has all modern facilities, laboratories and libraries available for its students.  In the Summer of 2008, ULAB opened its second campus, also in Dhanmondi.  ULAB is currently obtaining all legal permissions for its Permanent Campus, on a beautiful multi-acre site in Mohammadpur. ULAB completed partial infrastructure of Permanent Campus Complex in 2015 and is continuing to develop the new campus.

From a single campus in Mohakhali with only 52 students, ULAB has grown to be one of the best private universities in the country, with over 4,500 students, many unique programs of study, renowned research centers and active co-curricular programs.  The university's vision is to  be the best university in Bangladesh and a leader in South Asia.  Its mission to be an institution devoted to developing young minds to their fullest potential through the free and creative pursuit of knowledge. It is firmly committed to helping young men and women to become responsible and caring citizens of their nations and the world.  It tries to fulfill these aims by adopting an array of traditional and innovative academic and extra-curricular programs, and by bringing to our students the best that has been thought and accomplished in the arts and sciences throughout the world.

The university is guided by the following values: (1) Love of Lifelong Learning; (2) Practicing Integrity and Leadership; (3) Encouraging Innovation; (4) Promoting Tolerance; and (5) The Pursuit of Excellence.  These values are the standards that drive its culture, guide its conduct, and set the minimum expectations for everyone.  The guiding principles of the university are as follows:

• Liberal Arts: Providing a broad foundation across disciplines to develop analytical abilities and flexibility of mind.
• Progressive Education: Establishing values of tolerance, empathy and integrity to become citizens of the world.
• Sustainable Development: Employing sustainable practices and respect for human rights to become responsible leaders of the future.
• Active Teaching and Learning: Striking a balance between theoretical and practical learning to thrive in a fast-changing knowledge economy.
• Research: Supporting cross-disciplinary inquiry to inform education and public policies.
• Engaged Citizenship: Building and serving civic communities to create a free and equitable society.