I was born in a middle-class family in a small town where children do not dare to dream of going abroad for higher studies. Still, I went against the grain and pushed myself to grow, finally finding myself through my Teach For Bangladesh Fellowship. The Fellowship equipped me with the skills and knowledge that made me a strong professional and an effective educator. When I was selected for the Chevening Scholarship after completing the Fellowship, it was a dream come true.
During my two years of teaching primary school through the Fellowship, and later, when I served as a leadership coach at Teach For Bangladesh, I felt the need for more classroom innovation at scale to teach children real-life skills. While pursuing my MSc in Education Practice and Innovation from the University of Southampton through Chevening, I focused on innovative practices and technology in education around the world and explored teachers’ networks in two countries in South Asia. I received the prestigious Dean’s list award for my hard work.
Today, I am conducting research alongside an internationally renowned team, reaching out to teachers, parents, and children to find a blended learning framework for lower-income countries like Bangladesh that will inform education policies. My constant effort for education innovation has brought me a place where I can actively catalyze the change that I want to see in post-COVID education. I work as the Project Coordinator of an education research project in association with Cardiff University and BUET, where I coordinate two research teams from two countries. Previously, I worked in another international research collaboration with Southampton Education School. The knowledge and experience I gained through these experiences made it possible for me to work on an international scale and with globally renowned researchers.
Chevening gave me the tools to pursue my passion, while Teach For Bangladesh taught me how to dream big and persevere even in the most challenging situations.”