Community Self-Reliance through Knowledge-Based Area Development: The KBAD Initiative

1. 8th Global RCE Conference Knowledge Based Area Development (KBAD)- A Step Towards Community Self-Reliance for Sustainable Development Professor M Alimullah Miyan, PhD Chairperson, RCE Greater Dhaka Bangladesh Founder and Vice-Chancellor IUBAT—International University of Business Agriculture and Technology 26 to 29 November 2013 Nairobi, Kenya

2. Premise of KBAD • Endowed with People • Limited Natural Resources and Financial Capital • Developing People into Human Capital • Route to Creating Human Capital • Education • Skill Development • Attaining enhanced social mobility • Individual achievement benefits community

3. Objectives • Providing access to education to attain enhanced social mobility and sustainability • Creating graduates from every village as a role model • Promote sustainable knowledge and skills

4. Objectives • Educated & skilled individuals will pull-up • Family, neighbors & village community through access to knowledge for sustainable socio-economic development • Individual success will have demonstrative effect and motivate other young people • Foundation of a Knowledge Based Society for Prosperity, Social Mobility and Sustainability

5. Education Bank • Facilities for access of middle class and poor to market oriented higher education for social mobility on SD • Conduit to finance individuals on easy terms but on a repayable basis • Finance • Students • Teachers for higher training • Educational institutions

6. KBAD and ESD at IUBAT • Vision • One professional graduate from each village as a step toward community self reliance & dissemination of knowledge and skills on sustainable development • Standing policy not to deny access to education to any qualified & motivated candidate under different financing schemes

7. Mandatory ESD for All under KBAD • Course includes environmental sustainability, ecosystem services, Climate Change & Adaptation • Basic Needs, Resources: availability & limitations • Sustainable use-practice of natural resources: • Energy, Air, Water, Minerals, Soil and Biodiversity etc. • 3R’s: Reduce, Reuse & Recycle practiced throughout campus life • Traditional Practices and Wisdoms, Ethnic Culture • Organic farming

8. Mandatory ESD for All under KBAD • Knowledge-based Society for learning Ethics, Moral Justice & Respect • Grooming up as Skilled Human Resource for National and International Job Markets • Industrial Safety, Compliance & Auditing • Educational Motivation throughout Bangladesh

9. Achievements • Establishment of IMCSL as a prelude to Education Bank • Establishment of Financial Assistance Fund (FAF) • Establishment of University Education Extension Unit (UEEU) to Outreach KBAD • 12,000 students covering entire Bangladesh

11. Regional Implication • 1.7 billion people in South Asia • KBAD Covers all regions of Bangladesh • Ideas shared different countries • Kochi, Kerala, India – 2006 • Kannur University, India - 2011 • Islamabad, Pakistan, 2012 • Nepal, 2013 • Potential for Expansion in the Region

12. Lessons • Socially Challenged can be Self-Reliant on a Sustainable Basis through H.E. • Social Mobility and Equity are Achievable • Integrated Efforts Required • Mainstreaming ESD in Curriculum • Financial Resources is a Barrier at Institutional Level • Motivation and Poverty are main Barriers to Extension and wide Replication at Individual Level

13. www.iubat.edu/kbad

14. Thank you