The University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced that mental health protection services for university students across Bangladesh will begin in November.
Prof Dr. Mohammad Anwar Hossain, UGC Member, made the announcement on Friday while speaking as the chief guest at a workshop titled “Training Material and Manual Development Framework for Identifying the Social and Mental Needs of University Students.”
The program, jointly organized by UGC and UNESCO, is being held at the UGC auditorium over two days. A total of 10,000 students from 22 universities will receive mental health support in phases. A special mental health protection module for students has already been finalized.
Presided over by Mosammat Jesmin Parvin, Director (in charge) of UGC’s International Collaboration Division, the event was also attended by Professor Dr. Mashuma Habib, UGC Member, as the special guest.
Professor Dr. Mohammad Anwar Hossain said that the new module aims to address the specific needs of public and private university students regarding mental well-being. He emphasized that the issue of mental health improvement should be incorporated into the institutional framework of universities.
He also suggested that during the recruitment of new teachers, preference could be given to candidates with training in mental health protection. In addition, he highlighted the need to foster tolerance and understanding between teachers and students, and recommended the appointment of professional psychiatrists as well as mental health awareness and training programs within universities.
Professor Dr. Mashuma Habib remarked that, with support from UNESCO, UGC has taken a timely initiative to improve the mental health of students. She said the program would help students develop emotional resilience, strengthen teacher-student relationships, and promote empathy and positive behavioral change.
She added that every university should have both a psychiatrist and a mental health club, and urged parents to play a more active role in supporting students’ emotional well-being.
UGC Director Jesmin Parvin stated that, in addition to students, university officials and staff would also receive training on social and mental health protection.
UNESCO representative Raju Das explained that the module focuses on emotional intelligence, social skills, and life skills, aiming to foster students’ social engagement and responsible behavior. He said UNESCO expects the content to be specific, balanced, culturally relevant, and developmentally appropriate. According to him, this initiative represents not just learning, but a systemic change, integrating socio-emotional well-being into educational policies and institutional structures — thereby contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The workshop was also addressed by Associate Professor Syed Tanvir Rahman (Department of Psychology, University of Dhaka) and Assistant Professor Md. Rafiuzzaman (Department of Humanities, BUET).
Participants included student advisors, counselors, mental health specialists, students, and UGC officials from 22 universities.
UGC and UNESCO have jointly developed a training manual under the Social and Mental Health Protection Project to assess university students’ social and psychological needs, inspired by the July–August 2024 theme of awareness and empowerment.
