Staff Reporter, Dhaka : Universal College Bangladesh (UCBD) has successfully held the orientation program for the second intake of the Monash College Diploma (MCD) program for the year 2025. The MCD program provides HSC, AS and A2 Level graduates with a direct  pathway into selected degrees at Monash University, one of the world’s top ranked universities.
The orientation began with opening remarks from Professor Muhammad Ismail Hossain, Dean of Academic Affairs, who is himself a Monash graduate. Professor Hew Gill, President & Provost of UCBD, welcomed the new students and their parents to the campus, and wished them luck in their Business and Engineering studies.
Azra Karim, In-Country Representative for Bangladesh, International Student Recruitment, Monash University and Daniel Lum from Monash Universitys International Recruitment &
Development team, attended the event to share details with students and parents about studying Monash programs and how it will benefit the learners in their future endeavors.
The MCD Program Coordinator, Assistant Professor Dr. Sadia Afreen, gave an overview of MCD to shed light on different aspects of this program for students studying Business or Engineering degrees. She provided essential information on the structure of the program and introduced the Monash accredited faculty who teach the program. Students were also introduced to UCBD’s academic policies, Learning Management System (LMS), and the Monash platforms they use to access the extensive educational resources provided for Monash degree students.
Professor Hew Gill, President & Provost of UCBD, engaged with the parents in a very interactive parent orientation session. He said, “It is a pleasure to welcome the second cohort of MCD students to UCBD and the Monash University community. The MCD programs at UCBD will save HSC and AS students a whole year of study and guarantee every student a place in the second year of the chosen degree at one of the very best universities in the world,.” .
Azra Karim, In-Country Representative for Bangladesh, International Student Recruitment (ISR) of Monash University, opined, “MCD gives students an excellent opportunity to pursue world class education right here in Dhaka. On completion of Monash programs at UCBD, students can enroll themselves in selected programs at Monash University, opening up new windows of opportunities for them.”
The MCD program is available for Business, Engineering, and Information Technology. MCD allows students to complete their first year in Bangladesh, guided by a faculty team of international university-trained professionals, before moving to the second year at Monash University in Australia or Malaysia. The next MCD intakes will be in October 2025.