DIU, Swisscontact launches Bangladesh's first postgraduate diploma in sustainable business, ESG

The programme has been designed to help Bangladesh's industries, the university says

Daffodil International University (DIU), in partnership with Swisscontact, has launched Bangladesh’s first UGC-approved Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Business and ESG Management (SBEM).

The launch and orientation ceremony for the inaugural batch was held on Friday at DIU under its Human Resource Development Institute (HRDI) and Sustainability Wing, according to a media statement.

The programme has been developed with support from Swisscontact’s PROGRESS Project along with the embassies of Sweden and Switzerland, aimed at building skilled professionals in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) compliance and sustainable business practices, it said.

It focuses on preparing professionals for sustainability challenges across Bangladesh’s industrial sectors, particularly the ready-made garments (RMG) industry, the university added.

The session began with a welcome address by Tahsina Yasmin, associate professor and director of HRDI at DIU, who said the programme is structured to allow working professionals to continue their careers while studying.

DIU Sustainability Officer Ibrahim Hossain presented an overview of the programme’s objectives and framework during the event.

Swisscontact PROGRESS Project Coordinator Syedul Arefin said, “The curriculum has been developed to directly address the practical needs of industries and to prepare future leaders capable of navigating evolving global compliance and sustainability challenges.”

The orientation also introduced faculty members and trainers for the first semester, including experts from leading organisations including ABM Fakhrul Alam, group sustainability lead of Urmi Group; Md Monowar Hossain, head of sustainability at Team Group; Aleya Akter, director of ethical sourcing and CSR at Susnex Limited; and Mushfiqur Rabbi Tourya, lead of ESG and sustainability services at SGS Bangladesh.

Training will cover areas such as carbon footprint assessment, energy auditing, social compliance and international reporting frameworks including CBAM and CSRD, the press note said.

Mohammad Monir Hossain, deputy director of the University Ranking Cell and Sustainability Wing at DIU, said the programme will support Bangladesh’s industries, especially the RMG sector, in meeting international sustainability standards.

He added that the joint initiative reflects a long-term commitment to sustainable development and building skilled human resources for the future.

The programme ended with a networking session and group photo involving guests, faculty members and participants.