SDG - 17
Cross-Sectoral Dialogue about SDGs
Daffodil International University (DIU) is a proactive organizer and participant in high-level, cross-sectoral dialogue about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), consistently convening leaders from government, industry, academia, and civil society. These frequent dialogues are essential tools used to align national efforts, foster youth diplomacy, and translate global goals into localized, actionable strategies, thereby fulfilling the core mandate of SDG 17.
1. High-Level National and International SDG Conferences
DIU positions itself as a central convening force for global and national SDG discourse by hosting and co-hosting major international events that mandate cross-sectoral participation. These platforms are designed to bridge global expertise with local needs, particularly in the areas of social development and technology.
DIU participates in COP29
A delegation of the Daffodil International University participated in the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) held at Baku in Azerbaijan.
Dr. Mohamed Emran Hossain, Associate Professor; Ms. Samiha Khan, Lecturer (Senior Scale) of Development Studies Department and Ms. Fatima Tuj Juhra Sadia, student representative of DIU represented the Daffodil International University at the conference commenced on November 11. They collaborated with cross sectoral experts and faculties from around the world.
DIU Chairman delivers Keynote Speech on "Governance in Higher Education with AI" at the 4th Central China Higher Education Forum
Dr. Md. Sabur Khan, Founder & Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Daffodil International University (DIU) and President of the Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP), is delivered a keynote address at the 4th Central China Higher Education (International) Forum, organized by Sias University in collaboration with China Higher Education Association & Henan Education Association for International Exchange (HNEAIE) in Zhengzhou, China.
DIU represents Bangladesh on global stage of higher education
Dr. Md. Sabur Khan, Founder and Chairman of Daffodil International University and a standing committee member of AUPF, moderated the first session of the Asian University Presidents Forum (AUPF) with the theme- Asia Alliance University (AAU): Unite Asia through Education - One Platform, Infinite Possibilities, having esteemed leaders from higher education institutions from Lithuania, Macau, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea and India as panelists.
Social Business Day and Youth Summit
This is a high-profile dialogue mechanism that annually brings together a powerful range of stakeholders, including academia, non-government organizations (such as the Yunus Centre), international youth from over 21 countries, and the private sector. This forum focuses intently on SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 8 (Decent Work), and SDG 17 (Partnerships) by promoting the revolutionary '3 Zero Vision' (zero poverty, zero unemployment, zero net carbon emissions). Crucially, this cross-sectoral discussion directly shapes SDG 4 (Quality Education) integration through dedicated breakout sessions focused on institutionalizing social business education into mainstream academic curricula.
International Technical Conferences (ICPC Asia & IDAA)
DIU actively bridges the technological gap through major international technical conferences. By co-hosting the ICPC Asia Dhaka Regional 2024 and the International Conference on Intelligent Data Analysis and Applications (IDAA 2025), DIU attracts the global tech community, industry leaders, and international academia. These platforms are vital for advancing research in high-impact technologies (SDG 9) and ensuring educational excellence (SDG 4) aligns with future market needs and job creation.
Hubei-Bangladesh Science & Technology Innovation Cooperation Exchange Conference 2025
On the bilateral level, DIU co-hosted this significant conference, which brought together high-level government officials and research institutions from China's Hubei province and Bangladesh. This critical dialogue resulted in three long-term MoUs for research collaboration, directly strengthening the means of implementation for technological advancement and knowledge transfer between nations (SDG 9, 17).
DIU Chairman Delivered Keynote Address at ICOHOPE 2025 in Indonesia Focusing Cross-sectoral collaboration
Dr. Md. Sabur Khan, Chairman of Board of Trustees of Daffodil International University (DIU), delivered the keynote speech at the International Conference on Holistic Opportunities for Poverty Empowerment (ICOHOPE 2025) held on 26–27 September in Medan, Indonesia. The Conference was officially inaugurated by HRH Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Ibni Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, Crown Prince of Perlis which brought together policymakers, academics, and development leaders from over 20 countries to discuss innovative approaches to poverty alleviation and sustainable development.
In his keynote, titled “Poverty Alleviation Through Innovation: Exploring New Systems, Tools, and Models in Bangladesh”, Dr. Khan emphasized the transformative role of innovation, education, and entrepreneurship in breaking poverty cycles. He highlighted global best practices such as microfinance and digital transfers, while also sharing pioneering initiatives from Bangladesh
GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK 2024
Daffodil International University organized the Global Entrepreneurship Week 2024 and as part of it, it also organized the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit, emphasizing the theme "Removing Barriers and Welcoming All". The summit was organized by the Department of Innovation & Entrepreneurship of DIU
2. Dialogue for Policy and Governance (Government & NGO)
DIU deliberately initiates forums and participatory workshops with government and civil society organizations to inject academic and data-driven insights directly into governance and accountability mechanisms.
● National Seminar on “𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐡’𝐬 𝐋𝐃𝐂 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧”
Daffodil International University (DIU) hosted the National Seminar on “𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐡’𝐬 𝐋𝐃𝐂 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧” in collaboration with the Support to Sustainable Graduation Project (SSGP) under the Economic Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance, Government of Bangladesh. The seminar aimed to raise awareness among students and academia about Bangladesh’s journey toward LDC graduation, highlighting the importance of innovation, research, and youth engagement in driving sustainable economic transformation. Dr. Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for the Ministry of Finance, attended as Chief Guest who highlighted how innovation, skills, and collaboration can shape Bangladesh’s smooth and successful economic transformation.
● Dialogue on Climate Diplomacy (Pre-COP29): To prepare future leaders for climate governance, DIU, in collaboration with the Global Law Thinkers Society, hosted a Pre-COP29 Group Discussion. This critical cross-sectoral meeting brought together policymakers, youth advocates, and academics to directly address Bangladesh's role in global climate action, providing a platform for youth leaders to inform diplomatic strategies (SDG 13, 17).
● Dialogue on Press Freedom and Accountability: DIU faculty and students participated in a crucial roundtable co-hosted by UNESCO Dhaka and Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on the "Reform Roadmap for Press Freedom." This dialogue actively engages the academic sector in governance conversations, addressing issues of transparency, the safety of journalists, and accountability, which are foundational to SDG 16 and SDG 17.
● Multimedia AI Hackathon: The Department of Multimedia and Creative Technology organized the first-ever Multimedia AI Hackathon in Bangladesh. The event attracted 830 submissions across four categories: AI-Based Image Generation, AI-Based 3D Modeling, AI-Based 2D/3D Animation, and AI-Based Game Development. From these, the jury selected 23 outstanding projects for the final round. After intense competition, 23 stellar projects made it to the final round.
● Dialogue on Public Health Strategy (Dengue Prevention): DIU organized a special discussion on "Dengue Prevention and Control" featuring key public health experts, including a professor from Jahangirnagar University and DIU faculty. This is a direct academic-to-public health dialogue aimed at developing necessary public awareness campaigns and collaborative measures to address a critical national health crisis (SDG 3, 17).
3. Dialogue for Industry-Academia Alignment (Private Sector)
DIU’s core mission includes ensuring graduates are industry-ready, requiring constant, formal dialogue with the private sector to align curriculum with market demands and technological shifts.
● Human Resources (HR) & Technology Alignment: The National HR Summit 2024 focused on the role of AI in transforming HR in Bangladesh, bringing together over 40 HR leaders and CEOs. This summit aimed explicitly to bridge the gap between academia and industry through workforce upskilling, contributing directly to SDG 8 (Decent Work) by identifying future skill demands and curriculum adjustments necessary for the digital economy.
● Career and Innovation Expos: Regular large-scale events like the DIU Pharma Career Expo-2025 connected 20+ pharmaceutical companies with over 1,000 participants, fostering direct dialogue to guide employment strategies. This effort is complemented by numerous smaller-scale "Founder's Insight" and "Entrepreneurs' Meetup" sessions (featuring CEOs of top companies like BD Jobs Limited), which provide valuable feedback loops from the private sector to the entrepreneurship curriculum (SDG 8, 9, 17).
● Sector-Specific Masterclasses: DIU proactively organizes masterclasses featuring high-profile international speakers, such as the session on "Career Development and Strategies for Successfully Securing Research Grants" with a speaker from Duke University School of Medicine (USA). These sessions broaden the scope of skills discussion beyond local contexts, ensuring DIU students are prepared for the global job market by learning from international best practices.
Summary of Cross-Sectoral Engagement
In summary, DIU's continuous dialogue across the four sectors—International Academia, Government, NGO/Civil Society, and the Private Sector—is robust and strategically designed. These exchanges are structured to yield actionable outcomes, such as co-developed policy inputs (UGC, Planning Commission), institutional reform roadmaps (TIB/UNESCO), and curriculum alignment (HR Summit, Pharma Expo), making DIU a powerful catalyst for achieving the SDGs in Bangladesh and beyond.