In the Biggani.org interview series, we spoke with Dr. Parvez Sultan.
Dr. Parvez Sultan is a distinguished educator and scientist. He is currently serving as Associate Professor and Program Director at the Melbourne Institute of Technology. He has 23 years of experience in education and research, during which he has led the improvement of educational institutions, accreditation processes, and research management.
Dr. Parvez Sultan has particular expertise in leadership, quality management, accreditation, and institutional training development. He has led the accreditation and quality enhancement of the Melbourne Institute’s Bachelor of Business program, significantly improving student progress and playing a vital role in reducing dropout rates. His research and educational work have received high international recognition, and he has been honored with multiple research publications and awards.
He has taught and managed not only at Melbourne, but also at BRAC University, Central Queensland University, and Canberra University. In addition to making significant contributions to education and research in various countries, he has established himself as a leader in academic quality and the management of research projects.
Differences Between Universities in Australia and Bangladesh
Dr. Parvez Sultan discussed how academic activities are conducted in Australian universities and the fundamental differences with Bangladesh. One of the main differences between universities in developing and developed countries is the method of student evaluation and the focus on skill development.
In Australia, students are not evaluated solely through exams; instead, there is a strong emphasis on skill development, the quality of work, and acquiring practical knowledge. Their belief is that exams mainly test a student’s memory, but not their actual skills or depth of learning.
In Bangladesh, in most cases, students are evaluated only through exams. As a result, students fall behind in gaining practical knowledge and skills.
Advice to Students
Importance of Setting Life Goals: For a student, the most important thing is to set clear life goals and prepare accordingly. The sooner a student discovers their own goals and starts working towards them, the better it is for them.
Essential Steps for Career Development:
Those who want to build a career in academia or teaching must focus on relevant courses and skill development.
Those who wish to become researchers need to acquire research-related skills, starting their preparations from the undergraduate level.
Advice for Those Interested in Studying Abroad
Dr. Parvez Sultan has advised students aspiring to pursue higher education abroad to focus on three things starting from their third year:
1. Improve academic results: Aim to maintain a high GPA or CGPA. Typically, for admission to top universities, a CGPA of 3.5 or above is preferred.
2. Achieve proficiency in English: Prepare for the IELTS or TOEFL exams, aiming for a score of at least 6.5 in IELTS. Most Australian universities require an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher.
3. Publish research articles: Try to publish at least two research articles. This demonstrates interest and competence in research.
How to Develop Yourself as a Researcher
If you want to become a researcher, focus on the following areas:
Developing paper writing skills: Learn how to write a research paper or article with proper citation.
Practicing writing in English: Regularly write in English, such as in newspapers or newsletters.
Enhancing proficiency in English: Improve English language skills and strive for good scores in international certification exams (such as IELTS, TOEFL).
Importance of Extracurricular Activities and Certificates
Students who wish to pursue higher education abroad need not only good academic results, but should also collect various types of evidence or certificates, such as:
Participating in projects: Work on a project and collect certificates of experience.
Volunteering: Gain leadership and teamwork experience through voluntary work and keep certificates of such activities.
These will play an important role in their future careers.
Strategies for Publishing Research Papers
Publishing articles in international journals can sometimes be challenging. In such cases, publishing in local journals is also important. There are many local journals in Bangladesh where research can be published. Foreign researchers are often interested in local research as well.
When working on a research topic, instead of immediately aiming to publish a full article, the work can be completed in several steps:
1. Organize a seminar: Arrange a seminar on the topic, which could be at the university department or on Biggani.org’s platform.
2. Present at a conference: Present the topic at a research conference, where usually only the abstract is shared.
3. Write a book chapter: Write a chapter or section in a book on the topic.
4. Publish in a journal: Finally, publish the full paper in a journal.
The Importance of Cross-Disciplinary Research
Currently, the trend for interdisciplinary or cross-disciplinary research is increasing. Combining different fields makes research work easier and opens up new opportunities. Students should not limit themselves to their own field but try to apply their skills in other areas as well.
An example of cross-disciplinary research is bioinformatics, which combines computer science and biology.
Opportunities for Higher Education in Australia
Recently, it has become somewhat more difficult to go to Canada for higher education. A similar trend is also seen in Australia. However, it has not stopped completely. The Australian government determines each year what percentage of international students it will accept. So, opportunities still remain. Australia is an excellent country for higher education.
According to statistics, there were about 400,000 international students in Australia in 2021, which is a significant number in the context of global higher education.
What to Do if You Have a Low CGPA
Many students ask what they should do if their CGPA is low (for example, 3.5) but they are interested in higher education.
Dr. Parvez Sultan says, academic performance is indeed important. However, results can be low for various reasons. There’s no need to be discouraged. Students can demonstrate their abilities by achieving a high score in IELTS (at least above 6.5) and by publishing multiple research articles.
The Importance of Communicating with Professors
Take the initiative and communicate with professors about research topics. Be proactive in deciding what you want to research.
Summary of the Interview
Dr. Parvez Sultan has shared valuable advice for students from his long years of experience. Especially regarding higher education, research, and career development, his guidance is extremely important.
This interview was conducted by Jisan and Dr. Mashiur Rahman on behalf of Biggani.org.
Explanations of Some Technical Terms
IELTS (International English Language Testing System): An international standard English proficiency test required for higher education or employment abroad.
CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average): The average score of a student’s total academic results.
Cross-disciplinary research: Research that combines different subjects or disciplines.
We hope that Dr. Parvez Sultan’s valuable advice will help students in pursuing higher education and building their careers.
Interview with Dr Md Parves Sultan
This edition of the Biggani.org interview series features Dr. Parvez Sultan.
Dr. Parves Sultan is a renowned educator and scientist, currently working as an Associate Professor and Program Director at the Melbourne Institute of Technology. With 23 years of experience in education and research, he has led initiatives in institutional development, accreditation, and research management.
Dr. Sultan has expertise in leadership, quality management, accreditation, and institutional training development. He has led the accreditation and quality enhancement of the Melbourne Institute’s Bachelor of Business program, significantly contributing to student progress and reducing dropout rates. His research and educational work have earned international acclaim, and he has been honored with numerous research publications and awards.
He has also served as an educator and administrator at BRAC University, Central Queensland University, and Canberra University. Through his contributions to education and research across various countries, he has established himself as an academic leader in promoting quality education and managing research projects.
Differences Between Universities in Australia and Bangladesh
Dr. Parves Sultan discussed how academic programs are conducted in Australian universities and the fundamental differences compared to Bangladesh. A key difference between universities in developed and developing countries is the approach to student assessment and skill development.
In Australia, students are not evaluated solely through exams. Emphasis is placed on skill development, quality work, and practical knowledge. The belief is that exams can measure memory but not the real skills or depth of learning of a student.
In Bangladesh, on the other hand, most students are evaluated only through exams, which often limits their practical knowledge and skills.
Advice to Students
The Importance of Setting Life Goals: The most crucial step for a student is setting life goals and preparing accordingly. The sooner a student finds their goal and starts working towards it, the better it is for their future.
Steps for Career Development:
- For those interested in an academic or teaching career, focus on relevant courses and skill development.
- For those who want to pursue research, they must start developing research-related skills from the undergraduate level.
Advice for Those Wishing to Study Abroad
Dr. Parves Sultan advises students aspiring to study abroad to focus on three key areas starting in their third year:
- Improving Academic Results: Aim for a high GPA or CGPA. Generally, a CGPA of 3.5 or above is desirable for admission to leading universities.
- English Language Proficiency: Prepare for the IELTS or TOEFL exams, aiming for at least a 6.5 score in IELTS, as most Australian universities require a minimum score of 6.5.
- Publishing Research Papers: Try to publish at least two research papers. This demonstrates the student’s interest and competence in research.
Building a Career as a Researcher
To become a researcher, focus on the following:
- Learning to Write Papers: Master how to write papers with proper citation.
- Practicing English Writing: Regularly practice writing in English, which could be in newspapers or newsletters.
- Improving English Proficiency: Enhance English skills and aim for high scores in international certification exams like IELTS and TOEFL.
Importance of Extracurricular Activities and Certificates
Students aspiring for higher education abroad should not only focus on academic results but also collect various types of certificates, such as:
- Project Participation: Engage in projects and collect certificates of experience.
- Voluntary Activities: Gain leadership and teamwork experience through volunteering and keep records of such certificates.
These will play an essential role in future careers.
Strategies for Publishing Research Papers
Publishing in international journals can be challenging. In such cases, local journals are also valuable. Many international researchers show interest in local research.
When working on a research topic, instead of publishing a complete paper immediately, the work can be divided into several steps:
- Organizing a Seminar: Hold a seminar on the topic, which could be at the university department or on Biggani.org’s platform.
- Presenting at a Conference: Present the topic at a research conference, where only the abstract is shared.
- Writing a Book Chapter: Write a chapter or part of a book on the topic.
- Publishing in a Journal: Finally, publish the complete paper in a journal.
Importance of Cross-Disciplinary Research
The trend of cross-disciplinary research is growing. Combining different fields makes research easier and opens up new opportunities. Students should try to apply skills across fields rather than restricting themselves to their own disciplines.
An example of cross-disciplinary research is bioinformatics, which combines computer science and biology.
Opportunities for Higher Education in Australia
Recently, pursuing higher education in Canada has become a bit more difficult, and a similar trend is seen in Australia. However, opportunities are still available. Each year, the Australian government determines the percentage of international students to admit, and Australia remains an excellent destination for higher education.
According to statistics, in 2021, Australia hosted around 400,000 international students, which is a significant figure in the global context of higher education.
What to Do if CGPA is Low
Many students ask what to do if they have a low CGPA (e.g., 3.5) but still wish to pursue higher education.
Dr. Parves Sultan advises that academic performance is important, but low results can happen for various reasons. In such cases, there is no need for despair. Students can demonstrate their competence by scoring well on the IELTS (at least above 6.5) and by publishing multiple research papers.
The Importance of Connecting with Relevant Professors
In research, proactively connecting with professors is crucial. Students must be proactive in reaching out and discussing potential research topics.
Summary of the Interview
Dr. Parves Sultan has shared valuable advice for students from his extensive experience, particularly in higher education, research, and career development.
Interview by: Jisan and Dr. Mashiur Rahman on behalf of Biggani.org.
Explanation of Some Technical Terms
IELTS (International English Language Testing System): An international standardized test for English language proficiency, often required for higher education or employment abroad.
CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average): The average score of a student’s total academic performance.
Cross-Disciplinary Research: Research that combines various fields or disciplines.
We hope Dr. Parves Sultan’s insights will assist students in achieving success in higher education and career development.
Watch the interview with Dr. Parvez Sultan on YouTube at the link below: 👇👇👇
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