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• lobally reputed scientists and aviation scholars teamed up with BSMRAAU to conduct a two- week-long induction training programme for its newly recruited faculty members. The event was part of capacity building effort by the Faculty and Curriculum Development Department of country's first public

university for aviation and aerospace studies. The training entailed highly rewarding and engaging sessions delivered through lectures, workshops and tutorials. A pertinent mixture of topics helped the participants to sharpen their teaching, learning, writing, listening and exam-paper marking skills. It also included sessions on education psychology and University’s regulations - useful for the participants’ everyday work. In addition to the sessions conducted by in-house senior faculty, the training participants had the opportunity to engage in interactive sessions with eminent Indian space scientist and former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Prof A.S. Kiran Kumar, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Cranfield University Prof Dame Helen Atkinson and Prof Nazmul Ula, Associate Dean of Loyola Maryland University, California, U.S.A. Dr Shahjahan, Chairman Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL), also provided insightful comments at the session conducted by Prof Kiran. Mentionable that Prof Kiran had led the design and development of more than 50 Electro-Optical Imaging Sensors flown on India’s spaceborne platforms including Chandrayaan1 and Mars Orbiter Mission. Applauding BSMRAAU’s efforts in advancing aviation and aerospace studies in Bangladesh, Prof Kiran highlighted India's progress in space science and technology and offered to facilitate cooperation between Bangladesh and India in this field. Responding to a question, Prof Kiran explained how developing countries can benefit from the peaceful use of space science and technology to accelerate economic development. In her session, Cranfield’s Pro-VC provided an update on the innovations and future direction of global aerospace industry. Recognising BSMRAAU's future potentials, Prof Dame Helen stressed on collaboration to develop the aviation and aerospace industry of Bangladesh by leveraging the camaraderie that exists amongst the aviation and aerospace professionals across the globe. In his thought-provoking session on the 'future of space programme in Bangladesh’, Prof Dr Nazmul, also a freedom fighter and eminent educationist, made several recommendations including the proposal for establishing a National Space Commission. The two-week-long training ended with the awarding of certificates by BSMRAAU VC, Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Nazrul Islam. In his closing speech, VC reiterated that “a university can only be as good as its students and faculty.” Stressing that quality of the faculty is central to achieving our mission of becoming a leading international university, he urged all to “think big”. He emphasized that BSMRAAU’s small but growing faculty hold limitless potential in terms of the impact it can make on students’ learning experience studying at this university and on society at large. He thanked Group Captain Zahid, Head of Faculty and Curriculum Development Department and his team for planning and arranging an excellent training programme. Finally, he urged all to put their passion for teaching, learning and research into action to make BSMRAAU the nation's hub for producing and disseminating world-class knowledge, research and groundbreaking innovations