Social Impact Lab is a unit of the School of GenEd, BRAC University that works with the students to co-create social impact projects, civic engagement initiatives and research on identifying global and social problems. The Project associates will work at the Social Impact Lab as core members of a Social Impact Project to support its planning, execution, and evaluation to become an agent of change in their communities.

 refers to actions and initiatives that generate positive change and bring meaningful benefits to individuals, groups, or communities. It is about addressing social, environmental, or economic challenges with innovative solutions or technologies and making a lasting difference in people's lives. The project will involve active participation in the public sphere to contribute to the common good, foster community development, and advocate for social justice

1st Year and 2nd Year students from all disciplines are encouraged to apply

 Support in planning and creating the upcoming project. This will also include joining the student meet-ups to identify issues that interests the students to work on.

  Assist in the overall project coordination, including participating in meetings, field trips, preparing project documentation, and maintaining project files.

 Conduct research on social issues, trends, and best practices for project development and implementation.

 Assist in building and maintaining relationships with the student volunteers.

 Help in organizing and coordinating workshops such as the student meetups, events, and training sessions related to the projects.

 Gain practical experience in developing OKRs, project management and design thinking. 

 Connect with professionals, social entrepreneurs, and like-minded individuals in the field of social impact and innovation.

 Enhance research, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills through project-related tasks and activities.

 Make a positive impact by working on projects that address critical social and environmental challenges in Bangladesh and beyond.

from SIL to acknowledge your work as project associates.

in Social Impact Lab after successful completion and evaluation.


Project Associate at SIL BRACU

BRAC University recently hosted an Outreach program on its residential campus that brought together some of the top high schools in the country to inspire high school students across the country towards creating a better future. The event featured two special guests – Srijan, Director of the Social Impact Lab of the University, and Patricia, Coordinator of OSUN. 



The Social Impact Lab, which aims to create a platform for students, faculty, and practitioners to collaborate and work towards solving real-world problems, was the perfect partner for this initiative. Led by Srijan, the lab's director, the workshop on "Idea to Action" was a fun and interactive session that gave students hands-on experience in turning their ideas into tangible solutions.

Patricia, on the other hand, spoke about the global partnership between BRAC University and OSUN. OSUN is a global network of educational institutions that integrates learning and the advancement of knowledge across geographic and demographic boundaries. It promotes civic engagement on behalf of open societies and expands access to higher education for underserved communities.

The Outreach program at BRAC University was a great success, with high school students from across the country participating in the event.  The Social Impact Lab BRACU and OSUN believe that creating a better world requires collaboration and innovation. This inspiring initiative is just the beginning, as BRAC University and OSUN will continue to work together to promote social impact and global education for all.

In conclusion, BRAC University's Social Impact Lab and OSUN's collaboration to inspire high school students to create change was a fun and inspiring event. The workshop and speeches emphasized the importance of collaboration and innovation in creating a better world. It was an excellent opportunity for students to learn from experts in the field and engage with diverse perspectives. We hope that initiatives like these will continue to inspire and empower the next generation of change-makers. 

Inspiring High School Students to Create Change

On March 13, 2023, a panel discussion was held on the topic of gender equity and the role of women in higher education and their role as leaders in the global sphere. The event was organised by Social Impact Lab BRACU and School of General Education BRACU as a part of the OSUN Gender Equity Month celebration. The discussion was moderated by Patricia Nae, the coordinator for Civic Engagement Programs at Open Society University Network(OSUN) and Central European University in Vienna, Austria, and featured a panel of inspiring speakers from different backgrounds and countries.

The panelists included Professor Ava Hossain, the President of the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, Dr. Marufa Akter, an associate professor at the Department of Global Studies and Governance in Independent University of Bangladesh, and Zarlash Sharmast, the coordinator for the Global Engagement Fellows program, OSUN and the director and CEO of the project "Afghanistan Politics on the Verge of Transformation."

The panel discussion began with opening remarks from Dr. David, the Registrar of BRAC University, and was followed by an insightful and thought-provoking discussion among the panelists. He expressed his appreciation for such a significant event within the Open Society University network. He highlighted the fragility of society and the importance of becoming a social activist in order to help build and safeguard an open and inclusive society. Dr. David also emphasized the fundamental importance of gender equality and female empowerment to human flourishing, which is a core value of the BRAC movement.

The event also addressed issues beyond the representation of females in senior leadership positions and in research, such as the relatively low numbers of females in science, technology, engineering, and math, as well as various barriers and issues of depreciation and even harassment. It was noted that there is a long way to go in achieving gender equity, but progress has been made, particularly in the representation of females in higher education across the world.

One of the main topics discussed was the importance of gender equity in higher education and leadership positions. The panelists shared their own experiences and highlighted the challenges that women face in accessing leadership roles in higher education and the need for systemic change to address gender disparities.

Professor Hossain, the first woman to hold the position of President of the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, shared her experience of breaking barriers in a male-dominated field and encouraged young women to pursue their dreams, regardless of societal expectations.

Dr. Akter discussed her research on gender politics and women and the need for substantive representation of women in Bangladesh. She emphasized the importance of creating equal opportunities for women and highlighted the role of education in achieving gender equity.

Zarlash Sharmast shared her experience of working with Afghan women and the challenges they face in accessing education and leadership positions, particularly in light of the recent political situation in Afghanistan. She emphasized the need for international support to ensure that Afghan women can continue to access education and participate in leadership roles. She is a director and CEO of the project Afghanistan Politics on the Verge of Transformation, has been part of the team that has been evacuating a large number of scholars from Afghanistan to partner institutions across OSUN. Additionally, she has been creating a photo story book titled A Journey from Kabul to Bishkek, documenting the travel and stories of Afghan scholars who were forced to leave their country and move to a safer place. This book is a testament to the resilience of these individuals and highlights the importance of providing opportunities for education and empowerment, particularly for women.

The students raised some interesting points once the floor was opened up to discussion. It was previously stated that to ensure gender equity, both men and women would need to work alongside each other, else this would be an impossible task. In relation to this, one of the main points of contention was how certain groups, mainly men, feel threatened or emasculated by the empowerment of women. This is obviously a major misconception on their part as the feminist movement does not try to separate any of the genders, but aims to achieve equal human rights for all. To alleviate this issue, the students discussed that young men needed to have positive role models to look up to. This is especially important during early development. As such, the responsibility falls on the family to educate their children about gender equity so that such misunderstandings do not pervade their lives in the future.

Another point of contention raised was why women did not seek the help of authorities when it came to any sort of inequality, especially domestic violence. While it is true that laws exist to safeguard women from such transgressions, the enforcers of said laws are patriarchal in nature, and so most pleas for help fall on deaf ears. The victims are instead blamed for the harm that befell them. At the same time, the women, who are usually housewives, have no other way to support themselves and their children without relying on their husbands even if they are treated cruelly.

The collaboration with the Social Impact Lab of BRAC University is noteworthy as it demonstrates the university's commitment to promoting social entrepreneurship and civic engagement with an international dimension. SIL is eager to take an active role in promoting gender equality by supporting projects that foster female leadership and entrepreneurship. One such project involves bringing together women from diverse regions to collaborate on climate change entrepreneurship in higher education spaces. Moreover, it is dedicated to actively participating in these events and initiatives to help create a more inclusive and equitable society.

Overall, the gender equity event was an important forum for addressing issues related to gender equity and female empowerment, particularly in light of recent developments in Afghanistan. The panel discussion highlighted the importance of gender equity in higher education and leadership positions and the need for systemic change to address gender disparities. The panelists emphasized the role of education in achieving gender equity and encouraged young women to pursue their dreams and break barriers, regardless of societal expectations. The discussion was a reminder that gender equity is not only a matter of social justice but also a necessary condition for achieving a more just and equitable society. It is hoped that events such as these will inspire more people to become social activists and work towards building and safeguarding an open and inclusive society.

Round Table Discussion on Gender Equity and Women's Leadership in Higher Education:

The Social Impact Lab BRACU is excited to announce its upcoming workshop, 

 which will provide you with the skills and knowledge to turn your social impact ideas into reality.





This workshop will take you through the entire process of developing, implementing, and funding a social impact project, giving you a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to make a difference in the world.

The workshop will be conducted by 

, Coordinator,  Open Society University Network- Civic Engagement programs at the Central European University in Vienna, Austria. She is visiting Bangladesh to meet the innovative future change-makers of BRAC University

By attending this workshop, you will gain a deep understanding of the following:

-How to identify and define a social issue that you are passionate about
-The tools and strategies for developing a comprehensive social impact project plan
-How to obtain funding and support for your project
-How to measure the impact of your project and make necessary adjustments

This is a unique opportunity for you to learn from experts, develop your skills and knowledge, and make a real impact in the world. So, don't miss out on this opportunity!

To register for the workshop, please fill out the following form: 



We look forward to seeing you at the workshop!


From Idea to Action

Gender equity and women's empowerment are crucial for a fair and just society. Despite significant progress in recent years, there are still many challenges facing women's higher education globally. So to bring attention to these issues and inspire global action to promote gender equity and women's empowerment, Social Impact Lab BRACU together with School of General Education BRACU and Open Society University Network is organising a round table conference. 

Interested Students May fill out the following form to take part in the discussion: 

A round table across the world: Inspire global actions and raise awareness about critical importance of higher education for women.

Women's leadership and representation in global decision-making

Address challenges facing women’s higher education globally

Shine spotlight on Afghan women experiences in higher education

The panel discussion will be held in a hybrid format with live in-person participation available at BRAC University Bangladesh and American University of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan and on Zoom for other Universities across Open Society University Network(OSUN). The discussion will be moderated by Patricia Nae, Coordinator for Open Society University Network Civic Engagement programs at the Central European University, Austria and the panelists include experts and leaders in the fields of education, government, non-profits, advocacy etc. Each panelist will have the opportunity to provide their thoughts and insights on the various topics.

The moderator will facilitate a discussion between the panelists and encourage a cross-cultural exchange of ideas and perspectives.

There will be opportunities for Students and audience members in each campus to ask questions and engage in the discussion through a Q&A session.



 Patricia Nae is working as a Coordinator for Open Society University Network Civic Engagement programs at the Central European University in Vienna, Austria.
She is a MA graduate in Nationalism Studies at CEU. Her research focus revolves around women in nationalist political parties in Central Eastern Europe.
Patricia has been working in the Romanian and European NGO sector since 2016, creating and implementing projects on youth and democracy promotion.



 Prof Ava is the President of Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology. She is the first Bangladeshi Ophthalmologist who holds this position in the history of 63 years of journey of APAO. She is also first women Ophthalmologist in this leadership position of Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO).

Prof. Ava is the first women fellow in Ophthalmology in Bangladesh and obtained FCPS in 1985. At present she is the Director cum Chief Consultant at OSB Eye Hospital, Mirpur, Dhaka. Her significant contributions towards preventing blindness in Bangladesh and Asia Pacific Region are widely recognized.

She has long 43 years’ experience in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in Bangladesh. She was also President of SAARC Academy of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmological Society of Bangladesh (OSB) and Founding President of Bangladesh Community Ophthalmological Society (BCOS).

She was recognized as the top 100 influential women ophthalmologists of the world by The Ophthalmologist power list 2021. In 2020 she received Honorary Fellow of All India Collegium of Ophthalmology (FAICO) Award, as a mark of an outstanding stalwart of ophthalmology.

Prof. Hossain is the recipient of many prestigious international and national awards, including APAO Distinguished Service Award, APAO Arthur Lim Award, APAO Achievement Award, Modasser-Daud-Mala SAARC Award, Alim Memorial Gold Medal and Life Time Achievement Award of OSB, Humayun Kabir Memorial Award of BAO.



 Zarlasht Sarmast is a recent graduate of the American University of Central Asia, Department of International and Comparative Politics. She has previously served as the Spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Kabul, and Communications Specialist for GIZ in Central Asia. Zarlasht is currently working for the Open Society University Network working as a Program Coordinator for the Global Engagement Fellows program. She is the Director and CEO of the project “Afghanistan Politics on the Verge of Transformation''. After being a part of the evacuation efforts of AUCA and OSUN to get students out of Afghanistan and to safety, Zarlasht put together a photo story book titled “A journey from Kabul to Bishkek” where she shared stories that highlight the horrific journey which Afghan students had to take in order to reach safety. Zarlasht recently finished her first MA in the department of International Relations and Security at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek and is currently doing her second Master’s Degree in applied psychology at AUCA.



Dr Dave is the Registrar of BRAC University. He previously served successively as Registrar, Academic Registrar and in other senior positions in the UK higher education sector. He has contributed to strategic renewal, organizational development, internationalization and the deployment of services to support students, and the construction of external relationships and partnerships. In 2019, he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance – a leading UK based performing arts institution - in recognition of his outstanding service as Registrar and for leading the successful application to Her Majesty’s Privy Council for taught degree awarding powers.

Dr Dowland has also been active in the wider sector as a member of the National Executive of the UK Academic Registrars’ Council; Clerk to the Trustees of the AUA – an international professional development organization for higher education managers and administrators; and an institutional reviewer for the Quality Assurance Agency. He is a graduate of King’s College London and Oxford University; his academic specialization is the history of British higher education in the 19th and early 20th centuries. He has particular interests in student support, staff development and corporate and academic governance.



She is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Global Studies and Governance in Independent University, Bangladesh. She obtained a PhD in Political Science from University of Bremen, Germany and her dissertation titled: Women’s Political Participation in Bangladesh Parliament: A Case Study Analysis of Women’s Substantive Representation. She has obtained a Masters degree in Public Policy from Willy Brandt School of Public Policy, University of Erfurt, Germany under DAAD scholarship. She also holds a Bachelor and a Master of Social Sciences degree in International Relations from University of Dhaka. She has attended a one-year graduate course on Peace building, and Conflict Transformation at the SIT Graduate Institute in Vermont, USA. She works in the areas of women and politics; gender and governance; women, peace and security; conflict resolution and peace building. 

She has received many international awards and fellowships including Fellowship for Women in Conflict 1325 Fellowship Programme, Beyond Borders, Scotland, Fellowship Grant for the research on Women and Work in South Asia: Rights and Innovations, Firedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), Dhaka etc. Find out more about 

Participate in the Round Table Discussion on Gender Equity

Changemakers welcome! Earn Your Global OSUN Certificate in Social Enterprise + Leading Change

In 2022, BRAC University and The Graduate Programs in Sustainability at Bard College in New York, in collaboration with faculty at six other Open Society University Network (OSUN) institutions from Bangladesh, Palestine, Colombia, Kyrgyzstan, Bulgaria and the US launched an OSUN Global Certificate in Social Enterprise + Leading Change. The vision of the Certificate is to create leaders who can address the SDG’s by creating and building “Social Enterprises”: both nonprofit and mission-driven for-profit organizations. The Certificate offers theoretical perspectives and concrete tools for students from all disciplines—the arts, natural and social sciences, the humanities--who want to drive social change through building new organizations or transforming existing ones. The Certificate consists of three semester-long courses taught through a mix of synchronous global zoom sessions, as well as in-person sessions here at the Brac Business School (BBS), ensuring a high-touch approach to education. The courses are: Sustainable Development and Social Enterprise; Social Entrepreneurship, and Leading Change in Organizations (Social Intrapreneurship).

This Certificate provides leadership training in the critical thinking and skill sets needed to create and build “Social Enterprises”: both nonprofit and mission-driven for-profit organizations. It offers a focus on "sustainable business", theoretical perspectives and concrete tools designed for students from all disciplines—the arts, natural and social sciences, the humanities--who want to drive social change through building new organizations or transforming existing ones. This is your chance to earn a Global Certificate accompanied by top-of-the-class professors from across the world.

 The Certificate can be earned by undergraduate or graduate students enrolled at Brac University.

Passionate to drive the 5D's fuelling our energy future: Decentralization, Decarbonization, Disruption, Democratization & Digitization! In line with these beliefs, together with his colleagues at SOLshare, Dr. Groh, the Founder, and CEO of SOLshare, a cleantech startup based out of Dhaka, Bangladesh that

 built the world’s first peer-to-peer solar energy exchange platform (World Economic Forum, 2018),
 raised USD 6.5M to date (50% in equity), and
 was coined the world’s best energy start-up (Free Electrons, 2018) & Earthshot Prize Finalist (2021).

Dr. Groh is a 2013 Stanford Ignite Fellow from Stanford Graduate School of Business and holds a PhD from Aalborg University and the Postgraduate School Microenergy Systems at the TU Berlin where he wrote his doctoral thesis on the role of energy in development processes, energy poverty & technical innovations, with a special focus on Bangladesh. He published a book and multiple journal articles on the topic of decentralized electrification in the Global South. He is an Associate Professor at BRAC University in Dhaka (Bangladesh) where he teaches strategic management, as well as social entre- and intrapreneurship at the Brac Business School (BBS) via the Open Society University Network (OSUN). In 2014, Dr. Groh founded SOLshare, acting as its CEO since then. On behalf of SOLshare, he received numerous awards, among them Tech Pioneer ‘18 by the World Economic Forum, Finalist at the inaugural Earthshot Prize 2021, the most prestigious global environment prize in history launched by Prince William, and 2022 Winner of the Zayed Sustainability Award. Dr. Groh became an Ashoka Fellow in 2018, a UBS Global Visionary in 2019, and a Member of the Board & VP at the Bangladesh-German Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BGCCI) in 2021. 


OSUN Academic Certificate in Social Enterprise + Leading Change

The 11th of October, 2022 can be considered a historic day as the Social Impact Lab of 

 was finally launched officially after months of hard work. Renowned publishers like 

 of our country featured Social Impact Lab in their publications. An inaugural ceremony for the SIL was hosted, in partnership with the School of GenEd and the Office of Student Life, and the Millennium Fellows Class of 2022 was welcomed. We were joined by our honorable chief guests Sonia Bashir Kabir, The Honorable Board of Trustees Member of BRAC University and the Founder of SBK Tech Ventures & SBK Foundation, and Anonnya Banik, transgender rights advocate and founder of Shada Kalo. A few future projects were unveiled, such as Letters to Strangers and a partnership with the Inside Global project to pilot South Asia’s first VR therapy session. The ceremony was an absolute success, with many insightful takeaways from all the guests. This is only just the beginning. We hope to continue inspiring young leaders and changemakers to make a positive impact on our society and build a better world for all of us.

Social Impact Lab Got Featured in Renowned Publications

 was finally launched officially after months of hard work. An inaugural ceremony for the SIL was hosted, in partnership with the School of GenEd and the Office of Student Life, and the Millennium Fellows Class of 2022 was welcomed. We were joined by our honorable chief guests Sonia Bashir Kabir, The Honorable Board of Trustees Member of BRAC University and the Founder of SBK Tech Ventures & SBK Foundation, and Anonnya Banik, transgender rights advocate and founder of Shada Kalo. A few future projects were unveiled, such as Letters to Strangers and a partnership with the Inside Global project to pilot South Asia’s first VR therapy session. The ceremony was an absolute success, with many insightful takeaways from all the guests. This is only just the beginning. We hope to continue inspiring young leaders and changemakers to make a positive impact on our society and build a better world for all of us.

Inauguration Ceremony of SIL & Welcoming Session of Millennium Fellow of Class 2022

We need to assist others in shifting their perspectives if we want to truly transform the world. 

 is an intellectual process that doesn't need a lot of money or power. Change must include the mind. So, if we want to see true change, we must continue to persuade others of our shared humanity rather than our differences. Not only should we try to change the world by becoming the change we want to see in it, but we should also work to make the world more understandable to everyone around us so that they would want to change with us. The improvement of mankind will occur in this way. This is how we can affect global change. In light of this, on October 10, World Mental Health Day, 

The Global Wall of Goodwill at BRAC University

. Such an occurrence led us to conclude that "

The language of the heart is the basic common language of mankind

The Global Wall of Goodwill

The Millennium Fellows Class of 2022 at Brac University held their first offline session on September 30, 2022, paving the road for social impact work with new enthusiasm, visions, and values for young passionate leaders. They step forward to establish a community that supports a social cause and works to accomplish the SDGs to transform our society for the better. This year's delegation from BRAC University will be one of the biggest, consisting of a total of 23 young leaders. Each of their projects is inspiring and necessary for marginalized communities to thrive. Today, the 23 Millennium Fellows arrived to unpack the true meaning of social impact, create their project vision, and understand the community in which they want to serve while also embracing their core values. The Social Impact Lab (SIL) extends a hearty welcome to all members of the cohort and promises to support them in strengthening their community, expanding their network, and other necessary aspects.

Here are the new members in all their glory: 

Welcoming The Millennium Fellows Class of 2022

Biggest and heartiest Congratulations to our Founder and Director of SIL, 

. Today at dawn our veteran soul received a certificate of appreciation from The Vice Chancellor of BRAC University for demonstrating exceptional leadership through extracurricular activities. He has set an exceptional set of examples throughout the university amongst youths and young leaders. Nevertheless, he is a very kind and brilliant mind holding up ideas, creating impacts through society both nationally and internationally. We pray and wish the best for him.

SIL director wins special recognition award

This is an idea that we once thought was too ambitious to even pitch to 

 - establishing an entirely new organization to convene and inspire the student changemakers. And that idea is finally taking shape as the Social Impact Lab Bracu - an innovation hub that brings together student impact entrepreneurs to design and co-create ideas to create positive impact.

Following its official approval, today we had a 2hour long discussion session with the Registrar of Bracu, Dr. 

, Dean - School of GenEd, and Tahsina Rahman, Joint Director of Student Life about the upcoming plans and projects.

We are currently set to launch two back-to-back projects keeping the upcoming mental health day in mind, including South Asia's first-ever 

BRACU's student platform for the changemakers

Our Featured Blogs

Project Associate at SIL BRACU

Inspiring High School Students to Create Change

Round Table Discussion on Gender Equity and Women's Leadership in Higher Education:

Contact

Contact SIL