# Shahjalal University of Science and Technology

The Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, abbreviated as SUST, is a public research university in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Established in 1986, it is one of the leading universities in pioneering research and education in the physical sciences and engineering in the country.
It is the 8th oldest university of the country and the first university to adopt American credit system. In 2016, SUST ranked as the top research university in Bangladesh (610th in the world) in the Scopus-SCImago institution ranking. In 2017, the university had the highest research expenditure among all universities in Bangladesh. Following the success of SUST, twelve more STEM universities have been established in the country by the Government of Bangladesh.

## History

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology was established in 1986. The campus is located in Kumargaon, approximately six kilometers away from the heart of Sylhet City Centre. The university started its academic program with three departments: physics, chemistry, and economics. Renowned scientist and educator Sadruddin Ahmed Chowdhury was the first vice-chancellor of the university. The first convocation of SUST was held on 29 April 1998, the second on 6 December 2007, and the third on 8 January 2020. At present, SUST has 7,662 students, 487 academic staffs and 772 administrative staffs; i.e. the university has 6.09 students per staff.
SUST is the first university in Bangladesh providing free Wi-Fi access for students and staff across its entire campus. The university introduced an integrated honors course for the first time in Bangladesh and it introduced the semester system (American credit system) from the 1996-97 session. In 2019, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) allocated a BDT 9.88-billion (US$117 million) fund for 20 development projects of SUST.
The students of SUST invented the paperless 24/7 SMS Based Automated Registration of Admission Test procedure. Interested students can complete the registration process through mobile phone messages. The contemporary government launched the system on 13 September 2009. For the invention, the university won an Ambillion Award in a competition of South Asian countries in 2010 and National Award for E-Content and ICT for Development Award 2010. Now, most of the public universities in Bangladesh have adopted this process of registration.

## Academics
### Admission

SUST enrolls undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students. All applicants need to pass the admission test arranged by the specific schools under the authority of admission council, which is highly competitive. In 2018-19 session, SUST received 76,068 undergraduate applications only admitting 1,448; an acceptance rate of 1.90%. A total of 71,018 students vied for 1,703 seats at the university for the session 2019–2020.

### Ranking and reputation

SUST gives high priority to research. In 2017, the university spent ৳137 million (US$1.1 million) on research; the highest research expenditure among all universities in Bangladesh, almost double the second one.
In 2016, SUST ranked as the top research university in Bangladesh (610th in the world) by Scopus-SCImago institution ranking. In 2019, it ranked 337th in Asia and 610th in the world among 3,471 higher educational institutions. SUST ranked 445th for research and 493rd for innovation in the world. It ranked 1st in 2015 and 3rd in 2021 among all universities in Bangladesh by Webometrics.
In 2018, the team from SUST became the world champion of NASA Space Apps Challenge among 1,395 local winning teams from around the world. In the International Theoretical Physics Olympiad 2019, seven teams from SUST got place among finalist 88 and achieved 15th spot in the world (highest individual achievement of an Asian University). Due to pioneering contributions in science and technology, the university is often referred as the Stanford of the east.

### Conference

The biggest yearly conference of SUST is International Conference on Engineering Research, Innovation and Education (ICERIE). In ICERIE, several hundred universities attend from different parts of the world and present research papers in the various fields of applied sciences, architecture, and engineering.
Other significant conferences of SUST:
* International Conference on Social Work and Sustainable Social Development (ICSCWSSD)
* International Conference on Materials Chemistry (ICMC)
* International Conference on Advance in Physics (ICAP)
* International Conference on Environmental Technology and Construction Engineering for Sustainable Development (ICETCESD)
In 2019, SUST organized the first International Convention of Vice-Chancellors (ICVC) in Bangladesh. In 1999, SUST hosted the third International Conference on Computer and Information Technology. Tthe academic departments host numerous conferences on respective fields regularly.

### Collaboration

SUST has academic and research collaboration with the following institutes:

### Carnival

Since 2011, SUST has arranged an annual three-day CSE Carnival. The carnival features a programming contest, software developing competition, and related events. In 2015, it involved 1,000 students in 145 teams from 46 universities.

## Schools and departments

SUST is the first public university to introduce undergraduate programs in Software Engineering in Bangladesh. It is the second oldest in the country to introduce engineering education in the fields of Chemical, Computer Science, Industrial & Production, Petroleum & Mining. Also, the third oldest to introduce Architecture, Food Engineering & Tea Technology, Genetic engineering & Biotechnology programs in the country. In total, SUST has 28 departments under seven schools:

### Second Major Program

SUST is the first and only university in Bangladesh to initiate the "Second Major Program" under department of Computer Science & Engineering, where a student can enroll in another department as the second major besides his/her first major. Currently, only three departments: EEE, Physics, Mathematics offer a second major degree as department of Computer Science & Engineering has stopped taking new students. A student studying in this university has to sit for an aptitude test after his/her first year of study to be considered for the program as there are only a limited number of students who can enroll in this program. Any students from the School of Applied Sciences & Technology, the School of Life Sciences, the School of Physical Sciences, the School of Agricultural & Mineral Sciences can sit for the test, and they can so only after their first year of study in the university. A "Second Major" degree is awarded on completion of 36 credits of core courses from the respective department.

### Affiliated colleges

* Al-Amin Dental College
* Begum Rabeya Khatun Chowdhury Nursing College
* North East Nursing College
* Sylhet Engineering College
* Sylhet Nursing College

### Affiliated School

There is a school which is in under SUST:
* Shahjalal University School and College

## Institutes

There are two institutions of SUST
* Institute of Information and Communication Technology (IICT) BS in Software Engineering
* Institute of Modern Languages (IML) Certificate program (Six months), Diploma program (one year) in (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese & Korean) language
As of 2022, IML offers academic programs in Arabic, English, French, German, and Japanese.

### CRTC Architecture

SUST Department of Architecture is the third oldest public architecture school in Bangladesh. The Center for Research, Testing, and Consultancy (CRTC Architecture) focus on research areas such as building planning and design, interior design, landscape development, urban planning, and urban renewal, conservation of historical sites and monuments, the architecture of Bengal region, sustainable design, and low-cost housing, according to the regional context. The department has collaborations with TU Delft and Birmingham City University and has been widely working with the traditional house forms, settlement patterns, urban growth, and architectural development of the region.

### CRTC CSE

The CRTC program, Department of Computer Science & Engineering focuses on research areas such as Optical Character Recognition, Parallel Processing, Cluster Computer, CodeWitz, Asia Link Project, Cellular Phone & Computer Interfacing, Bangla Computerization, and Natural Language Processing. The software house offers a professional working environment to the students.

### CRTC CEE

Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) department established the center for research, testing, and consultancy (CRTC) to provide research, testing, and consultancy services in 2003. CRTC designed a water treatment plant to remove a high concentration of iron (>11 mg/lit) in groundwater of the Sylhet region; such a plant has been successfully operating in hotels in Sylhet city. CTRC planned and designed the structural and drainage systems of the Madina Garden City near Sylhet International Airport, including EIA, and recently has been working for Gazi Burhan Uddin Model City near Sylhet upashahar. CRTC has performed testing in the field of water, wastewater, cement, concrete, rod beam, soil, air, and noise, since 2003.

### CRTC Physics

The CRTC program Department of Physics has research groups in the areas of Theoretical and Experimental Nuclear Physics, Nonlinear Optics, Thin-film Magnetism, Neutron Scattering, Neutron Activation Analysis, Neutron Radiography, Defects in Solids, Semiconductor Physics, Condensed Matter Physics, Gravitational Physics and Celestial Mechanics and Theoretical Physics. In 2015, CRTC Physics invented low cost technology to detect cancer.

## Campus
### Campus life

SUST has an urban campus area of 320 acres. Many visitors come to Sylhet to visit the "Shahid Minar" (Martyr's Memorial) of the university. The memorial stands on the top of a small hill and is surrounded by trees. Different cultural organizations arrange programs on the premises on local and national occasions. The Kilo Road is an entrance to the SUST campus known for its green vista. The first Bangladesh Mathematical Olympiad was held in Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in 2004.

### Classes

SUST has an extensive core curriculum required of all undergraduates. It is the first university in Bangladesh to adopt American course credit systems for all departments. The syllabus is updated frequently to maintain the global standard of education.

### Library

SUST has a common Central Library with a collection of 180,000 volumes and 300 current periodical subscriptions for all academic departments. The library includes electronic copies of books, which can be accessed from any academic department through electronic local area networking (LAN). Per year around 2000 volumes are added to this library. The library building of SUST is known for its triangular shape. It also has a free internet browsing facility and rental library program. There is also a departmental library in each academic department and a hall library in each residential hall. The library has an Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC).

### International students

SUST also welcomes foreign students. There is a significant number of international students, especially from Nepal. There are also some students in its affiliated medical college from India controlled Kashmir . Every year SUST receives applications from abroad. Most international students come from Nepal, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan, Japan, Afghanistan, Thailand, Malaysia, Palestine, China, Finland, and Myanmar.

### Halls of residence

Currently, there are six halls of residence. A significant number of students reside privately near the university area of Sylhet metro.
* Shah Paran Hall
* Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall
* Syed Mujtaba Ali Hall
* Shahid Jononi Jahanara Imam Hall
* Begum Sirajunnesa Chowdhury Hall
* Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall
There are also well-decorated houses for the faculty members of SUST. University authorities also run some private halls of residence outside the main campus, especially for female students to guarantee the house for female students. These halls are:
* Darul Aman Chatrabas
* Amir Complex
* Fazal Complex
* Samad House
* Maa Manjil
* Sunu Mia Complex

### Sports

The students of this university participate in sports for recreation, and the finest athletes regularly compete in inter-university games like football, handball, volleyball, and basketball,. SUST has some varsity teams. There are a cricket ground, a football ground, a basketball ground, and a well-equipped gymnasium adjacent to the university student health center. SUST is the only university to have a professional cricket league and a professional football league. Students organize both inter-department and inter-university tournaments every year. Girls and teachers also participate in several games.

### BNCC

SUST has two Bangladesh National Cadet Corps platoons, one male and another one for female. Both the platoons train students as cadets. Cadets can take a course on Military Science as auxiliary subject.

### University School

SUST has a university school of secondary level inside the campus for the children of staff. The school also receives general students.

### Cultural organizations

The following cultural organizations are present at the university:
* Tourist Club SUST (established in 1995)
* Shikorh (established in 1995)
* Chokh Film Society (CFS) (established in 1996)
* Shahjalal University Photographers Association (SUPA)
* Rokon Ifthekhar Memorial (RIM) (established in 1997)
* Theater SUST (established in 1997)
* Dik Theater (established in 1999)
* Maavoi Abrittee Samsod (established in 1998)
* KIN, a voluntary organization (established in 2003)
* NONGAR (established in 2003)
* SUST Science Arena (established in 2004)
* Sports SUST (established in 2005)
* Cartoon Factory (established in 2007)
* Swapnotthan, a voluntary organization (established in 2007)
* AAJ Muktomancho (established in 2008)
* Sanatan Vidyarthi Samsad
* Green Explore Society (GES) (established in 2012)
* SUST Careel Club (SUSTCC)
* SUST School of Bebate, SUST-SD
* Shahjalal University Press Club
* Shahjalal University Debating Society (SUDS)
* Sonchalon
* SUST Shahitya Shamsad
* Student Aid SUST
* Ongikar Sanskritik Samsad

### Photos of SUST

* Cafeteria
* Shahid Minar
* Shah Paran Hall
* Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall
* Transport vehicle
* Main entry gate

## List of vice chancellors

* Sadruddin Ahmed Chowdhury (1 June 1989 to 31 May 1993)
* Syed Mohib Uddin Ahmed (26 June 1993 to 25 June 1997)
* M Habibur Rahman (20 July 1997 to 19 July 2001)
* Md Saleh Uddin (20 July 2001 to 25 December 2001)
* M Shafiqur Rahman (3 March 2002 to 27 April 2003)
* Musleh Uddin Ahmed (in charge till 2 October 2004, 28 April 2003 to 22 October 2006)
* M Aminul Islam (23 October 2006 to 24 February 2009)
* Md Saleh Uddin (26 February 2009 to 25 February 2013)
* Md Elias Uddin Biswas (add in charge, 20 March 2013 to 27 July 2013)
* Md Aminul Haque Bhuyan (28 July 2013 to 27 July 2017)
* Farid Uddin Ahmed (18 August 2017 – incumbent)

## Awards

* National ICT Award (2017)

## Notable people
### Faculty

* Arun Kumar Basak, founder professor, Department of Physics, professor emeritus of physics at University of Rajshahi
* Sadruddin Ahmed Chowdhury, scientist and founder vice-chancellor of SUST
* Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, retired professor, Department of Computer Science & Engineering, and writer