Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka (DUIR)

The Department of International Relations of the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, is the first of its kind in South Asia which was established in July 1947, considering the geopolitical location of Dhaka as a bridge between Southeast Asia and South Asia. Since then, the Department’s former Heads played a pivotal role in initiating studies in International Relations (IR) in other parts of South Asia.

The Department’s degree-awarding programs include Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSS) with Honors, Master of Social Sciences (MSS), Master of Philosophy (MPhil), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Keeping in mind of the specialization in IR, the Department’s Master’s program now offers five areas of specialization: MSS in International Relations (IR), MSS in International Political Economy (IPE), MSS in Security Studies (SS), MSS in South Asian Studies (SAS) and MSS in Globalization and Governance (GG). The Department takes pride in offering a four-month Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations (PGDIR) for graduates from different academic and professional backgrounds who seek to learn about international politics and apply the knowledge in their respective job sectors. This has been a part of the Department’s endeavor to go beyond the regular degree programs in order to respond to growing demands of IR knowledge from non-IR graduates and professionals. With the goal of expanding its academic mission, the Department launched the Professional Masters in International Relations (PMIR) program in 2016. This eighteen-month degree-awarding program is geared to working professionals who intend to gain knowledge and skills in the discipline of International Relations. PMIR, a flagship program of DUIR, helps understand international issues and policymaking in a nuanced manner that adds to the value of the professionals working in a wide range of areas. The collaboration between the Department and the Foreign Service Academy (FSA) has been one of the shining chapters in the Department’s credentials, which took a formal and an institutionalized shape by offering a Professional Master’s in International Relations and Diplomacy (PMIRD). This is based on the recognition of in-depth understanding of topical issues and informed policymaking by bringing together the academics and the practitioners.

The Department has pioneered the teaching and research in international politics in Bangladesh where its faculties are involved in cross-cutting and multidisciplinary approach. Faculties regularly present and publish in national, regional and international seminars and workshops, often also organized by the Department. The Department further arranges talks involving eminent scholars in the country as well as policymakers and members of the diplomatic community. It regularly publishes its Journal of International Relations, one of the oldest of its kind of the country on international affairs. Moreover, the Department has a number of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with universities across and beyond the region and with several international organizations. As a part of this, faculties and students undertake study tours in different parts of the world, while the Department also hosts international students and researchers. During its 76 years of existence, the Department has developed itself as the center of excellence in learning international politics in a nuanced and academic manner.

Collaboration with Local Institutions, Universities

The Academy has been organizing theme-based short courses in collaboration with local universities, educational institutions, Government and autonomous agencies, and regional and international organization. Since 2015, it has been conducting courses on Fundamentalism and Terrorism, Climate Diplomacy and Funding, Water Diplomacy, Blue Economy and Maritime Security, Economic Diplomacy, Multilateral Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, Humanitarian Diplomacy, Genocides, Administrative Security, e-Governance, and Public Diplomacy. These courses are arranged in collaboration with the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), ICRC, UNIDO, CVF, UNITAR etc. Furthermore, foreign language learning courses are being undertaken in association with the Department of English, the Institution of Modern Languages of the University of Dhaka and Alliance Française de Dhaka.