AIUB and AKCNC forge education alliance to transform nursing, public health education

The American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) and the Amjad Khan Chowdhury Nursing College (AKCNC), an initiative of Sun Healthcare Foundation under the PRAN-RFL Group, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to revolutionise nursing and public health training in Bangladesh.

The signing ceremony, held on November 11 at AKCNC’s campus in Natore, was attended by senior leadership from both institutions, faculty, students, local dignitaries, and representatives of the PRAN-RFL Group – marking the formal launch of a dynamic, multi-layered academic collaboration poised to elevate Bangladesh’s healthcare workforce to global standards.

Academic rigor meets clinical excellence

This MoU unites two institutions with complementary strengths: AIUB, a premier private university known for its internationally aligned curricula and strong public health programmes, and AKCNC, a rapidly rising nursing college that, in just four years of operation, has established itself as a beacon of practical, community-cantered nursing education.

Under the agreement, the two institutions will co-develop and deliver:

Joint training programs and workshops focused on communication, leadership, and professional confidence – skills often overlooked in traditional nursing curricula but critical for global competitiveness.

Integrated internships and field placements for AIUB’s Master of Public Health (MPH) students at AKCNC’s clinical and community outreach sites.

Collaborative research initiatives on community health systems, occupational safety, maternal and child health, and healthcare access in rural Bangladesh.

Faculty exchange and development programmes, allowing AKCNC instructors to benefit from AIUB’s international academic networks and pedagogical expertise.

A game-changer: Full tuition waiver for AKCNC graduates

Perhaps the most transformative element of the partnership is AIUB’s exclusive tuition waiver for all eligible AKCNC nursing graduates who enrol in AIUB’s Master of Public Health (MPH) programme.

This initiative removes a major financial barrier for nurses seeking to advance into public health leadership, policy, and administration roles – both within Bangladesh and internationally.

Professor Dr Muhammad Wasiful Alam, Head of AIUB’s Department of Public Health, who has led public health initiatives across the US, Middle East, and South Asia, praised AKCNC’s rapid ascent. He said he was amazed to see how AKCNC has progressed in just 4 years of its birth and the support it has received moving forward.

PRAN-RFL Group: Powering the vision with purpose

The PRAN-RFL Group, through its Sun Healthcare Foundation, is backing the collaboration with a seed grant to fund training materials, faculty development, and logistical support for joint activities – underscoring its long-term commitment to transforming healthcare through education, not just infrastructure.

The Chairman of AKCNC’s Governing Body, Uzma Chowdhury, also Director of Finance at PRAN-RFL Group, called the partnership “a defining moment for the future of healthcare in Bangladesh.”

“We didn’t build AKCNC just to train nurses. We built it to create leaders… The collaboration with AIUB is a landmark moment, not just for AKCNC, but for the future of healthcare leadership in Bangladesh. By uniting AIUB's academic excellence with our practical nursing focus, we are committed to producing a new generation of nurses and public health professionals who are competent, confident, and ready to lead positive change in our communities and on the global stage.” 

A new standard for nursing education

The collaboration also opens pathways for AKCNC to enhance its curriculum through AIUB’s globally benchmarked, outcomes-based MPH framework – one that emphasises data-driven decision-making, policy advocacy, and cross-cultural competency.

For AIUB’s MPH students, AKCNC offers something no classroom can: real-world immersion in rural health delivery, community mobilisation, and frontline nursing challenges – experiences that will shape them into empathetic, resilient public health professionals.

The bigger picture: Filling the global nursing gap

With over 1 million nurses needed globally by 2030 – and Bangladesh among the top source countries for international recruitment – this partnership positions its graduates not just for local roles, but for global careers.

“I don’t see a reason why Bangladeshi nurses cannot fill in the global market of nursing professional and contribute to meeting the severe shortage of nurses, not only in Bangladesh but internationally,” said Dr Wasiful Alam. 

Looking ahead: A three-year journey with global ambitions

The MoU is valid for an initial three years, with provisions for renewal based on impact assessments and mutual progress. Both institutions plan to launch their first joint workshop – on “Leadership in Community Health Crises” – by January 2026.

As the sun set over the AKCNC campus, students from both institutions stood side by side, holding copies of the signed MoU – a symbol not just of institutional cooperation, but of a new era in Bangladeshi healthcare education.