Prepared by: Satyaki Banik, Chair for IEEE BUET Student Branch
Lao Tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” The journey of IEEE BUET Student Branch started on 19th November 1994 with a rich history of 25 years since inception. It was the very first student branch formed under IEEE Bangladesh Section, becoming the pioneer in IEEE student activities in Bangladesh. Over time, IEEE BUET Student Branch has become one of the largest and most vibrant student branches of IEEE Bangladesh Section, having more than 360 student members, a Women in Engineering affinity group and seven technical society chapters such as IEEE Industry Applications Society, IEEE Electron Devices Society, IEEE Power and Energy Society, IEEE Robotics and Automation Society, IEEE Signal Processing Society, IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society and IEEE Computer Society. All of these are creating multitude of opportunities for technical advancement of young students, as well as grooming them to become leaders in their fields.
What we do: Reaching the locals, connecting the global
IEEE BUET Student Branch has been known for their vibrant and varying activities over the years. With more than 30 events on average each year, the SB organizes meaningful and member-driven programs all year around. The diversified set of events range from technical workshops, talks and seminars to humanitarian and professional skill development programs, and industrial visits strengthening industry-academia collaboration. Outreach programs for pre-university students have been one of the signature programs to inspire young minds to enjoy the art of engineering and take up engineering for further education.
The Student Branch has organized numerous Section and globally sponsored events; these include IEEE SPS Winter School 2019 on Multimodal Signal Processing, which was organized for the very first time in Bangladesh with the sponsorship from IEEE Signal Processing Society; Distinguished Lecture programs by IEEE Industry Applications Society and IEEE Electron Devices Society; IEEE Students’ Professional Awareness Conference (SPAC); Membership Development and Student Leadership Summit 2020 under the support of IEEE R10 Student Activity Committee; Teachers-in-Service Program 2019 etc. The Student Branch has hosted IEEE Bangladesh Section Student-Young Professionals-Women in Engineering-Members (SYWM) Congress 2018, IEEE Bangladesh Section Joint Student Branch Initiative 2019 and many more Section events. Large number of volunteers from IEEE BUET Student Branch has volunteered in several big events, such as the IEEE Region 10 Humanitarian Technology Conference 2017, IEEE WIE Leadership Summit 2018, IEEE Region 10 Symposium (TENSYMP) 2020 etc.
Contributions during the Pandemic
During the Covid-19 pandemic, IEEE BUET Student Branch has organized several technical, non-technical and humanitarian events to inspire, engage, and motivate IEEE members into doing something meaningful and impactful to the society. The Student Branch did a fundraising and donated a significant amount of money to provide necessary food and clothing to a community of people who were in need. An online workshop series with five sessions named Skillshop was arranged along with IEEE BUET SB WIE Affinity Group on fundamentals of different engineering software. A webinar series named Techtalk was arranged wherein the main focus was ‘Research and Innovation Challenges during Covid 19’. With more than 400 participants, seven speakers spoke about research opportunities in the pandemic era, topics ranging from signal processing, biomedicine, electron devices to taking care of mental health during the pandemic and embracing the new normal. IEEE BUET Student Branch and IEEE Bangladesh Section jointly organized two-day long virtual event titled Student Membership & Leadership Summit, with the support of IEEE Region 10 Student Activities Committee. A total of 364 participants from 39 countries from 10 different IEEE Regions attended the summite spread over the two days. IEEE BUET Student Branch was also one of th supporting students branches of IEEE STEP 2020, arranged by IEEE Young Professionals Bangladesh and IEEE Bangladesh Section.
Achievements & Recognitions: Motivations to keep going forward
IEEE BUET Student Branch has won several awards and accolades. Some of the recent achievements include:
- IEEE Darrel Chong Student Activity Award 2020 in Silver Category for “Outreach Program for Pre-University Students” (previously won the same award in 2018, Bronze category)
- IEEE Regional Exemplary Student Branch Award 2019
- IEEE Region 10 SAC Outstanding Volunteer Award 2018: Abhijit Biswas, Chair for IEEE BUET Student Branch (2017-18)
- IEEE Bangladesh Section Best Student Branch Award (2019, 2018, 2017, 2013)
- IEEE Bangladesh Section Best Student Volunteer Award (2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 (hon.), 2015 (hon.), 2013)
- IEEE Bangladesh Section Best Student Volunteer for Humanitarian Activity Award (2019, 2015)
- IEEE WIE Student Branch Affinity Group of the Year Award (2019, 2018 (hon.))
- IEEE R10 WIE Student Branch Affinity Group Award (2018, 2017 (hon.))