Introduction
For a long time, the prevailing
education system within the country has contributed mostly towards the creation
of an unemployed army of educated manpower, without the necessary vision to
lead the country toward progress and prosperity. It is leaving the nation as a
whole without any direction. A major reason behind this lack of direction is
that the prevailing education system has become intensely materialistic and
ignores the fact that a complete educational system should put equal if not
more emphasis on raising the moral and social consciousness of the students.
A group of visionary educationists, industrialists, social workers and professionals led by Mujib Khan started to think of bringing about a qualitative change in the educational system of the country. It was their belief that an alternative education system needs to be developed in consideration of the country's needs as well as towards more effectively meeting the challenges of global realities.
Having that vision, these
enterprising individuals formed a non-profit and non-political social
organization, the Student Welfare Organization of Bangladesh (SWOB) in 1978 for
guiding the youth. It was hoped that they could find out a purposeful direction
of life through continuous motivation, guidance, and evaluation. To achieve
SWOB's mission more effectively, the College of Development Alternative (CODA)
was founded in 1993, and the School of Development Alternative in 1996. Within
a very short time, CODA and SODA evolved into leading academic institutions of
the country with a different vision and strategy. Continuing that tradition,
the University of Development Alternative was opened in 2002. Cumulatively, the
three institutions embody the original vision of a system of Complete Education
For Alternative Development (CEFAD), imparting technical as well as social
education from childhood to maturity.
In the year 2002 the Government of Bangladesh approved the University of Development Alternative (UODA) and now under 4 faculties, UODA offers 4-year honors degree in 12 subjects. The students will also be able to achieve their Master's degree in their respective subjects.