AIUB hosts student conference on English language and literature
The Department of English at the American International University–Bangladesh (AIUB), in collaboration with the TESOL Society of Bangladesh, organised "Discover English 2025: Student Conference on English Language and Literature" on 8 November 2025 at the AIUB campus.
Held under the motto "A conference by the students and for the students!" the event drew an enthusiastic response, with 184 students from undergraduate, postgraduate (MA, MPhil), and PhD levels participating in the day-long academic conference.
The event began with welcome speeches by Associate Professor M Hamidul Haque, head of the English Department at AIUB and president of the TESOL Society of Bangladesh, and Professor Dr Sayeedur Rahman, adviser to the TESOL Society of Bangladesh, who discussed the value of student-led conferences in promoting research and collaboration.
Ms Munia Jaman, MA student and convenor of Discover English 2025, expressed gratitude to the participants and organisers for their support and engagement.
The keynote address was delivered by Mohammad Mosiur Rahman, PhD candidate at the Department of English and Communication, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His presentation, titled "Trends in Applied Linguistics and TESOL Research: Orientations, Frameworks, and Methodological Diversity," examined emerging global directions in linguistic and pedagogical research.
The closing ceremony was graced by Professor Dr Saiful Islam, vice-chancellor of AIUB, as chief guest, and Professor Dr Md Abdur Rahman, pro-vice-chancellor, as special guest. Professor Dr Tazul Islam, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, also addressed the audience, encouraging students to pursue their academic interests with dedication.
Eight papers received Special Mention awards in the categories of graduate language and literature for outstanding student research. The conference concluded with a vibrant cultural segment organised by AIUB students.