University of Portsmouth Welcomes Bangladeshi Students and Explores Expanded Education Cooperation
The University of Portsmouth has reaffirmed its strong interest in welcoming Bangladeshi students and expanding academic and training cooperation with Bangladesh, following a visit by Her Excellency Ms Abida Islam, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the United Kingdom, to the City of Portsmouth on 08 January 2026.
The visit aimed to explore opportunities for higher education and training collaboration, particularly in the area of Transnational Education (TNE); to engage with city leadership and Bangladeshi community stakeholders on trade, investment, and cultural cooperation; and to deliver a public lecture at the University of Portsmouth on Artificial Intelligence and Diplomacy.
During her visit, the High Commissioner met with Professor Graham Galbraith, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Portsmouth; Mr Chris Chang, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement and Student Life); and other senior members of the University’s leadership. Discussions focused on expanding Transnational Education opportunities for Bangladeshi students and strengthening institutional collaboration between the University of Portsmouth and universities and training institutions in Bangladesh.
The University of Portsmouth requested the Government of Bangladesh to consider funding the establishment of a “Blue Bangladesh Chair”, aimed at facilitating research, development, and knowledge exchange on Blue Governance in Bangladesh.
The High Commissioner conveyed that the proposal had been shared with the Government of Bangladesh in November 2024 and is currently under assessment. She emphasized that, in the meantime, both sides could continue exploring other avenues of cooperation, including joint academic programmes with Bangladeshi universities and tailored courses with government training centres and academies in Bangladesh to support the capacity building of civil servants.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Mr Chris Chang told officials of the Bangladesh High Commission that the University of Portsmouth offers significant scope and opportunities for Bangladeshi students.
“We are a comprehensive university. We offer a wide range of courses in business, humanities, science and technology, and engineering, giving students a great deal of choice,” he said.
Acknowledging the financial and administrative challenges faced by international students, he added, “We recognize that the cost of study can be expensive, and we have scholarships available to help mitigate that. There are, of course, challenges related to visas and immigration, but if students come with the right intent and the right background, immigration should not be an issue. We are committed to providing as much help and support as possible.”
He further emphasized that Bangladeshi students are warmly welcomed not only by the University of Portsmouth but also by the wider city community.
The High Commissioner also delivered a public lecture at the University of Portsmouth on Artificial Intelligence and Diplomacy. The lecture examined how artificial intelligence is reshaping both the practice and substance of diplomacy, as states increasingly engage in negotiations on AI governance, emerging security risks, and ethical frameworks. It also highlighted the growing challenge of AI-enabled disinformation and underscored the importance of safeguarding credibility in international relations.
The event concluded with a lively question-and-answer session, marked by strong and enthusiastic participation from the audience.
