The Department of Marketing: At a Glance
Founded on 01 July 1974, the Department of Marketing started its journey as one of the four Departments under the then the Faculty of Commerce and later on, it was renamed the Faculty of Business to play a pioneering role in promoting marketing education in Bangladesh. Although at its inception the Department had only 3 illustrious faculty members and 49 students, currently it has more than 1,500 students enrolled at different programs, and a total of 48 distinguished faculty members. Most of the faculty members have obtained doctoral, MBA, or MSc degrees from major renowned universities in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Japan, and other countries in Asia. At present, some faculty members are pursuing their higher studies in renowned universities in foreign countries. It is expected that they will join the Department upon successful completion of their degrees.

The exciting academic programs offered by the Department are supported with modern classrooms containing the state-of-the-art equipment such as multimedia, digital board, internet network, Wi-Fi services, modern sound system, sophisticated Computer Lab, etc. The academic programs have a focus on continual innovation and interactive learning in the classroom.

The Department of Marketing always welcomes a diverse mix of students from different nationals across the globe. Students in the Department are driven with strong determination to make a clear difference in the society. The Department unstoppably gets a strong foothold as a brilliant combination of innovations and multiple perspectives is manifested in the learning process of students during the completion of their academic programs. The Department loves to bring bold ideas and brilliant minds together – inspiring innovations with global impact today and in the future, and takes time-suiting initiatives to keep up with the fast-paced environment in meeting the global challenges.

Currently, Prof. Dr. A. B. M. Shahidul Islam is the Chairman of the Department who is entrusted with the responsibilities of overseeing all the academic programs in the Department. In addition to BBA and MBA Programs, the Department also runs a range of programs. The MBA (Evening) program is run by a committee headed by the Director along with four members including the Chairman of the Department. Besides, the MPM program is administered by a committee headed by the Director along with one Associate Director and the Chairman.

The Department is highly focused on making a lasting impact on the students and society by blending transformative academic programs with pioneering research on marketing. The Department is also dedicated to establishing knowledge-creation and -dissemination center to influence both the academic and business communities nationally and internationally. In this respect, the faculty members regularly publish research articles and monographs in premier scholarly journals around the globe. A similarly important core activity the faculty members do is in the areas of consultancy and executive training to cater to the needs of the economy. Armed with a diverse knowledge and skill set, the Department actively seeks collaboration with corporate personalities and academic icons in different fields as part of a broader intellectual undertaking.

Computer Lab

The Department possesses a state-of-the-art Computer Lab called ‘TEAM Computer Lab’ for the students studying in different programs in the Department. This is by far one of the best Computer Labs supported with around 40 computers of Core-i7 model, 24-hour network and internet facilities, modern furniture, and fascinating interior design and exterior decoration. This Computer Lab is open to all the students of the Department.

Library and E-Library

The University of Dhaka has a three-storied Central Library where the students have access to textbooks, journals, reference books, and other reading materials. Recognizing the need to have an access to global knowledge through the use of information technology (IT), the Dhaka University library has been digitized and the free internet service has been ensured for teachers and students.

There is an E-library situated on the second floor of the Faculty Administrative Building. This E-library contains necessary textbooks, journals and periodicals, and reference materials. The teachers and students can study in the E-library. The students also have access to online-based journals and data bases.

Scholarships

The Department of Marketing offers quite a large number of scholarships to meritorious as well as financially challenged students. The MBA (Evening) program of the Department awards 25 scholarships, each one amounting BDT 24,000 per year, to 25 students. The Marketing Alumni Association (MAA) also offers 10 scholarships, each of BDT 24,000 per year.

In addition, 3 Trust Funds such as “Shajahan & Saira Shajahan Trust Fund”, “Maleka Anower Trust Fund” and “A.K.M. Fazlul Haque Mawla Trust Fund” offer scholarships to the students of Marketing. The “Shajahan & Saira Shajahan Trust Fund” offers 4 scholarships, each of BDT 15,000 per year, “Maleka Anower Trust Fund” 2 scholarships, each of BDT 8,000 per year, and “A.K.M. Fazlul Haque Mawla Trust Fund” 1 scholarship of BDT 12,000 per year.

Likewise, a scholarship fund of BDT 10,00,000 had been constituted in 2018, with the sole contribution of the senior most faculty member of the Department of Marketing. The accrued interest on this fund is given as scholarships to 4/5 meritorious and financially challenged students of this Department every year. The amount received by each student varies depending upon the rate of interest given by the bank. In addition, some faculty members and alumni also temporarily offer some scholarships to the students who are in dire need of financial support.

Students Counseling and Guidance

The University of Dhaka has a cell called “Students Counseling and Guidance” located at ‘Teacher-Student Center’ (TSC). Students are provided with necessary advice and counseling from this Center regarding academic programs and other relevant matters as and when needed. Two teachers in the Department are in-charge of student counseling and guidance. Their responsibilities include advising students on academic issues, listening to their problems, assisting them in academic and career development, and acquainting them with rules and regulations, organizing “Orientation Program” for the freshers, etc.

Seminars and Workshops

The DoM greatly emphasizes the undeniable necessity of conducting research activities, seminars and workshops. It steps up measures on a regular basis to arrange seminars on the current issues of marketing which the nationally celebrated corporate icons and idols attend in response to an invitation from the DoM. Those personalities of the business world share experience from the real-life situations with students and teachers.

Journals and Magazines

The Department of Marketing regularly publishes a yearly peer-reviewed journal named “D.U. Journal of Marketing“. The journal contains research-based papers which are original in nature in the field of marketing. This journal follows a ‘double-blind review’ system in which the article is reviewed by two experts. This system ensures the anonymities of both the reviewers and author(s) throughout the review process.

An apex editorial board consisting of one editor, one associate editor, and three faculty members is responsible for the publication of this journal. Generally, the faculty members of the Department become the members of the editorial board. This board is fully committed to ensuring the quality of this journal. The editorial board initially determines whether a paper is suitable for review, based on the set criteria for the journal. Then it selects two reviewers for each paper. On the basis of the recommendations, the editorial board decides whether the paper should be published. Prior to publication, each article is checked using the ‘turn-it-in’ software as part of the ethically fortified strategies intended to prevent the nasty practice of plagiarism. In addition, students of different batches of the Department prepare wall-magazines from time to time on different issues of interest in marketing.

Marketing Alumni Association
Marketing Alumni Association (MAA), an apex organization of ex-students of the Department of Marketing, started its journey in 1996 with great enthusiasm in order to establish connectivity and maintain the relationships amongst ex-graduates, current students, and existing faculty members of the Department. The Department is justifiably proud of its alumni, who are currently holding important positions in a wide range of government, non-government, national, multinational, social, and political organizations.

Through all these years the alumni of Marketing Department have been one of the biggest assets and brand ambassadors. Their unqualified support and suggestions have given the generations of current students the sense of belonging to an extended family.

MAA is committed to offering quite a large number of scholarships to the meritorious and financially challenged students of the Department. It also helps our final term students in the entire programs place for internships in different reputed companies. In addition, MAA sponsors different events, programs, such as orientation for freshers, job fair, sales fair, etc. organized by the Department as well.