Welcome to the Educational Innovation Symposium 2025!

In an era marked by rapid technological advancement and evolving learner needs, higher education institutions must embrace flexible and inclusive pedagogical models. Blended learning—a purposeful integration of face-to-face and online learning—has emerged as a transformative approach that not only complements traditional in-person teaching but also enhances its reach, accessibility, and effectiveness. By combining the human connection of classroom interaction with the scalability and adaptability of digital tools, blended learning offers the best of both worlds.

Blended learning ensures greater inclusivity by accommodating diverse learning styles, personal schedules, and geographic limitations. This is particularly important in contexts where students juggle multiple responsibilities or face infrastructural barriers. Moreover, research and practice have consistently shown that blended approaches support active learning, student autonomy, and deeper engagement with course material when properly designed.

At the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), the foundation for blended learning was laid well before the COVID-19 pandemic. Faculty members had been trained in the use of Moodle LMS, which facilitated a relatively smooth transition to online learning during the global crisis. This early adoption positioned ULAB to continue delivering quality education in difficult times and also demonstrated the institution’s capacity for pedagogical innovation.

Post-pandemic, ULAB continues to harness blended learning to better meet the evolving needs of its student population. Both undergraduate and graduate courses have integrated blended models to increase flexibility, personalize learning, and maintain high academic standards. Recognizing the strategic importance of this modality, ULAB established a Blended Learning Committee in 2024 to lead institutional efforts in policy development, implementation, and continuous improvement.

As ULAB builds on over a year of structured engagement with blended learning, the time is right to take stock of progress, share best practices, and explore policy frameworks that can elevate blended learning to the next level. Faculty skill development remains a top priority, as does expanding the space for students to choose learning formats that suit their needs. The Educational Innovation Conference 2025 will serve as a crucial forum for this reflection and future planning, bringing together educators, researchers, and technologists to innovate, integrate, and inspire the next chapter of higher education in Bangladesh.

Objectives

To foster innovative, learner-centered teaching and learning practices across disciplines.
To provide a dynamic platform for educators to share, demonstrate, and disseminate their innovative approaches.
To strengthen collaboration and networking among educators, researchers, and education-focused professionals.
To recognize and celebrate outstanding contributions that drive excellence and creativity in education.
To discuss and explore academic policies and institutional strategies for enhancing blended learning at ULAB.