The Institute of Education and Research (IER), University of Dhaka, was established through the joint efforts of the University of Dhaka, the then Government of Pakistan and the U.S. AID ( then ICA) Mission. The U.S. AID Mission in the then Pakistan entered into a contract with the Colorado State College, (later became University of Northern Colorado), Greeley, Colorado, U.S.A., for professional services to establish, organize and direct the initial stages of IER, including advanced overseas training of teachers. The contract came into effect on November 1, 1959. The classes of the Institute began on July 1, 1960 with 33 students of one year M.Ed. degree program. Over the year it has expanded and diversified its programmes. Number of students increased from 33 in 1960 to 700 (academic year 2002- 2003). The Institute of Education and Research, University of Dhaka is an apex institute in the field of professional education in Bangladesh. It is the only Institute of its kind under the public universities of Bangladesh which offers teaching programmes leading to higher professional degrees, conducts advanced research studies and provides extension services in education. Its professional staff, most of them having overseas post-graduation and doctoral degrees and long experiences with specialization in various aspects of education render professional services to Government sponsored committees and commissions on education to help develop the education sector of Bangladesh and provide consultancy services at both national and international levels.
The Institute was started in 1960 with the following objectives:
Administration and Management of IER
The IER, is run by the second statutes under President's order of 1973 and its budget is a part of university budget. The Vice-Chancellor is the chief executive of the University. The Director is the administrative head of the Institute. Administration and Management of the Institute is vested in the following bodies, subject to approval of their actions by the Syndicate and or Academic Council of the University, as the case may be:
1. The Board of Governors, of which the Vice-Chancellor is the Chairman;
2. The Committee of Advanced Studies in Education, of Which the Director is the Chairman;
3. The Selection Board for Professorships and Associate Professorships of which the Vice-Chancellor is the Chairman;
4. The Selection Board for teaching Posts other than Professorships and Associate
Professorships of which the Pro-Vice-Chancellor is the Chairman;
5. The Selection Board for appointments to non-teaching posts not below the rank of section Officers of which the Pro-Vice-Chancellor is the Chairman;
6. The coordination and Development Committee, of which the Director is the Chairman;
7. The Academic Committee, of which the Director is the Chairman.
Academic Programs of IER
The Institute started its onward march with 33 M. Ed students in 1960-61 academic year. Considering the ever-increasing demand of trained teachers, the Diploma-in-Education Program was added subsequently in the IER. The Ph. D. program in exculpation is offered to specially selected candidates. Over the years IER has diversified and expanded its programs. For providing highly qualified professionals for the education sector, IER took the initiative and introduced the Integrated Bachelor of Education (Hons.) program from 1994-95 session. The B. Ed. (Hons.) program is first of its kind in this region where education has been treated as a discipline replacing its narrow connotation as teacher training. Since the introduction of B. Ed. (Hons.) program the Dip-in-Ed. program has been kept in abeyance for practical purposes. At present the programs offered by the Institute are as follows:
a. Four years Bachelor of Education (Hons.) Program
b. One-year Master of Education program (day)
c. Two year part time (evening) Master of Education program
d. M. Phil Program in Education
e. Thesis-based Ph. D. Program in Education
A. Integrated Bachelor of Education (Hons.) Program
There are four specialized areas in the Integrated B.ED (Hons.) program. These are: (a) Arts and Language (b) Science (c) Social Science (d) Special Education.
B. One Year Master of Education Program (Day)
Keeping pace with the newly introduced Bachelor of Education (Hons.) program, Master of Education Program has been reoriented and modernized under the following ten departments of IER:
a. Department of Pre-primary and Primary Education
b. Department of Language Education
c. Department of Social Science Education
d. Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education
e. Department of Educational Planning and Management
f. Department of Curriculum and Educational Technology
g. Department of Educational Evaluation and Research
h. Department of Non-formal and Continuing Education
i. Department of Educational Psychology and Guidance
j. Department of Special Education
Students are to select any one of the above mentioned departments which offer specialized courses in their respective areas.
C. Two Years Master of Education Program (Night)
This program is meant for one year traditional B. Ed. / Dip-in-Ed. graduates who enroll at IER as par-time students. They are given instruction under the Departments that existed before introduction of B. Ed. (Hons.) Program.
D. Two years M. Phil Program in Education
2 years Master of Philosophy (M. Phil) is a higher research degree in any branch of Education. Students can seek admission in any disciplines, i. e. Primary education, Secondary education, Science & Mathematics education, Educational administration, Non-formal and Continuing education, Language Education, Educational research, Special education.
E. Thesis Based Ph. D Program in Education
This is a fully research based advanced education program aimed at producing highly qualified and specialized professionals. Students must have a Masters degree in education and have to pass an admission test specially constructed for enlisting names as doctoral students. The duration of the program is four years and the research is conducted under the guidance of a supervisor
Library of IER
The IER library provides a collection of materials to facilitate general reference and research activities in the field of education. Reference books, periodicals, newspapers and other instructional materials are available in the library. A limited number of textbooks are also available which are issued to students for overnight or week-end home use. Because of scarce availability or textbooks in the local market and of limited fund it is not possible to procure and issued to each student a copy of any particular textbook. There are over 38000 books, including curriculum materials in the library.
The curriculum library is an extension of the main library. Copies of syllabuses
prescribed for the primary, secondary and higher secondary levels as well as other curriculum materials are available here. Textbooks of different school levels and areas from home and abroad are also available for study and research.
The library is operated under a set of rules. Students are expected to abide by the rules. Fines at approved rates are imposed for delay in returning books and for damage or loss of books.
University Laboratory School and College of IER
The University Laboratory School and college housed in a separate building adjacent to the IER. It offers schooling facilities from Kindergarten up to Higher Secondary School Certificate Level. The School serves as a laboratory for educational experimentation under the administrative control of the Institute.
Departments of IER
1. Department of Pre-Primary and Primary Education
This Department is as old as the Institute of Education and Research itself. Since inception it has been working as the degree offering department and produced a good number of M. Ed. degree holders with specialization in Primary Education. These graduates have been serving in the different sectors of Education in the country. The Department of Pre-Primary & Primary Education offers M. Ed. courses for both Day and Night.
2. Department of Special Education
The Institute of Education and Research, University of Dhaka offers a regular program of studies in Special Education at the graduate and post graduate level for students intending to work as teachers and planners for special children: the deaf, the blind and the mentally retarded. This program enjoys the distinction of being the first course of its kind in Bangladesh. A successful completion of four years and one year program of studies would entitle the students respectively to Bachelor of Education (Hons.) and M. Ed. in Special Education.
3. Department of Nonformal and Continuing Education
The Department of Non-formal and Continuing Education started functioning from 1999-2000 academic session. The NFE department is established to cater to the needs of ever-increasing demand of academically sound and professionally qualified personnel for the fast expanding non-formal education sub-sector of Bangladesh. The M. Ed. program of NFE department offers specialised courses in non-formal and continuing education areas and provides practical experiences through internship in collaboration with organizations/institutions involved in non-formal and continuing education programs at grassroot level.
4. Department of Educational Psychology and Guidance
Educational Psychology and Guidance is one of the oldest department in the Institute. Educational Psychology, which is carefully designed for the general students of all other departments of the Institute is taught by this departmental staff. It also offers various other courses for the departmental students from the field of Educational Psychology, such as Child and Adolescent Psychology, Psychological Test, Application of Psychology in the Classroom, Mental Hygiene etc. Students from other departments may also choose a few courses from this list for their optional requirement.
5. Department of Language Education
The department of Language Education offers a wide selection of courses in English and Bangla languages, language structures and communication. Its purpose is to prepare skilled manpower in language teaching, writing and experts in the field of Education requiring a strong background in language. The minimum requirement for getting the Master of Education degree is to complete 50 credit hours. A student has the option of writing a thesis in lieu of 10 credit hours.
6. Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education
In the initial years of IER, Department of Secondary Education offered science courses for the secondary science teachers. The Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education was established as a separate department in the year 1973. In 1999 Department of Science & Mathematics Education has been renamed as Science, Mathematics and Technology Education. The main focus of the department is to carry out teaching and researches in science, Mathematics and Technology Education. The department offers courses in Development of Curriculum and Instructional Materials, Innovations & Quality Improvement in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, Evaluation and Research in Science and Educational Technology. The department also offers advanced academic courses in science and technology education.
7. Department of Educational Planning and Management
The Department of Educational Planning and Management offers a variety of courses in administration, management, supervision, finance, planning and law. The department administers M. Ed. programs for B. Ed. (Hons.) students during the day and M. Ed. for practicing school teachers and administrators during the night. The courses are designed for students in order to promote understanding among them about efficient school administration system. Its overall purpose is to prepare students for challenging positions in teaching, administration, management, planning and leadership in the school system. In all the courses, dynamic role of the administrators are high-lighted.
8. Department of Educational Evaluation and Research
Department of Educational Evaluation and Research provides a wider opportunity to contribute to the education field of Bangladesh by enrolling students at post graduate level from 1999-2000 academic year. The department believes that, research lies at the heart of educational innovation and improvement. Thus, it fosters a research milieu to develop expertise in the field of educational research and evaluation through offering taught courses and thesis ( mandatory) for its students as part of its current activities. Along with various school of thought, courses have been designed, especially, on "Classroom Action Research" aiming at developing expertise to make contributions to the quality improvement of classroom activities.
9. Department of Social Science Education
Department of Social Science Education at the Institute of Education and Research, University of Dhaka is the only department of its kind in Bangladesh. This department conducts teaching and research works in various aspects of the development of social science education in the academic world of Bangladesh social science curriculum and instructional materials and promotes students assessment.
10. Department of Curriculum and Instructional Technology
Curriculum, planning and development is a highly professional and technical task. Curriculum is considered as the core of all educational activities. In other words, the education system of a country rotates centering the curriculum. Considering the significance of this area in education department of curriculum and Instructional Technology has been introduced at IER. This is the only specialized department in the country which aims at preparing specialized manpower for the national curriculum system.
Directors of IER
Sl. No. Name of the Director Duration From To
1. Dr. G. D. Morrison January 1960 May 1962
2. Dr. Barton L. Kline May 1962 August 1964
3. Dr. J. Gilbert Hause August 1964 July 1966
4. Dr. Jack Shaw July 1966 January 1969
5. Dr. Md. Selim January1969 May 1976
6. Dr. Shamsul Haque June 1976 March 1980
7. Dr. Mazharul Huque March 1980 Oct. 1983
8. Dr. Nurul Huque October 1983
9. Dr. Mazharul Huque July 1986 March 1987
10. Dr. Abu Hamid Latif March 1987 May 1990
11. Dr. Halima Khatun May 1990 May 1993
12. Dr. Sharifa Khatun May 1993 May 1996
13. Dr. Azhar Ali May 1996 May 1999
14. Dr. Kamrunnessa Begum May 1999 May 2002
15. Dr. I. A. Muttaqi (Incharge) May 2002 August 2002
16. Dr. Ashraf Ali August 2002 May 2002
17. Dr. I. A. Muttaqi May 2005 December 2005
18. Professor Salma Akhter (Incharge) Jan 2006 Sept 2006
19. Dr. I. A. Muttaqi October 2006 May 2008
20. Professor Salma Akhter May 2008 May 2011
21. Dr.M. Siddiqur Rahman May 2011 June 2011
22. Dr. Md. Abul Ehsan June 2011 June 2013
23. Professor Mohammad Jalal Uddin June 2013 June 2015
24. Professor Dr. Md. Abdul Awal Khan June 2015 June 2016
25. Professor Mrs.Husne Ara Begum June 2016 June 2017
26.Professor Syeda Tahmina Akhter June 2017 June 2020
27. Professor Dr. Md. Abdul Maleque June 2020
