GSGS RH SSEA and ITN-BUET host regional curriculum validation workshop in Dhaka

The Global Sanitation Graduate School (GSGS) continues to strengthen sanitation education by developing harmonized curricula, enhancing academic partnerships, and promoting regional knowledge exchange. Since 2018, GSGS has developed ten Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) aligned modules that are now adopted across 85 partner institutions, supporting 69 academic courses and benefitting more than 4,000 learners.

To integrate recent advancements and newly developed CWIS resources into the curriculum, the GSGS Regional Hub South and Southeast Asia (GSGS RH SSEA), in collaboration with ITN-BUET, organized a 2-day Curriculum Validation Workshop on 12-13 November 2025 in Dhaka. The hybrid format enabled broader regional participation, including institutions not yet formally affiliated with the network, allowing them to engage with ongoing GSGS initiatives and explore future partnerships.

A total of 24 participants from across South and Southeast Asia attended the workshop, representing 10 academic partner universities and three technical and capacity building organizations. This diverse participation highlighted the region’s strong commitment to advancing sanitation education and promoting harmonized academic programs. Participants reviewed and validated the updated curriculum, which now includes eight core modules and a newly introduced module on Sanitation and Integrity, developed by the Water Integrity Network (WIN). Discussions emphasized the importance of practical examples, case studies, and region specific content to strengthen teaching and learning outcomes.

During the opening session, Dr. Tanvir Ahmed, Regional Director of GSGS RH SSEA, welcomed participants and highlighted the overarching goals of GSGS to enhance academic capacity for addressing critical sanitation challenges in South and Southeast Asia and to promote the development of trained professionals and resources. Distinguished guests included

• Prof. Dr. Abu Borhan Mohammad Badruzzaman, Vice Chancellor, BUET
• Prof. Dr. Rowshan Mamtaz, Director, ITN-BUET
• Prof. Damir Brdjanovic, GSGS Global Director
• Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha, Deputy Director for WASH, Gates Foundation
• Prof. Thammarat Koottatep, Co-Director, Global Water and Sanitation Center (GWSC)
• Ms. Anindita Mukherjee, Consultant, Gates Foundation

Course leads presented updates across the eight CWIS aligned courses throughout the workshop, namnely:

• Dr. Anjum Tasnuva presented the courses on Gender and Sanitation, Behavior Change and Advocacy, and Sanitation Governance.
• Dr. Mohammad Ismail Hossain covered Sanitation and Public Health, Sanitation Systems and Services, and Sanitation Finance.
• Dr. Md Shofiqul Islam presented Analysis of Sanitation Flows and Sanitation Technology.
• Ms. Josefa Vergara (WIN) introduced the new Sanitation and Integrity module.

Participants provided constructive feedback across all modules, emphasizing the need for stronger regional contextualization, coherent structure, and appropriate assessment strategies for postgraduate learners. This feedback will guide the finalization of the curriculum, ensuring its relevance for the coming decade.

In the closing session, participants engaged in an open discussion on the services offered by the GSGS RH SSEA and the expectations of partner institutions. A key priority identified was increased access to research funding for MSc theses and faculty-led studies. Dr. Ahmed encouraged collaborative research initiatives among regional partners and invited universities to jointly offer cross-country courses, assuring GSGS support for such academic exchanges. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to facilitate student research in sanitation.

Prof. Damir Brdjanovic, GSGS Global Director, commended the inclusion of the new Sanitation and Integrity module and expressed appreciation to participants for their valuable input in validating the updated curriculum. He also extended gratitude to ITN-BUET for its role in supporting and hosting the workshop.

Looking ahead, GSGS RH SSEA plans to finalize and roll out the updated curriculum across partner institutions, strengthen collaborative research, and expand capacity-building initiatives for sanitation professionals in the region. Future workshops will focus on curriculum implementation, monitoring learning outcomes, and integrating emerging technologies and climate-resilient sanitation solutions to meet evolving regional needs.

The workshop reaffirmed ITN-BUET’s commitment to enhancing sanitation education and advancing the objectives of GSGS RH SSEA through sustained collaboration, knowledge sharing, and academic leadership across the region.