It was 1st Falgoon of 1397 Bangla Year (February 14, 1991 A.D.) This day marked the historical and august inauguration of the academic activities of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology. Prior to this two different English language courses were designed and incorporated in the Syllabus. The 1st course was compulsory for students of all departments while the 2nd one was optional. These tw
o courses were integrated into the syllabus primordially from the understandings of the reality that the English language is a technology by itself; and this was the fruit of far-reaching cerebration of the founding Vice Chancellor of the University Professor Dr. Sadruddin Ahmed Chowdhury. So today’s English Department of SUST had its glorious start as the English Language Department 17 years hence back in 1991. To teach English; and not to teach about English – this motto lies all through at the back of offering language courses at SUST. The result is that students constantly show up uttermost vehemence to attain English language skills and this zeal of the learners has already proved an ever proliferating one. Following the initiation of the prevalent semester-scheme and the ongoing grading technique during the session 1995-1996 each English language course was bisected as ‘Theory’ and ‘Lab’. This added such an ardour to the already existing earnestness of students that the Department had to go for compiling a textbook called English at SUST—Book 1 for the undergraduates so that they could use it as a fresh and additional learning aid. Any student who did exceptionally well in any language course was inspirited by Crest and Certificate. It is really a matter of great complacence that bright students have routinely been carrying ‘A+’ or ‘A’ grade at repose. A huge number of youthful graduates have been taking English Language Proficiency Testimonial from the Department and many of them are availing opportunities of higher education and coveted jobs home and abroad with the supplementary assistance of these Testimonials. This is how one can envisage the four divergent English language courses the English Department offers to the existent 23 other departments of the University in two consecutive semesters of First Year Honours classes. The four courses shoulder altogether 6 credits ranging over 8 independent class hours. four-year B.A. Honours programme first instituted during 2000-2001 session. A total of forty students were admitted in the first batch. The second batch embraced one and sixty scholars. Currently, encompassing Master’s programme, there are altogether 7 batches in the Department. By now 2 Honours batches are already out; and many of these fresh graduates have so far been commissioned in discrepant capacities including lectureships in Colleges and Universities. Antecedent to first batch admittance entire syllabus traversing over all eight semesters was designed in accordance with the University’s Semester-Ordinances. For the purpose linkages had to be established with a number of celebrated Universities abroad in
addition to all reputable Universities of Bangladesh. In this first Curriculum comprising altogether 165 credits, side by side with English literature, courses from American literature, European literature, South-Asian literature, and comparative literature were also included. In the Curriculum of Master’s programme courses like Culture and Media Studies have been amalgamated alongside Theses/Dissertations. It is noteworthy that in the Eighth Semester of Undergraduate programme of each batch a Monograph-course of 3 credits is already there. Nevertheless, Seminar Assignment and Viva-Voce courses are there beginning from First to Eighth semesters. Prior to the setting off of Undergraduate programme the Department was brought under latest technological network. Trainees of the Department, despite their being apprentices of literature, all along have to study 4 disparate Computer courses of equal worth in two sequential semesters. Along the way, the scholars have their Departmental English Council, the Seminar Library, Theatres, Clubs, Freshers’ Receptions, Study Tours, Tournaments, and the English Weeks. The Department has been conducting an English language course for the professionals called English Language Proficiency Certificate Course (ELPC) since 2004. It is thus extending its services to the mass people of the country as well. As for the present there are 13 Faculties in the Department many of whom possess higher academic degrees/awards from home and abroad, some have pretty long teaching experiences both in home-country and overseas, and still some are engaged in their researches in foreign and home universities with study leave. 3 to 7 more Faculties are expected to be recruited anew soon. The Master Plan of the University has the provision for establishing an Institute of Modern Languages. School of Arts and Humanities is likely to launch its mission before long. Further, the Department gratefully remembers those dedicated pundits and educationists who directly or indirectly contributed to the flowering of it and also those who till these days have been drudging behind its embellishment.
