School of Apparel and Retail Management Launched in Bangladesh

The Asian University for Women (AUW) in Bangladesh has launched the School of Apparel and Retail Management to support professional and leadership development of women.

Long Story, Cut Short
  • The initiative kicks off with a one-year Master of Science in Apparel and Retail Management programme.
  • The programme will be guided by a global academic committee.
  • The Masters Programme aims to provide skills and knowledge to young female professionals on supply chain management, brand management, fashion, merchandising and managing occupational health and safety issues.
Apparel plays an important part as the country's single largest industry, accounting for more than 80% of Bangladesh's total export revenue. It employs over four million people, of which 2 in 3 (more than 65%) are women.
Crucial Role Apparel plays an important part as the country's single largest industry, accounting for more than 80% of Bangladesh's total export revenue. It employs over four million people, of which 2 in 3 (more than 65%) are women. Flickr 2.0 / ILO Asia-Pacific

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) in partnership with the Asian University for Women (AUW) has launched the HSBC-AUW School of Apparel and Retail Management.

  • The initiative kicks off with a one-year Master of Science in Apparel and Retail Management programme. 
  • The programme will be guided by a global academic committee chaired by Dipak Jain, former dean of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

What's on: The Masters Programme aims to provide skills and knowledge to young female professionals on supply chain management, brand management, fashion, merchandising and managing occupational health and safety issues. 

  • It is intended to help Bangladesh's growing apparel industry to attract more female talent in management roles.
  • The programme aims to create a pool of trained female management graduates to lead businesses in the apparel sector. 
  • It will ensure international standard education, and also build local management talent and enable enduring skill formation, while supporting women's empowerment. 
  • Academic excellence, industry relevance and social significance would be the defining features of the programme, which will provide students hands-on experience of collaborating with the global counterparts, acting as a bridge between the academia and the industry. 
  • Fifty students will be enrolled in the inaugural year, with 13 courses offered in the programme. 
  • Additionally, HSBC will set up 50 design (Mac) labs, provide support for curriculum and faculty, IT and class infrastructure and education materials.
  • The Asian University for Women is an independent, international university based in Bangladesh.

What They Said:

Today, the apparel industry in Bangladesh needs a homegrown talent pool, which will serve the needs of the sector. Therefore, in order to prepare cohorts ready to take on the challenge of employability in Bangladesh, the AUW is happy to launch the School of Apparel and with HSBC Bangladesh.

Rubana Huq
Vice-Chancellor 
Asian University for Women

The global apparel industry is evolving rapidly alongside emerging technologies, changing consumption patterns and an increasing focus on sustainability... Importantly, this programme supports the professional and leadership development of women, providing better access to opportunities through inclusion and fostering the long-term growth for Bangladesh and its communities.

Amanda Murphy
Head of Commercial Banking (South & Southeast Asia)
HSBC

Launch of HSBC-AUW School of Apparel in Chittagong, Bangladesh with: (from left) Amanda Murphy, Head of Commercial Banking, South & Southeast Asia, HSBC; Md Mahbub ur Rahman, CEO, HSBC Bangladesh; Tipu Munshi, MP, Honourable Minister, Ministry of Commerce, Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh; Dr Rubana Huq, Vice Chancellor, AUW; Kamal Ahmad, Founder, AUW.
The Launch Launch of HSBC-AUW School of Apparel in Chittagong, Bangladesh with: (from left) Amanda Murphy, Head of Commercial Banking, South & Southeast Asia, HSBC; Md Mahbub ur Rahman, CEO, HSBC Bangladesh; Tipu Munshi, MP, Honourable Minister, Ministry of Commerce, Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh; Dr Rubana Huq, Vice Chancellor, AUW; Kamal Ahmad, Founder, AUW. HSBC-AUW

Bangladesh's apparel industry: Bangladesh is one of the key contributors to the global apparel supply chains. 

  • Apparel plays an important part as the country's single largest industry, accounting for more than 80% of Bangladesh's total export revenue. 
  • It employs over four million people, of which 2 in 3 (more than 65%) are women. 
  • Developing a highly skilled talent pool that can drive innovation and growth in the industry is essential for Bangladesh to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving apparel sector.
 
 
  • Dated posted: 23 January 2023
  • Last modified: 23 January 2023