As a new academic year gets underway at Asian University for Women, there is much to celebrate and look forward to across the University. AUW began the Fall 2026 term with 2,067 students from 15 countries enrolled across its pre-undergraduate, undergraduate and graduate programs, supported by 161 faculty members.

From the continued construction of our permanent campus to expanding academic and research programs, and new opportunities for our students and alumnae around the world, it is an exciting time at AUW.

The New Campus

Construction of the Campus Center has continued throughout the monsoon season. All structural work is expected to be completed in October, with work now progressing on the mechanical, electrical, plumbing and other elements of the building. AUW hopes to complete the building in 2027 and begin moving undergraduate and graduate students to the new campus.

The Campus Center is the first major building on AUW’s permanent campus. The next phase, designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop, will see this remarkable campus begin to take shape on a much larger scale, with two new academic buildings, residential accommodation for approximately 1,800 students, housing for around 90 faculty members, and dedicated guest quarters.

Designed as a residential university where students and faculty can live, learn and work together, the new campus will provide AUW with a permanent home that can support its continued growth for generations to come.

Our Alumnae

AUW’s alumnae community continues to grow, with graduates pursuing advanced study, research and careers around the world.

Postgraduate Study & Research
AUW alumnae continue to pursue advanced study and research at leading universities around the world. This year, two AUW graduates are continuing their studies at Harvard University.

Shanta Yadav, the daughter of tea garden workers in Sylhet, has begun the Master of Medical Sciences in Global Health Delivery at Harvard Medical School. Shanta grew up in the Lungla Tea Estate, where opportunities for education and healthcare were limited, before studying Public Health at AUW on a full scholarship. Her own experiences have shaped her interest in improving healthcare and opportunities for tea garden communities.

Miftahul Jannat Saima is pursuing a Master of Education in Learning Design, Innovation, and Technology at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, supported by a Harvard Fellowship and Aga Khan Scholarship. A graduate of AUW’s Politics, Philosophy and Economics program, Saima’s interests span education, technology, social impact and expanding access to opportunity.

Nila Wan began a fully funded PhD in Teaching and Learning at Clemson University this September, while Zainab Musavi, an AUW graduate from Afghanistan who also worked at the University as a Teaching Fellow in the Public Health program, has begun an MSc in International Health at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin in Germany.

Among our Biological Sciences graduates, Mithila Banik is beginning a fully funded PhD in Biological Sciences at the University of Alabama; Sunehra Sayanhika has received the 2026 Mahidol Postgraduate Scholarship for an MSc in Molecular and Integrative Biosciences at Mahidol University; and Adrita Chakraborty is pursuing an MSc in Life Science Informatics at the University of Helsinki.

Across Biological and Environmental Sciences, AUW alumnae are also pursuing or have completed doctoral studies at institutions including the University of Cambridge, Georgia Institute of Technology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of Kansas Medical Center, Wageningen University, University of Maryland and University of Manchester, among others.

Five PPE alumnae are also beginning graduate studies in 2026, with destinations including the University of Texas at El Paso, University of Western Australia and Université Catholique de Lille.

Rohingya Alumnae

AUW’s Rohingya students and alumnae continue to pursue new opportunities around the world. Since 2020, 94 Rohingya students have graduated from AUW, with graduates going on to careers in humanitarian organizations, education, public health and community development, as well as further study overseas.

Omar Salma, a graduate of AUW’s Public Health and MA in Education programs, is beginning a Master’s in Human Rights and Multi-Level Governance at the University of Padua in Italy through a UNHCR-supported scholarship. Three AUW Rohingya graduates are currently pursuing graduate study in Japan: Ma Nila and Taslima at the International University of Japan, and Ishrat Bibi at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University.

AUW students are also receiving opportunities to continue their education in Canada through the International Students Overcoming War (ISOW) Scholarship at Wilfrid Laurier University, with students pursuing studies in Political Science, Global Studies and Health Sciences.

Lucky Karim is also working on her first book, scheduled for publication in 2027. A political and personal narrative for young readers, the book will tell the story of the Rohingya through the voices of those who survived. Lucky, who founded Refugee Women for Peace and Justice in 2023, has become an international advocate for her community, briefing the UN Security Council and testifying before the U.S. Congress.

Internships & Careers
AUW students are gaining valuable professional experience through a growing network of internship and employment opportunities. This summer, students completed internships with leading international companies in Hong Kong and Singapore, gaining experience across finance, hospitality and business strategy.

Among the interns, Sumaiya Jahanara, a UG3 student, developed an app that her host company will continue to use beyond her internship. Nabila Islam Swarna, who worked in Equity Operations, documented key concepts and workflows to create standard operating procedures for future interns. Both students were able to gain professional experience and make meaningful contributions to their host organizations.

Internships are also creating pathways to longer-term employment. Naw Mee Ko Phaw and Zodinpuii Phutin interned with BNP Paribas in summer 2024 before graduating from AUW later that year. Both are now building their careers at the bank: Naw works in Wealth Management as an Operations Client Relationship Manager Trainee, while Zodinpuii is a Trainee GM in Cash Equity Research. BNP Paribas has now hosted AUW interns for three consecutive years, providing students with practical experience, training and exposure to careers in the financial sector.

Members of AUW’s more recent graduating classes are also beginning their careers in other sectors. Marufa Khatun, a graduate of AUW’s MS in Apparel & Fashion Business Management program, has joined Mohammadi Group as a Merchandiser.

AUW students and graduates with Brian McCappin at BNP Paribas in Hong Kong this summer.

New Academic Programs

AUW is preparing to launch a new five-year integrated Bachelor’s and Master’s program in Chemical and Environmental Engineering for Climate Resilience in January 2027.

Supported by the Government of Denmark and developed with extensive input from faculty at Imperial College London, the program will combine engineering, natural sciences, data science, public health engineering and policy. Students will work on some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing Bangladesh and the wider region, including water, energy, pollution, waste management and climate resilience.

AUW is also developing a new Master of Arts in Teaching, with support from Carnegie Corporation of New York. Women will enter the program in teams with plans to establish girls’ secondary schools in their home communities. During the two-year program they will develop those plans while studying teaching, leadership, curriculum development and school administration. Selected teams will receive seed funding and continued mentoring to establish their schools after graduation.

The University’s newer academic programs are also growing. Applied Mathematics and Data Science, launched in Fall 2025, now has 21 declared majors and has introduced new minors in Applied Mathematics and Data Science.

Research at AUW

AUW is expanding its research capacity alongside its academic programs.

The Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Health is advancing work at the intersection of climate change, environmental sustainability and human health. The new AUW Antimicrobial Research Center, led by Professor Haseena Khan, will focus on antimicrobial resistance, including antimicrobial peptide discovery using machine learning and molecular modeling, bacteriophage research and nature-derived antimicrobial therapeutics.

The Center will also provide research opportunities for AUW students and graduates, helping prepare more young women from the region for advanced scientific study and research careers.

AUW in Denmark

On 17 September, nearly 800 people gathered at Holmens Church in Copenhagen for the fourth annual concert in support of AUW, organized by the Lone Dybkjær Foundation for AUW Scholarships. Hosted by former Danish Prime Minister and Foundation Chairman Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, the evening brought together music and a shared commitment to expanding educational opportunities for young women.

The concert featured internationally acclaimed recorder virtuoso Michala Petri, together with Holmens Kantori and Vocal Ensemble, conducted by organist Jakob Lorentzen. Former Danish Minister and EU Commissioner Connie Hedegaard also took part in the evening.

The Lone Dybkjær Foundation has become an important partner of AUW, providing scholarships for talented young women while the annual concert has also helped build a growing community of friends and supporters for AUW in Denmark.

The relationship between AUW and Denmark continues to deepen. The Government of Denmark is supporting AUW’s new Chemical and Environmental Engineering for Climate Resilience program, and the Danish State Secretary for Foreign Affairs is expected to visit AUW in November.

Looking Ahead: AUW’s 13^th Commencement

AUW’s 13th Commencement will take place on January 9, 2027, when approximately 300 students from 15 countries are expected to graduate.

Helle Thorning-Schmidt, former Prime Minister of Denmark and a member of AUW’s Council of Patrons, will deliver the Commencement Address and receive an honorary degree. Honorary degrees will also be conferred upon Ronnie C. Chan, Honorary Chair of Hang Lung Properties, Chair Emeritus of the Asia Society and Chairman of its Hong Kong Center; Kathy Matsui, former Partner and Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs Japan and General Partner of MPower Partners; and Baroness Denise Kingsmill, Member of the House of Lords, in recognition of their contributions across business, philanthropy, education, public service and the advancement of women.

The ceremony will mark an important milestone for the Class of 2026 as they join AUW’s growing global community of alumnae.