BIAS is stands for BARCIK Institute of Applied studies. An educational Organization. A sister concern of an national NGO named BARCIK. Activities
1. Courses
a. b.
BARCIK Institute of Applied Studies (BIAS)
Background towards BIAS
Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK) work in different agro ecological zone in Bangladesh since 1997. BARCIK has been involved in exploring and incorporating indigenous knowledge and local practices into contemporary development programmes. Throughout these years BARCIK has been promoting the significance o
f local and indigenous knowledge through the education curriculum and independent research efforts in order to facilitate the empowerment of local and indigenous communities. In 2006 BARCIK with Department of Anthropology of Sahjalal University of Science & Technology (SUST) arranged ‘Haor Baktritamala’ in university level. Where, participated representative of experienced farmer, fishermen, boatmen and Adivashi (aboriginal) present their own experiences and indigenous theory along with faculty and researcher of institutions. After that, it spread to Sylhet Agri University. At the same time, BARCIK offered a certificate course entitled ‘Indigenous Knowledge and Bio-diversity’/ ‘Etno-Science’ to university student in Dhaka. Where, students from different university are learned through spontaneous lecture, discussion and analysis from indigenous people, researcher, scientist, teacher, technologist, policymaker, media person and development worker. Though, the core point of these discussions was indigenous knowledge and approach of rural people. Besides these, in 2009 BARCIK starts ‘ecological education program’ for school level students of it’s working areas. Local farmer, fishermen, boatmen, tanti, Adivashi, Kabiraj, Mowal, Baowali, Chunari, Kamar, Kumar, Patni and natural resource dependent individuals are key teacher and presenter of this education program. BARCIK try to create a platform for the rural society along with development organization and academic arena. With this vision BARCIK work couples of years to establish BARCIK Institute of Applied Studies, In short, BIAS. Vision of BIAS
All primary natural resources users and nature dependent communities have strength, wisdom and vision and based on their lifelong experiences and struggles, BARCIK intends to strengthen youth community for their positive engagement and a prosperous Bangladesh. Objectives of BIAS
To create a space for dialogue and extensive study of the various dimensions of ethnographic discourse, thus breeding an ever-growing thirst for new ideas from the fertile soil of older wisdom. A resource panel from academic, researchers and natural resource dependent communities is working together with the BIAS. Institutional Development Frame Work
The BIAS will act in response to the concept of indigenous knowledge and practice by integrating academicians (both teachers & students), development professionals and natural resource dependent communities in its academic programs, research and practices. The BIAS approach integrates the participatory education, training and learning process (e.g. interns, fellowships) of those academicians (both teachers & students), development professionals and community’s resource person. In Bangladesh several university faculty and student work for the indigenous people as their academic research. At a time where as many NGOs did their regular project base activities and develop several approach for the betterment of the community. Whereas community people are invent and gather huge knowledge through interacting with nature and natural resources. Knowledge Transfer is one of the principal ways by which the University’s research is transformed into the public domain so that government and the public sector, business and industry and the third sector can benefit and our research makes an impact. These relationships benefit both the research students/academicians and the GO/NGOs with whom they work. In accordance with this framework the future role of the BIAS is to blend knowledge and action within BARCIK and Bangladesh. As an institute of a BARCIK, BIAS assumes an academic purpose including teaching, research and action to the community. The mission of institution is to confer recognition and create an enlarging passageway through a series of program consistent with BARCIK's purpose and with the challenge of improving indigenous knowledge and practices in local, regional and national level of Bangladesh. BIAS Centre
BIAS will set up 4 Learning and Sharing Centre in Manikganj, Rajshahi, Satkhira and Netrokona, including a dialogue/coordination centre in Dhaka office. The Coordination centre will be managed initially by a full/part time Project Director. Short Course: 3-7 days certificate course for honors 2nd year students of university student. Long Course/ Diploma (Proposed): 1-2 years professional course for development worker and students.
2. Programmes
a. Lecture series: One year lecture program for Secondary school students (proposed for 9th grade students). Select a secondary school for 1 year for specific 10 issues . In every month 1 issue will be present by two presenters (1 academician and 1 natural resource dependent individual). After that a rigorous discussion will be operated among the students. 2 assessments will conduct among the students after completing each five issues. Finally, a certificate will be providing among the students on the basis of participation in the series and assessments. Ecological Education Program: arrange various events for primary and secondary school level students to aware and responsive for environment. Art competition, Easy competition, Environment and Ecology Olympiad, Debate competition, Quiz competition will be arrange consistently. c. Summer School/Winter School/ Farmer School/Camp: This concept taken from the western ‘summer school’ concept. It will be offer to School Children (8-14 years), Undergraduate student and Youth to utilize their summer/winter vacation to learn farmer’s knowledge and practices on Ecology, Biodiversity, Climate Change and Development. Later that will be articulate and sharing through academic arena. d. Exchange Program: Exchange program with universities at home and abroad.
3. Capacity Development: Training, Workshop & Seminar
a. Training: Design and Offer training course on various issues for development professionals (e.g. Peoples Led Development, Participatory Planning & Change Monitoring). Workshop: arranged workshop for developing several strategy within BARCIK and other NGOs. Seminar: Arranged at least 2 seminars of every year on the thematic working issues of BIAS.
4. Research
a. Research: Lead research on Agro-biodiversity, Climate change, Food Security and Gender, Indigenous Knowledge and Peoples Organization through BARCIK’s resources. Internship: Offer internship for Post graduate students of National and International Universities. Supporting research: Academic researchers at the different Universities (public & private) as well as different occupational action research all over Bangladesh have access to a wide range of support services to enable them to take their research one step further. We continually invest in resources, and improve research facilities to ensure that academic, professional and community researchers are able to pursue their ideas, undertake research and transfer their knowledge to ensure significant local, national and global impact.
5. Knowledge Management
a. Data Base: Make a data base of BARCIK’s regular and event oriented activities which will be help to take further policy and plan, contribute to as a source of resource and research. As well as, it will help to the associated natural resource dependent community.
6. Publication
a. Regular
i. Monthly: Wish to publish a regular monthly journal which will be blended BARCIK’s regular activities and theoretical arena and Indigenous Knowledge and practices. Though ‘Amader Paribesh’ is publishing regularly, but the limitation of content and amount will be increased consistently. ii. Bi-Annual: BIAS will responsible to publish two bi-annual journals namely Grassroots Voice and ‘Trinamul Uddog’. The journals cover the indigenous knowledge based practices and experiences of farmers and other natural resources users. iii. Annual:
b. Special: Published various event oriented publication like seminar paper, research paper and other assessments findings.