The University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) held the opening ceremony of “Mentors’ Study Abroad Presents Hult Prize at ULAB 2025/26” on 15 November, 2025, at the Forum Hall of its permanent campus, marking the start of one of the most anticipated social entrepreneurship events of the academic year.

Globally recognised as the “Nobel Prize for Students”, the Hult Prize engages more than one million students from over 120 countries to develop innovative start-ups addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges. ULAB is once again participating in the global movement.

The ceremony was attended by Professor Jude William Genilo, pro-vice-chancellor of ULAB; Professor Sarwar Uddin Ahmed, dean of the School of Business; Dr Shamsuddin Ahamad, assistant professor and director of the EMBA programme; and Zeeshan Ahmed, adviser for the Hult Prize at ULAB. National Hult Prize leaders Md Abid Shaharia, national community coordinator, and Md Aminul Islam, national coordinator, were also present.

Tahiya Islam, country manager for Bangladesh at HerWILL, delivered a featured session titled “Cracking the SDG Code: Building Businesses with Purpose”.

Speakers said that the Hult Prize at ULAB is not merely a competition but a launchpad for changemakers, helping students develop entrepreneurial mindsets through mentorship, workshops and real-world problem-solving aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

ULAB expressed appreciation to its title sponsor, Mentors’ Study Abroad, for supporting youth leadership and helping students shape sustainable futures, along with gratitude to all event partners.

This year’s competition will include three phases: the Abstract Presentation Round on 5 December, 2025; the Project Development Round on 15 December, 2025; and the Grand Finale on 17 January, 2026. The winning team from ULAB will advance in pursuit of the global USD1 million seed funding opportunity.

The ceremony concluded with a call to action, encouraging students to dream boldly, collaborate confidently, and turn ideas into impact. Salman Al Farsy, campus director of the programme, said, “This is just the beginning… Welcome to Hult Prize at ULAB 2025/26!”