The University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) hosted an Idea Oasis Ask-Me-Anything session titled “No More Gatekeeping: Liberal Arts, AI without the Hype, and How the Two Connect for Big Tech Jobs” on 29 April at the university boardroom.

The session was organised by the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) in collaboration with the International Affairs Office, aiming to foster dialogue on the intersection of liberal arts education and artificial intelligence.

The event featured Associate Professor of Computer Science at Northeastern University and Berkman Klein Fellow at Harvard University Prof Dr Upol Ehsan. Known for his work in human-centred explainable artificial intelligence, he shared insights from his experience with leading global technology organisations, including Microsoft Research, IBM and Google.

Through an interactive discussion, participants explored emerging trends in artificial intelligence, career pathways in the global technology industry and the growing relevance of liberal arts education in preparing graduates for interdisciplinary and innovation-driven careers.

ULAB Vice-Chancellor Professor Shamsad Mortoza welcomed participants and emphasised the importance of such initiatives in bridging academic learning with real-world industry practices.

The session brought together deans, department heads, directors and faculty members, who engaged in discussions with the speaker.

The programme concluded with closing remarks by Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Jude William Genilo, while CETL Director Dr Mohammad Shazzad Hossain facilitated the session.

The Idea Oasis session reaffirmed ULAB’s commitment to promoting interdisciplinary learning, global academic collaboration and future-ready education aligned with technological advancement and societal needs.