PhD in Urban Studies (2009-2012)

Institute for Building and Urban Design, School of Built Environment, Heriot Watt University, United Kingdom 

MSc in Urban Development Planning (2008-2009)

Development Planning Unit (DPU), University College London, United Kingdom

Bachelor of Urban and Rural Planning (2001-2005) 

Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) School, Khulna University, Bangladesh

Other Professional/Academic Training:

Certificate Course on Participatory Action Plan Development by World Health Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland (2022)   

Diploma on Young Connectors of the Future by Swedish Institute, Sweden (2014)

Certificate Course on Sludge Management by Indah Water Knosortium, Malaysia (2013)

Scotland Social Science Graduate Summer School by University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (2012)

Diploma on Public Engagement in Research Project by Research Futures, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (2010)

Diploma on How to be an Effective Researcher by Research Futures, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (2010)

Housing; Community-led Development; Urban Governance; Inclusive City; Urban Poverty                               

Current Research Project/Collaboration

Academic Experience

Currently working as Professor of Urban and Rural Planning Discipline of Khulna University, Bangladesh

From 01 April 2017 to 31 March 2019, worked as Guest Professor & Research Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation at the Department of International Urbanism of Institute of Urban Planning and Design, University of Stuttgart, Germany. 

Research and Consultancy 

(2023) Focal Person of the Green Cities Initiative Programme of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Jhenaidah and Khulna of Bangladesh.

(2022-2023) Focal Person for Conducting Feasibility Studies for Different Development Project of Khulna Development Authority. 

(2022-2023) Facilitator of UrbanLead Fellowship Programme of World Health Organisation under the Urban Governance for Health & Wellbeing Initiative- Khulna.

(2022-2023) Research Coordinator of the Action Research of Oxfam International on Women’s Transformative Leadership in Disaster Preparedness and Response in Bangladesh.

(2020-2021) Co-Investigator of the Research on 'Deindustrialisation and Urban Declination' with University of Durham, UK funded by Royal Academy of Engineering, UK and GCRF.

(2016-2017) Research Fellow of Transparency International Bangladesh for conducting research on Democratic Decentralisation and Promotion of Accountability in Urban Development of Bangladesh.

(2016) Research Analyst (Livelihood), End Review of Household Economic and Food Security of Extreme Poor in Khulna and Bagerhat Districts, Save the Children, Bangladesh.

(2016) Research Coordinator, Final Evaluation of the Save the Children Shiree Innovation Fund Round 4 Project, Save the Children, Bangladesh. 

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Fellowship (2017); Transparency International Bangladesh Fellowship for Innovative Research on Corruption and Governance (2016); Swedish Institute Fellowship (2014); James Watt Fellowship (2009); Commonwealth Scholarship (2008); Best Paper Award of Heriot Watt University School of Built Environment Conference (2011).  

Supervision

SELECTED CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

• Facilitator of a Session on Feasibility Study in the Workshop ‘Project Design and Implementation for Effective Public Service’ organized by the Office of the Divisional Commissioner of Khulna held during 08-14 May 2024 in Khulna, Bangladesh.
• Lecturer on the topic ‘Informality or Hybridity: A Reflection on the Community based Organisations of Urban Poor’ under the Seminar Series- ‘IUSD Lectures’ hosted by Department of International Urbanism of Institute of Urban Planning and Design, University of Stuttgart, Germany held on 8 May 2024.    
• Facilitator of a Session in Urbanlead Training of Trainers (ToT) of the World Health Organisation (WHO) held on 14 and 15 March 2023 in Tunis, Tunisia.
• Organiser of the 21^st N-AERUS Conference on ‘Transforming Role of State in Addressing Inclusive Urban Development’. Organised by Urban and Rural Planning Discipline of Khulna University, Bangladesh & Department of Sustainable Cities and Communities, University of Kassel, Germany, October 2022.
• Organiser of the joint studio between Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design Program of the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Design of University of Stuttgart and Urban and Rural Planning Discipline of Khulna University, Bangladesh on community-led urban development programme during 25 October to 5 November 2022.
• Contributor of IHS Netherlands’s International Studio preparatory session on the topic ‘Urban Development and Role of CHDF in Sirajganj Municipality of Bangladesh’ through online technical sessions held on 16 February 2022. 
• Lecturer of the Webinar Series-Lecture 09 on the topic ‘Operationalising Community-led Housing Practice in the Cities of Global South’ hosted by Social Policy Analysis and Research Center, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka held on 28 January 2022.    
• Discussant of Fifth Symposium of Frontiers of Development on 'Urban Resilience'. Organised by Royal Academy of Engineering, March 2020, Turkey.
• Session Chair and Panellist of Round Table Discussion at the Annual Conference of TRIALOG 2019 on ‘WHOSE KNOWLEDGE COUNTS? The meaning of co-productive processes for urban development and urban research’. Organised by University of Stuttgart, November 2019, Stuttgart.
• Facilitator of First National Consultation Workshop on Regional Technical Assistance on Advancing Inclusive and Resilient Urban Development Targeted at the Urban Poor. Organised by IIED, ADB and BRAC, July 2019, Dhaka.
• Paper Presenter at 12th Annual Conference of the International Forum on Urbanism (IFoU) on ‘Beyond Resilience: Towards A More Integrated and Inclusive Urban Resilience’. Organised by The International Forum on Urbanism (IFoU), June 2019, Jakarta.
• Paper Presenter at the Symposium on ‘Critical Perspectives on Housing Microfinance’. Organised by HafenCity Universität Hamburg, November 2018, Hamburg.
• Organiser of the 19^th N-AERUS Conference on ‘Housing and Human Settlements in A World of Change’. Organised by University of Stuttgart, November 2018, Stuttgart.
• Participant at the Annual Conference of TRIALOG 2018 on ‘Resilient Urban Development versus the Right to the City’. Organised by TU Dortmund, June 2018, Dortmund.
• Paper Presenter at the 18^th N-AERUS Conference on ‘What urban in a hyper-connected Global South’. Organised by Politecnico di Milano, September 2017, Milan.
• Paper Presenter at the 17^th N-AERUS Conference on ‘Governing, Planning and Managing the City’. Organised by University of Gothenburg, November 2016, Gothenburg.

MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL AND ALUMNI ORGANISATION

Bangladesh Institute of Planners (M-494); Network-Association of European Researchers on Urbanisation in the South; Khulna University Alumni Association; Swedish Institute Alumni; Association of Humboldt Fellows Bangladesh; Bangladesh Association of Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows.

OTHER ACADEMIC & ADMINISTRATIVE ENGAGEMENT

• Head of Urban and Rural Planning Discipline, Khulna University, Bangladesh from January 2021 to January 2024.
• Executive Committee Member of N-AERUS (Network Association of European Researchers on Urbanisation in the South) from June 2021 to till date.
• Advisory Committee Member of TRIALOG (A Journal for Planning and Building in a Global Context) from January 2023 to till date.
• Editorial Board Member of Khulna University Studies (A peer reviewed journal published by Khulna University, Bangladesh) from October 2022 to till date.
• Chief Editor of PLAN PLUS (A peer-reviewed international journal of Urban and Rural Planning Discipline of Khulna University, Bangladesh) from January 2021 to January 2024.
• Member of Master Plan Committee, Planning and Development Committee, Executive Committee of SET School of Khulna University.
• Senate Nominated External Examiner of University of Malawi.
• Mentor of Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Mentoring Programme. 

coming soon...

EDITED BOOKS & BOOK CHAPTER

• Book: Housing and Human Settlements in a World of Change, Publisher – transcript verlag, Edited by -  Astrid Ley, Md. Ashiq Ur Rahman & JosefineFokdal https://doi.org/10.14361/9783839449424
• Book Chapter: The role of rural–urban linkages in local development: A comparative study on two rural settlements in Bangladesh, by Md. Zakir Hossain, Abu Sayed, Md. Ashiq Ur Rahman, in the book: Rural–Urban Linkages for Sustainable Development, edited by Armin Kratzer, Jutta Kister, Publisher - Routledge
• Book: “Higher Education Quality Enhancement in Bangladesh” published by Higher Education Quality Enhancement project (HEQEP) of Urban and Rural Planning Discipline of Khulna University, Bangladesh funded by the World Bank and UGC

 

SELECTED PEER REVIEWED ARTICLES

• Hossain, Md. Z., Rahman, M. A. U., Rahaman, K. R., Ha-Mim, N. M., & Haque, S. F. (2023). Nexus Between Vulnerability, Livelihoods and Non-Migration Strategies Among the Fishermen Communities of Sundarbans, Bangladesh. Environment and Urbanization ASIA, 14(1), 72–89. https://doi.org/10.1177/09754253221151103
• Rahman, M. A. U. and Hossain, M. (2021). Democratic decentralisation and promotion of accountability in urban development in Bangladesh. Journal of Social and Economic Development. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40847-021-00150-4
• Rahman, M. A. U.,Tasnim, T. and Ahsan, M. M. (2021). Children’s Understanding and Aspirations on Built Environment: A Case Study on Khulna City of Bangladesh. MEGARON / Yıldız Technical University, Faculty of Architecture E-Journal. https://doi.org/10.14744/megaron.2021.55632
• Rahman, M. A. U. and Ley, A. (2020). Micro-credit vs. Group savings – different pathways to promote affordable housing improvements in urban Bangladesh. Habitat International. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2020.102292
• Rahman, M. A. U. and Ley, A. (2020). Institutionalising informal networks of the urban poor under an enabling paradigm: a case study on Greenland slum of Khulna city in Bangladesh. International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development. https://doi.org/10.1080/19463138.2020.1719498
• Hossain, M. Z. and Rahman, M. A. U. (2018). Adaptation to climate change as resilience for urban extreme poor: lessons learned from targeted asset transfers programmes in Dhaka city of Bangladesh. Environment, Development and Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-016-9888-2
• Hossain, M. Z. and Rahman, M. A. U. (2017). Pro-poor adaptation for the urban extreme poor in the context of climate change: A study on Dhaka City, Bangladesh. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCCSM-08-2016-0117
• Rahman, M. A. U., Hossain, M. Z. and Kabir, M. E. (2016). Operationalizing community-led housing in practice: Lessons from Bangkok, Thailand and Mumbai, India. International Journal of Sustainable Built Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsbe.2016.05.002
• Rahman, M.A.U. (2016). Urban sustainability through strategic planning: A case of metropolitan planning in Khulna city, Bangladesh. Journal of Urban Management. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jum.2016.06.001
• Kabir, M. E., Rahman, M. and Rahman, M. A. U. (2016). Effects of household characteristics on homegarden characteristics in Kalaroa Upazila, Satkhira District, Bangladesh. Small-scale forestry. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11842-016-9332-3
• Rahman, M. A. U. (2015). Coordination of urban planning organizations as a process of achieving effective and socially just planning: A case of Dhaka city, Bangladesh. International Journal of Sustainable Built Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsbe.2015.09.003
• Rahman, M.A.U., (2013). “Who am I a Planner in Context of Bangladesh; Positioning the Planner in Planning Process” Proceedings of the International Conference on Academic Enhancement, Khulna University, Bangladesh ISBN Number: 978-984-33-6727-3
• Rahman, M.A.U., Wang, Y.P. & Smith, H.C., (2011). “Can enabling approach promote the transformation for scaling up pro-poor housing initiatives in Bangladesh?” 12th NAERUS Conference 2011, Faculty of Architecture, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, ISBN Number: 978-84-92641-08-6
• Rahman, M.A.U., Wang, Y.P. and Smith, H.C., (2011). “Can Democratic Decentralisation Promote Good Governance for Housing the Urban Poor in Bangladesh?” Working Paper, Published after the Conference on: 40 years of Bangladesh: Retrospect and Future Prospects organised by Institute of Governance Studies, BRAC University, Bangladesh and Centre for Development Studies, Bath University, United Kingdom.
• Rahman, M.A.U., Wang, Y.P. and Smith, H.C., (2011). “Evolution of Pro-poor Housing Practices: International Trend and Bangladesh Perspective.” European Network for Housing Research (ENHR) Conference, 2011, Toulouse, France.
• Rahman, M.A.U., Wang, Y.P. and Smith, H.C., (2010). “Why housing acts as capital for sustainable livelihood in the low-income urban settlements of Bangladesh?” 6th Annual Postgraduate Research Conference, 2011, Heriot-watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (Winner, Best Paper Award of the Conference)
• Rahman, K.R., Rahman, M.A.U., Hossain, M.Z and Islam, M.S., (2010). Practicing governance: pitfalls and potentials - a study of Bangladesh. Journal of The Research Center of Business Management Through Projects, Faculty of Management Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, 2010, Romania.
• Alam, M.A., Rahman, M. A. U., Hossain, M.Z. and Salauddin, M., (2009). Designing an effective water supply System for Khulna city: a GIS based approach. Journal of Planning: PLAN PLUS, Urban and Rural Planning Discipline Khulna University, Khulna, Vol. 5, 88-101.
• Hossain, R., Ahsan, M. M., Hossain, M.Z. and Rahman, M. A. U., (2008). Indigenous Knowledge and Practices for Cyclone Preparedness in Coastal Bangladesh. Book on Solutions to Coastal Disasters, ISBN-10: 0-7844-0968-4, American Society of Civil Engineers, Virginia.
• Rahman, K.R., Afrin, S., Rahman, M.A.U. and Hossain, M.Z., (2007). Modelling System Coherence to Know the Pedestrians Level of Services in Dhaka City. Khulna University Studies, Vol. 8, 13-19.
• Islam, M. S., Rahman, K.R., Rahman, M.A.U. and Hossain, M.Z., (2007). Environment and Sustainable Development of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Resources and Development, ISSN: 1683-1616, Vol. 4, 89-101.
• Karim, R., Swapan, M. and Rahman, M.A.U. (2007). Automation of Water Supply Network of Gopalgonj Paurashava with Application of GIS. Khulna University Studies, Special Issue.

Housing This course aims to introduce the challenges associated with housing in third world countries having special emphasis on Bangladesh context. It discusses the housing conditions, policies and organization. It introduces different tools and techniques to develop urban housing strategies. It also discusses the salient features of low income housing and possible options for securing the shelter of the urban poor. At the end of this course, students will be able to critically assess issues and practices related to housing and will be able to develop professional skills to apply different theoretical underpinning and tools of housing strategies. Running

Tools for Community Participation (Studio) This course provides understanding of tools that provide a broad range of strategies to affirm community values, needs and aspirations, which become the drivers of plans that reflect and advance the community’s vision for the future. This course has been designed in a way that will help the students to conduct participatory research.   Running

Urban Development Planning This course aims to introduce the theoretical underpinnings of different planning approaches. It discusses the major planning paradigms and issues in contemporary urban planning practices. This course also discusses different challenges associated with urban development in third world perspective. It also familiarizes students with different theoretical, organizational and practical issues involved in urban development.

Urban Governance The course is designed to explore the issues of governance of cities in the wider context of development and globalization. Under this course the roles, relations, and actions of actors in civil society, public and private sectors will be examined in theory and practice to understand the challenges associated with urban development, .

Planning Workshop This course aims to introduce the major thematic areas of urban and rural planning. The contemporary issues will be discussed through individual workshop. It also familiarizes students with different theoretical, organizational and practical issues of urban and rural planning.

Development Policy and Planning This course provides a critical overview of development theory. Students of this course are expected to learn and understand the macro-economic development philosophies which articulate planning practices in developing countries.  Running

• Housing

• Tools for Community Participation (Studio)

• Urban Development Planning

• Urban Governance

• Planning Workshop

• Development Policy and Planning