Master of Professional Banking (MPB) Program
To cater the burgeoning demand for skilled human resources required to cope up with fourth industrial revolution, the Academic Council and the Syndicate of the University of Dhaka has approved the Master of Professional Banking (MPB) program under the umbrella of the Faculty of Business Studies in 2022. The Department of Banking and Insurance, University of Dhaka is one of the nationally acclaimed and globally recognized departments. Since its origin, the department aims to provide in depth and rigorous professional education to face the global changes and the challenges in the field of financial services. Since its inception in 2004, the Department of Banking and Insurance is trying to cater needs of qualified professionals who intend to build career for jobs in banking & insurance industry and financial institutions of both local and global levels in particular. The job in these fields has become most challenging and dynamic due to prevailing acute competitions across the banks and financial service industries and frequent changes of global economy. In Bangladesh, the banking and insurance industry plays inevitable role in accelerating the economic development by providing financial services to promote trade, commerce and industry. Financial system of any economy requires the most talented and highly skilled professional, having fundamental knowledge on banking and financial service industries to cope up with threats and hindrances of the highly complex and competitive job markets. Therefore, the Department of Banking and Insurance has taken an initiative with its professionally trained and experienced teachers along with real world practitioners to develop professional skills of unskilled and semiskilled professionals working in this vibrant field. Considering the ever increasing demand of skilled professional manpower in this field at present and in foreseeable future, the Department of Banking and Insurance, University of Dhaka offers a course curriculum best suited to the personnel looking for development of professional skills particularly in the field of banking and financial services institution. Moreover, the teaching methods offered with modern tools and equipments with learning friendly academic environment have made the Department a unique institution within and outside the country.
The objective of Master of Professional Banking (MPB) program is to produce qualified professional bankers for the national and international markets with advance learning education system. Accordingly, the objectives are to:
a) Prepare the participants from a variety of different backgrounds with the range of skills and techniques necessary to provide a solid foundation for their career;
b) Promote learners’ perception of the functional areas of business and developing a general perspective of their interrelationship;
c) Enhance the ability of the learners to identify business problems and resolving;
d) Assist learners in understanding the dynamics of business operations in an increasingly complex global environment and in competently dealing with the management challenges therein; and
e) Develop leadership qualities to work effectively fostering critical thinking and enhancing interpersonal communication.
Program Structure
The Master of Professional Banking (MPB) program offers flexibility to complete the degree within 1.5 to 2 years, in line with the students’ academic plan and professional commitments. The program requires completion of 51 credits, including 16 courses and a project paper. To accommodate working professionals, MPB classes are scheduled on Friday and Saturday.
Program Features
The Master of Professional Banking (MPB) program offers theoretical foundations with practical features to support students throughout their studies. The program is taught by highly qualified and experienced faculty members from the Department, the Ministry of Finance, Bangladesh Bank, commercial banks and other financial institutions. It follows an open credit system, which allows students to choose and plan courses based on their own preference and convenience. Students may also receive course waivers if they have already completed relevant courses and achieved good results in earlier academic programs. The total cost of the MPB program is approximately Tk. 2,00,000 to Tk. 3,00,000.
Special Features
In relevant professional fields, professional qualifications such as CA, CMA, ACCA, MBM, CPA, CCNA, CISA, MPB, CFA, and MAS will be treated as additional qualifications during the appointment process. The MPB curriculum is designed in a way that covers most of the courses included in the JAIBB and AIBB examinations, which helps bankers gain relevant background knowledge. Moreover, the program offers an excellent learning environment for bankers from non-business academic backgrounds by strengthening their foundation in banking and finance.
Professional Programs
There is one specialized and Professional Program in the Department which are Master of Professional Banking (MPB). These programs were launched as a direct response to the growing demand of professionals in those sectors. The duration of the program is two years and students have a wide range of elective courses to choose in accordance with their requirement.
Rules and Regulations of MPB Program
Admission Requirements
Graduates in any discipline can apply for admission. No third class in any public examination is allowed. Candidates must have a GPA/CGPA 2.50 (out of 4.00) wherever applicable. Candidates with prior work experience will get privilege. Candidates seeking admission have to apply in prescribed forms within deadlines announced by the MPB Coordination committee. The MPB Coordination committee decides on the admission test schedule and admission criteria. The committee is headed by the MPB Coordination committee. Generally the admission tests are held twice in a year-June and December. The standard assessment practice is based on the candidates’ scores/points for years of schooling, work experience and marks obtained by them in written test and viva-voce examination.
Admission Process
For admission under the program there will be an admission test that comprise of i) ii) Written test (80%) & Viva-voce (20%) Applicants have to appear in the written test for admission in which minimum 40% of written test will be considered as pass marks. However, members of CFA, ACCA, ICAB, ICMAB and similar bodies are required to appear in a written test based on qualifications viva-voce. Final selection for admission will be based on the merit score obtained in the written test and a viva-voce.
Degree Requirements
This “Master of Professional Banking” will be a 51 credit program including project paper. On the basis of the background of individual candidates, students may either be asked to take some pre-requisite courses or allowed exemptions from taking non-credit pre-requisite courses. Every student must complete a project paper weighing 3 credit. The minimum degree requirements for the MPB program are:
i) Complete 51 credit hours including Project Paper of 3 credit hours.
ii) Earn a minimum CGPA of 2.50.
iii) Complete the program in maximum of six consecutive academic years from the date of admission into the program.
iv) Students earning “F” grade in any course will not be awarded the degree.
Duration of the Program
The MPB program is a flexible one in terms of time and number of courses to be taken. Students may take about two years to complete the program. However, the degree must be completed within 6 years from the date of admission.
Academic Year and Semesters
English calendar year is the academic year for the program. The academic year is divided into two semesters:
Semester 1 : January to June 6 months Semester
2 : July to December 6 months
Academic calendar shall be designed by the MPB program committee:
Evaluation and Grading System
Students’ performance in a course shall be evaluated according to the following structure:
The evaluation of all mid-term tests, term papers and presentations is done by the course teacher and she is to submit final letter grades to the Program Coordinator.
Attendance Requirements
Minimum 75% attendance is needed to appear for the final examination. Students having attendance of 60-74% may sit for the examination as non-collegiate students. Non-collegiate students will have to pay a fine of Tk. 5,000 for each course. Students having attendance of less than 60% will not be allowed to appear at the final examination.
Financial Information
Unlike the mainstream programs offered by the University of Dhaka, the necessary funding to run the MPB Program shall not be subsidized by the University. The program shall run solely on a self-sustaining basis based on the program fees. The fee structure of the MPB Program is determined as follows:
Program Administration
MPB Program shall be administrated by a three member MPB Committee headed by the Coordinator. The Coordinator administers and supervises overall activities of the Program.