At the newly established Chair for Sustainability and Textile Innovation at Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, students learn and conduct research in the fields of social responsibility, environmental protection and technical innovation in the textile sector. In doing so, they develop important expertise necessary for the future of the country. Since the summer of 2025, this has been possible through a dedicated Bachelor’s degree programme, which is unique in Bangladesh.
In 2019, STRAUSS launched this university partnership with AUST together with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). Our objective is to build lasting capabilities in social responsibility, environmental protection and technical innovation within the country. Bangladesh has developed into a leading country for increasingly complex, high-quality textiles, whose production makes an important contribution to the country’s economic progress.
Through this degree programme, we aim to contribute to sustainable development and the education of skilled professionals for the textile industry. At the same time, we seek to enhance the quality of local higher education, promote international knowledge exchange and establish long-term collaboration between research and practice.
Following the development of the course modules and the recruitment of teaching staff since 2020, the standalone Bachelor’s degree programme “Textile Engineering – Sustainability and Textile Innovation” has been offered since the summer of 2025. AUST plans to graduate 60 students per year in the future. In addition, students enrolled in the undergraduate Textile and Apparel Engineering programme at AUST can take the course “Sustainability in Textiles”.
MILESTONES
2019: Launch of the university partnership
2020–2024: Development of the modules for the Bachelor’s degree programme “Textile Engineering – Sustainability and Textile Innovation”. Around 500 students enrolled in Textile and Apparel Engineering tested the modules as advanced sustainability courses.
January 2025: Accreditation as a standalone Bachelor’s degree programme
March 2025: To complement AUST’s Bachelor’s programme, Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX) introduces a Master’s degree programme with a focus on sustainability.
June 2025: The first semester of the Bachelor’s programme begins with around 60 students. The modules are also available to fellow students in Textile and Apparel Engineering.
STRONG PARTNERSHIPS
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
GIZ was responsible for project management and coordinating the project partners. Together with UNU Resource Nexus, it also contributed to the various capacity-building measures, particularly with a focus on practical content. In developing the curriculum, GIZ facilitated expert feedback and, together with AUST, managed the accreditation processes.
Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST)
AUST is at the heart of the university partnership. It hosts the Program Chair and has been continuing its work independently since 2025.
UNU Resource Nexus made a significant contribution to the professional qualification of AUST staff and to quality assurance. It played a leading role in curriculum development and, together with GIZ, designed a capacity-building programme for teaching staff. In doing so, it drew on its extensive internal and external network of experts.
Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden)
TU Dresden played a key role in supervising the doctoral thesis of the future Chairholder. It was also closely involved in the conceptual development and the design of the courses.
DEVELOPMENT
Over the project’s five-year duration, we supported the establishment of the Chair in several key areas.
Selecting and Qualifying Teaching Staff
In collaboration with UNU Resource Nexus and GIZ, five experienced lecturers were recruited for the new degree programme. They cover a range of specialist areas and contribute extensive professional experience from manufacturing, purchasing, retail, academia and research.
The lecturers received training through multi-day seminars and coaching sessions covering technical content as well as methodological skills in teaching and research. They were supported by experts from UNU Resource Nexus and GIZ throughout this process.
Developing the Curriculum and Teaching Materials
The curriculum comprises of a range of modules. While the focus is on environmental sustainability, social aspects are also addressed. Course content includes resource management, water management, circular economy, technology and society in the textile industry, and sustainability assessments of processes and practices. The programme also includes various research projects.
The curriculum was developed in close consultation with representatives from academia and industry, including STRAUSS production partners. In total, more than 80 experts from industry, retail, civil society, academia, research and public institutions contributed to the development of the courses.
Students tested every module and reported a high level of satisfaction. They particularly highlighted the depth of content, the practical examples and the high-quality teaching approach.
Collaboration Between Industry and Academia
The involvement of stakeholders from academia and the private sector is a central element of the university partnership and has taken place across all areas of the project. This provided valuable input for the design of the course content and promoted practice-oriented exchange with STRAUSS production partners—particularly through joint research projects such as life cycle assessments.
These assessments were carried out by students at one of our production partners in Bangladesh to analyse the environmental impacts of materials and products in greater depth. The findings benefit not only the students, but also STRAUSS and our production partners.
In addition, UNU Resource Nexus has transformed learning content on resource management in the textile industry into an online module for continuing professional education. UNU Resource Nexus and AUST will also continue their collaboration through a series of guest lectures.
Further project highlights in 2023 and 2024 included symposia on responsible resource use in the textile industry, bringing together all project partners. Representatives from academia, industry and international organisations in Germany and Bangladesh discussed challenges, best practices, and sustainable and innovative solutions for managing resources throughout textile supply chains.
DEGREE PROGRAMME CONTENT
“Textile Engineering – Sustainability and Textile Innovation”
Module 1: Sustainability in the Textile Industry, including laboratory practice
Module 2: Water Management in the Textile Industry, including laboratory practice
Module 3: Innovative Approaches to Sustainable Transformation
Module 4: Resource Management, Technology and Society in the Textile Industry, including laboratory practice
Module 5: Applied Sustainability Assessments
INSPIRING OTHER UNIVERSITIES
The Chair for Sustainability and Textile Innovation has generated significant interest in Bangladesh, as no comparable field of study had previously been available in the country. To complement AUST’s Bachelor’s programme, the state-run Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX) in Dhaka introduced a Master’s degree programme with a focus on sustainability in 2025. The Master’s programme was established in close consultation with GIZ and AUST.
“WOMEN OF FASHION”
For several years, we have been working to support women in our supply chain and encourage them to pursue leadership positions. We also encourage our suppliers to create enabling conditions for such opportunities. While women make up a large proportion of the workforce at production facilities, they often have limited influence over decision-making.
Supporting women in leadership roles contributes to more equitable working conditions and innovation. At the Chair for Sustainability and Textile Innovation, this topic was explored through essays under the title “Women of Fashion”. The project complements the programme’s technical content with a broader social perspective on equality, participation and women’s empowerment in the textile sector.
OUTLOOK
We are pleased that the development and accreditation of the Bachelor’s degree programme have been successfully completed, enabling us to contribute to high-quality, forward-looking education in Bangladesh. With their specialist knowledge, graduates will help advance the sustainable development of the textile sector. We will continue to work towards strengthening the links between teaching and professional practice.
“We are convinced that education enables sustainable development. The country and its people benefit from it across generations. Nothing has a more lasting impact than education.”
Steffen and Henning Strauss
