The Department of Economics has successfully hosted a Seminar on “The Big Shift in Human Resource Management” under the Dr. Anwarul Abedin Lecture Series on 28th December 2025 at the Multipurpose Hall, Annex 7, AIUB. The lecture series is designed to create an interactive platform where students can engage with distinguished industry leaders and professionals, fostering critical thinking, curiosity, and the practical application of academic knowledge to real-world scenarios.

Mr. Syed Imtiaz Faruque, Group Head of Organisation Effectiveness at British American Tobacco (BAT) served as the distinguished resource person in this seminar. Drawing from his extensive experience in leading multinational corporate environments, Mr. Faruque delivered an insightful session on the transformation of Human Resource Management. He discussed how technological advancements, digitalization, globalization, and changing workforce expectations are fundamentally reshaping HR practices. His presentation emphasized strategic approaches to talent acquisition, employee engagement, leadership development, organizational culture, performance management, and the role of data analytics and AI in enabling predictive workforce planning and informed decision-making. Mr. Faruque also shared practical examples and experiences from his corporate career, helping students understand how HR strategies can directly impact organizational effectiveness, competitiveness, and long-term sustainability.

The seminar was graced by Prof. Dr. Saiful Islam, Vice Chancellor, AIUB who highlighted the shifting patterns in HR and emphasized the importance of acquiring knowledge beyond one’s academic subject, including global perspectives and understanding geographical contexts. Also present were Prof. Dr. Tazul Islam, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), Head of the Department of Economics, Dr. Faria Sultana, respected faculty members from FASS and Faculty of Business Administration (FBA), and students from Economics and Business programs.

The interactive question-and-answer session allowed students to engage directly with Mr. Faruque, clarifying doubts, seeking career guidance, and exploring contemporary HR challenges in depth. The seminar concluded with an exchange of tokens of appreciation, celebrating the successful delivery of an engaging, highly informative, and inspiring session that enriched the academic and professional outlook of all participants.