Building Psychology as an emerging science and profession in Bangladesh: experience as a psychology teacher Dr. Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman, Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Origin of Psychology in Bangladesh Psychology in Bangladesh started following the tradition of western psychology, as all the pioneer teachers in psychology obtained their PhD from USA, Canada or UK. Still Bangladesh psychology is colored by western psychology as theoretical concepts or models, knowledge generation mechanism or epistemology, research methodology, reference materials – books and journals, psychological equipment – psychometric tests and laboratory or field based tools etc., are all mostly copy or so called adapted version of western psychology.

History of Psychology Teaching in Bangledesh In Bangladesh teaching of psychology started as part of philosophy department at Dhaka University in 1921, and as scientific psychology – in 1956 at Rajshahi University, and in 1965 at Dhaka University. In Bangladesh, the face of psychology changed by incorporating various fields of applied psychology, for example – during 1980s applied developmental psychology became popular by the work of an American PhD holder in developmental psychology, whose focus was care and management of mentally retarded children, i.e., intellectually challenged persons.

History of Applied Psychology in Bangladesh Due to her initiative, a special education department was established at Dhaka University in In Bangladesh a graduate department of clinical psychology was established at Dhaka University through the local initiative, as well as collaboration with British psychologists from * Later, the educational psychology was established through the local initiative and collaboration with British educational psychologists in the department of psychology at Dhaka University in mid 2000s, and even later counseling psychology was established through local initiative from 2011, at Dhaka University.

Role of Western Psychologists in Building Applied Psychology Graduate Courses It seems that, although there were early ideas and attempt to establish various areas of applied psychology in Bangladesh, the role of western psychologists, training of local teachers from western universities, as well as the local initiative and motivations to start the applied psychology courses, were vital in creating various applied psychology graduate training programmes in Bangladesh.

Total Number of Psychology and Applied Psychology Graduates in BD In Bangladesh the number of general psychology graduates with B.Sc. or M.Sc./M.S. degree in the last 50 years can be estimated as 30,000, while the number of applied psychology graduates with M.Sc./M.S. or M.Phil degree in the last 20 years is about 300. Out of all these huge number of general psychology graduates, about 500 is currently using psychology knowledge as college or university teachers, and out of 300 applied psychology graduates, about 50% (i.e., 150 only) are working in their respective area of applied specialty, mostly in the private sector, as Govt. is very slow to create the post.

97.85%, i.e., about 98% Dropout Rate of Psychology Graduates in BD Thus it can be estimated that the rate of dropout of psychology graduates in Bangladesh in terms of sustaining in the psychology profession is 97.85%, an alarming rate no doubt. What message does this high dropout rate tells us about Bangladesh psychology situation? One straight meaning is the need to enhance quality of teaching psychology at undergraduate level with better development of theoretical concepts and applied orientation, so that a large % of 1 st degree holders can choose either psychology related work or can go for graduate level applied psychology courses or can pursue research/academic psychology oriented graduate study (MS, MPhil or PhD).

Personal History of teaching Psychology & Applied Psychology I started my teaching of psychology in the department of psychology at Dhaka University during 1980s, and teaching of clinical psychology in the Department of Clinical Psychology from The areas I taught so far are: psychometry, developmental psychology, psychobiology, cognitive psychology, social psychology, introduction to psychology, applied psychology, psychology and life, psychology of adjustment, history of psychology, theories in psychology, research methodology, and clinical psychology.

Personal Development as a Pioneer Clinical Psychologist & Teacher, Research/Clinical Supervisor In my long journey as a teacher of psychology and clinical psychology, I emerged as a clinical supervisor -- through my involvement in counseling and clinical psychology practice* (*which was possible after my post-doctoral training in clinical psychology from UK in 1997, and collaborating with the British psychologists in Bangladesh and in UK during ). I also emerged as a research supervisor through the planning and conduction of my own experimental research as a graduate student of developmental psychology at the University of Manitoba, during the latter part of 1980s and early part of 1990s.

Which Identity as a Psychologist? Local/National, or Asian, or Global/International Psychologist?? But after coming back from Canada to Bangladesh in 1992, I had to look for ways of transforming myself from a western minded psychologist to become an eastern minded Asian psychologist. It is also true that, still I am searching my identity as a psychologist- local as well as global psychologist, national as well as an international psychologist, for which I am ready to accept highly exceptional career counseling.

Factors and Context of Quality of Teaching, & Recent trend in BD Psy Through this paper I will narrate the story of my becoming a teacher of psychology and clinical psychology—and factors and context contributing to the enhancement of my quality of teaching. In addition to this, I will present some recent trend and changes in Bangladesh psychology—quality of its teaching and practices.

Reconstructing Face of BD Psy: Plan to Establish an Indigenous & International PhD in Clinical Psy I will end my story of reconstructing the face of Bangladesh Psychology through the exposition of my current mission in Bangladesh, which is centered around the creation of a culturally as well as internationally valid PhD programme in clinical psychology, to create specialists, who would emerge as pillars of clinical psychology and other applied psychology teaching and practices— and help them to be an excellent role model for Bangladesh and for the region.