Work Experiences - Kaniz Kakon

Work Experience

Professional roles that shaped my skills and perspectives.

Assistant Professor of Philosophy | 2010 - Present

Department of Social Sciences,

IUBAT – International University of Business Agriculture and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh

I design and teach undergraduate courses across philosophy, ethics, and human rights, translating complex arguments into intellectually demanding yet accessible learning. My classrooms emphasize interpretive inquiry, argument reconstruction, and case-based analysis grounded in Bangladeshi and global contexts—cultivating precise reasoning, ethical judgment, and policy literacy. Assessment is scaffolded from conceptual clarity to independent critique, with targeted feedback that strengthens academic writing and confident oral defense.

Beyond teaching, I supervise student educational projects from proposal through final presentation, coaching learning design (problem formulation aligned to course outcomes), literature navigation and case selection, reflective/qualitative classroom-appropriate methods, and disciplined academic communication. I design rubrics and feedback loops for iterative improvement and ensure ethical, inclusive practice throughout. I also contribute to curriculum development and periodic review, aligning course sequences with program outcomes and embedding contemporary debates—digital culture, environmental justice, and rights-based governance—so graduates gain both philosophical depth and civic competence.

Program Coordinator | 2021 – 2022

Department of Philosophy and Psychology,

IUBAT – International University of Business Agriculture and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh

I oversaw academic scheduling and curriculum planning, coordinating multi course timetables, aligning prerequisites, and shaping semester flows to support student progression. I organized departmental events that connected classroom learning to public discourse and supported faculty on syllabus coherence, assessment standards, and course handoffs. I also led quality assurance processes: mapping learning outcomes to assessments, moderating grading for validity and reliability, reviewing grade distributions, running course-evaluation cycles, documenting improvements for program review/accreditation readiness, and closing the loop on student–faculty feedback. The role sharpened operational judgment—balancing pedagogical aims, institutional constraints, and student needs—and deepened my capacity for cross-unit collaboration, evidence-based decision-making, and clear, timely communication.

Columnist | 2024 - Present

Daily Sun

I craft a weekly column that turns philosophical inquiry into civic intelligence. Each piece begins by naming the principle at stake, tracks how institutions and laws translate that principle into everyday consequences, and concludes with workable frames for action. The writing is deliberately bilingual—bridging scholarly argument with a public voice—to ensure complex ideas travel cleanly from the seminar room to the street.

My work covers sustained arcs of inquiry, including: digital governance and surveillance capitalism; democracy and the rule of law; climate justice; migration dilemmas; academic freedom; gender, dignity, and the ethics of care; and public health equity. I treat each topic not as a fleeting headline but as a long conversation with society. My approach pairs interpretive rigor with moral seriousness, respecting faith and tradition as living resources for justice.

Ultimately, my strengths are both methodological and rhetorical. I translate abstract theories into testable questions, distill complex legal and policy texts without sacrificing nuance, and design arguments that help readers reason rather than react. The result is public scholarship that equips citizens, educators, and decision-makers to think with care, argue with evidence, and choose actions that are principled, proportionate, and humane.

Advisor and Coordinator | 2012 - 2022

IUBAT Student Ambassador Program

I led a flagship outreach program that developed capable undergraduates into credible institutional representatives. My first step was to design the selection profile, identifying students with strong communication skills, initiative, and a team ethos. I then coached them to provide accurate, unbiased guidance to prospective students and families on everything from study options to campus life.

To ensure success, I architected the program’s core operating rhythm. This included clear role definitions (emphasizing representation over clerical work), a year-long commitment framework, and a robust development pathway built on training workshops and professional learning. Ambassadors were strategically scheduled across a high-visibility calendar—including Open Days, information evenings, school visits, and campus tours—to ensure the university’s values were always presented consistently and professionally.

I guaranteed reliability by setting and coaching toward concrete standards: from logistical preparedness to communicating with discretion and cultural sensitivity. By calibrating reasonable workloads and instituting post-event feedback loops, each appearance became an opportunity to refine our message and improve the audience experience.

The result was a durable, student-led representation corps. These ambassadors could meet visitors, guide tours, and speak from lived experience with clarity and composure, amplifying institutional visibility while building a pipeline of student leadership grounded in ethics, accuracy, and public trust.

Mentor & Advisor | 2021 - 2022

IUBAT Earth Chapter (with BYEI)

I approached environmental work as both an ethical commitment and a pedagogical task. Within the IUBAT Earth Chapter, and in collaboration with the Bangladesh Youth Environmental Initiative, I mentored student teams to move from mere “concern” to genuine competence. We framed sustainability, climate justice, and conservation not as isolated causes but as linked responsibilities, particularly within a climate-vulnerable country like Bangladesh.

My guidance took projects from problem definition to evidence-informed action. This involved clarifying aims, mapping stakeholders, aligning activities with campus and community needs, and embedding reflection so that each initiative produced learning as well as impact. Our workshops covered climate and ecological literacy, project design, and responsible communication, while our awareness campaigns were intentionally shaped to be inclusive, culturally sensitive, and grounded in local knowledge.

My core approach was to link ecological ethics with academic inquiry. Students practiced reading policy and scientific materials closely, learned to turn data into arguments, and then converted those arguments into workable interventions—from promoting sustainable habits on campus to advocating for conservation. By insisting on both method (clear objectives, modest metrics, and feedback loops) and ethos (care, prudence, and fairness), I helped cultivate a cohort of environmentally mindful student leaders capable of thinking systemically, collaborating across disciplines, and sustaining change beyond a single event or semester.

Founder & Chief Advisor | 2012 - 2022

IPA — IUBAT Photography Association

A student-led association was established to make photography serve simultaneously as artistic practice, environmental citizenship, and cultural literacy. The program treated images as arguments—insisting that composition and craft carry ethical weight—and placed environmental concern at the center of its calendar. Regular photo walks moved through diverse local landscapes, from riverbanks to historic quarters, blending cultural discovery with on-site lessons. “Leave-no-trace” protocols, safety briefings, and contextual notes were built into every outing, ensuring that care for the environment and community became an integral part of the craft.

This fieldwork was translated into public conversation through multiple successful campus exhibitions. Curatorial themes were timely and relevant, ranging from climate justice and riverine lifeworlds to urban waste and everyday resilience. Each show paired clear curatorial statements with moderated dialogues, inviting the community to engage with both the images and the issues they illuminated. Operations deliberately followed low-waste standards—using reusable mounts, digital catalogs, and repurposed materials—so that the group’s aesthetic ambition aligned with its environmental responsibility.

Workshops and peer clinics were designed to develop the full stack of visual practice, from technical workflow and editing to caption ethics and portfolio development. A studio culture of structured critique cultivated precise seeing and accountable storytelling. The outcomes included measurable gains in technical craft, project management, and public-facing skills. Just as importantly, participants left with durable civic competencies—visual literacy, environmental awareness, and cultural respect—ready to carry thoughtful, responsible image-making from the classroom to the community.