From learning to lasting impact: Musabbir Ahammedstrengthens poultry education in Bangladesh

Musabbir Ahammed is used to being the person at the front of the classroom. As a poultry science teacher at Bangladesh Agricultural University, he teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students and is involved in research and professional training. Coming to the Netherlands changed those roles for a while.

“During the programme in the Netherlands, I was the student again,” Musabbir says. Over several years, he participated in international training programmes at Aeres Training Centre covering poultry management, animal feed production, food safety, product quality and outbreak management.

He first heard about the programmes through senior colleagues who had trained at Aeres before him. Their experiences made him curious – particularly about the practical approach. “I had already heard about learning by doing and the hands-on training,” he recalls. “That was one of the reasons I wanted to come.”

Taking new knowledge back into the classroom

For Musabbir, professional development does not end when a training programme finishes. What matters is what happens with the knowledge afterwards. “I continuously use the updated knowledge from the training programmes in my lectures for undergraduate and postgraduate students.”

A good example is poultry ration formulation. Musabbir now teaches his students how to formulate rations using Excel, starting with raw materials and the nutritional requirements of the birds.

Specialised software is available, but he sees value in understanding the principles behind the calculations first. “Software is available, but Excel gives students the basics of preparing a ration from raw materials.”

It is a practical example of how his experience at Aeres has found its way into his own teaching. Instead of keeping the knowledge to himself, Musabbir passes it on to the next generation of poultry professionals.

And the impact goes further than the university classroom. He is also involved in training activities for smallholder farmers, feed millers and extension workers. In this way, knowledge about poultry farming, feed production, formulation and food safety can reach professionals throughout the poultry value chain.

Bridging academic and practical knowledge

Musabbir already had a strong academic background when he joined the programmes. What appealed to him was the connection between that academic knowledge and practical application. For him, learning by doing creates an important bridge. “Practical knowledge is very important,” he says. “You learn something and then you have to understand how to use it.”

Assignments, practical activities and problem-based learning required participants to do more than listen to a lecture. They had to analyse situations, make decisions and apply what they had learned.

Musabbir also appreciated the expertise and accessibility of the trainers. “I am proud that they were my trainers,” he says. “They were very cooperative, and whenever we had questions, we could discuss them.”

That interaction did not stop when the programme ended. Musabbir remained in contact with trainers afterwards. When one of them later travelled to Bangladesh, they even met again at his university. For Musabbir, that continuing professional connection is part of the value of international training.

A moment to be proud of

One experience still stands out clearly. During the Animal Feed Production programme, all 18 participants developed a detailed Mill Improvement Plan. The assignment challenged them to analyse feed-mill operations and translate their knowledge into practical recommendations for improvement. Musabbir wanted to perform well. “I felt that I was representing Bangladesh,” he explains. “That gave me an extra responsibility.” His efforts were rewarded: his Mill Improvement Plan was selected as the best of the group. “My Mill Improvement Plan was the best, and I received an award for it. That was an excellent and remarkable moment.”

For Musabbir, the trophy was a proud achievement. But the assignment itself was just as valuable. It required him to bring different areas of feed production together and think about how technical knowledge could lead to realistic improvements. That way of thinking has remained relevant in his work today.

One professional, many more beneficiaries

The impact of Musabbir’s training is perhaps most visible in the number of people his knowledge can now reach. His university benefits from the additional expertise he brings into teaching and training. His students gain access to current, internationally informed knowledge. Farmers and professionals can benefit through training activities in which he is involved. And Musabbir himself has gained confidence as a specialist. “My confidence, my academic knowledge and my updated knowledge about poultry, feed milling and food safety have all improved.”

That multiplier effect makes his story particularly relevant for organisations considering professional development for their staff. Training one person can strengthen far more than that individual’s knowledge. When new expertise is shared within a university, company or sector, its impact continues to grow.

An international network that continues

The people Musabbir met during his programmes also became part of his professional network. Participants came from different countries and brought their own expertise and local challenges into the training. Although they only spent a limited amount of time together, some still keep in touch through WhatsApp and other channels. Those connections create opportunities to exchange ideas long after everyone has returned home.

The same applies to his relationship with Aeres. Reflecting on his experience after the interview, Musabbir described it as something he will continue to value: “I hope that the experiences and knowledge I gained will continue to contribute to my professional work. It is truly a memorable experience.” For him, that is exactly what has happened. What began as professional training in the Netherlands has become part of the way he teaches, works and shares knowledge in Bangladesh.

About Musabbir

Ahammed Musabbir Ahammed teaches poultry science at Bangladesh Agricultural University, where he is involved in education, research and professional training. He teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students and shares his expertise with farmers and professionals. His areas of expertise include poultry production, feed production, ration formulation and food safety.