Full-time Faculty
Associate Professor
Coordinator of the Center for Migration Studies (CMS), South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG)
Coordinator of the Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC)
Ph.D. in Sociology of Migration and Labour, Flinders University, Australia
Phone: +880-2-55668200 Ext: 6851
Email: reza.selim@northsouth.edu
Office: NAC904
Dr. Selim Reza is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the Department of Political Science and Sociology at North South University. Before joining North South University, he was at the Asian University for Women (AUW) where he taught and coordinated Development Studies courses as Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Development Studies for almost five years since 2018. At AUW, he led the design and development of an In-service Master of Education (M.Ed.) programme in the role of the Programme Director. Also, he led the AUW Summer School of Science and Mathematics 2023 in his role as the Director. His professional experience spans teaching (both undergraduate and graduate levels), research, and academic programme coordination. He previously taught social justice, socio-legal studies, and sociological research methods at Flinders University, Australia. Also, he taught Masters courses on research methods, and nationalism, identity politics and development at BRAC University, Bangladesh while leading its Master of Development Studies (MDS) programme in the role of the Head of Academic Programmes at BRAC Institute of Governance and Development.
Dr. Reza started his career as a Field Researcher and subsequently became Research Associate and then Research and Communications Officer at the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) of the University of Dhaka. In these positions at RMMRU, he worked for many research projects including the UK Aid-funded multidisciplinary, multi-country Migrating out of Poverty Research Programme Consortium based in the University of Sussex, UK. This Consortium involved him in various research projects on poverty reducing and developmental impacts of migration in Africa and Asia. He conducted focus group discussions, household surveys and in-depth interviews, led a team of researchers, supervised research assistants in data analysis, and drafted many research reports, policy briefs, journal articles and conference and other presentations. He also wrote a policy background paper on the migration sector in Bangladesh as a consultant for the World Bank. In 2013, he was awarded a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship at the University of Sussex, UK to develop his capacity for leadership in Southern-led research for development.
Dr. Reza’s broad research area is social organisation of work for Asian migrant workers. His key research interests span labour migration, recruitment practices, precarious work and individualised employment relationship issues that are theoretically founded in the sociology of migrant labour, work and contingent employment practices. He is the author of the book “The Construction Precariat” published by Taylor & Francis (Routledge, UK) in the prestigious series of Routledge Studies in the Sociology of Work, Professions and Organisations which publishes the latest sociological and social scientific research on professions, work and organisations, organisational change, entrepreneurship, workplace issues, working lives and identities, labour relations and the transformation of work in a changing economy. This book is internationally acclaimed for offering new insights into the field of labour migration by unpacking the interconnections between rural-urban labour migration, recruitment and precarious employment. It uniquely models and conceptualises the dominance of recruiters as producing “hyper-individualised employment”, and sheds light on the manner in which this relationship of domination and dependence contributes heavily both to the conditions of precariousness and to the control and exploitation of migrant workers. He maintains an active research affiliation with the Global Labour Research Centre (GLRC) of York University, Canada and the Centre for Employment Relations, Innovation and Change (CERIC) of the University of Leeds, UK.
Dr. Reza holds a Ph.D. in Sociology of migration and labour from Flinders University, Australia. At Flinders, he received, in addition to the doctoral degree, a rigorous training on learning and teaching practices in higher education and thus developed effective teaching skills through completing a one-year academic internship programme as a doctoral student with teaching responsibilities. He completed his Bachelor and Masters (first class, first position) in International Relations from the University of Dhaka. He is an affiliated faculty at the Global Labour Research Centre (GLRC), York University, Canada.
Book:
Refereed journal articles:
- Chowdhury, S. & Reza, S. (2023). Return and Re-migration Challenges for Bangladeshi Female Migrants in the Middle East during the COVID Pandemic. Journal of Social and Humanities Studies, 2(2), 11-21.
Book chapter:
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Policy brief:
Policy background paper:
Research reports based on primary data/empirical field research:
Magazine articles:
Newspaper articles in Bangla:
Office of Graduate Research, Flinders University, Australia
The “Best Research Higher Degree Student Publication” award, February 2017
Australian Government, Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Australia
International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS) award, 2014 – 2018
Australian Postgraduate Award (APA), 2014 - 2018
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, UK
Commonwealth Professional Fellowship Award, January 2013
Host: School of Global Studies, University of Sussex, UK
School of Law, University of New South Wales, Australia
Diplomacy Training Programme, November 2012
Flinders University; Adelaide, Australia
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), awarded in July 2018
Title of the PhD dissertation: “Rural-Urban Labour Migration, Recruitment Practices, and Precarious Employment: The Case of Construction Workers in Bangladesh”
Fields of study: Sociology of Migration and Labour/Sociology of Work and Organisation/Economic Sociology/Migration Studies/Labour Studies/Employment Relations/Development Studies
University of Dhaka; Dhaka, Bangladesh
Master of Social Sciences in International Relations, 2004-2005, awarded in June 2008 (First class, First position)
Bachelor of Social Sciences in International Relations, 2000-2004, awarded in June 2006
Notre Dame College; Dhaka, Bangladesh
Higher Secondary Education (HSC) in Humanities, awarded in August 2000 (First division)
North South University
Department of Political Science and Sociology
Associate Professor of Sociology (Jul 2023 – )
Coordinator of the Center for Migration Studies (CMS), South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) (Jan 2024 – )
Coordinator of the Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) (Jun 2024 – )
Asian University for Women
Social Sciences Programme
Assistant Professor & Coordinator of Development Studies (Re-appointment/Jan 2022 – Jul 2023)
Key responsibilities:
- I planned, developed, taught and coordinated courses and seminars for undergraduate students minoring in Development Studies.
- I served as Coordinator of Development Studies minor programme.
- I advised all students in Development Studies as their academic advisor and mentor.
- I supervised students in developing and implementing senior thesis projects, including guiding them in data analysis, thesis writing, and presentation.
- I worked on research projects, attracted funding to engage in research and published my research work.
- I provided leadership and service on faculty-led academic committees.
Additional leadership roles:
- Programme Director, In-service Master of Education (M.Ed.): I led, supervised and coordinated the administration, management and governance of the In-service Master of Education (M.Ed.) programme.
- Director of AUW Summer School 2023: I led and managed the AUW Summer School 2023 programme (funded by Chevron) by providing high-quality supervision and leadership for it through planning, organisation, implementation.
University service roles:
- Coordinator, Development Studies Minor Programme
- Academic Advisor for All Development Studies Minor Students
- Chair, Learning, Teaching and Quality Assurance (LTQA) Committee
Courses designed, coordinated and taught:
- DS/PPE3100 Work, Employment and Society (Fall 2022) DS/PPE3000
- Migration and Development (Summer 2022)
- SOCA2600 Introduction to Development Studies (Fall 2022/Spring 2022/Spring 2023) DS3650
- Theories and Practices of Development (Fall 2022/Spring 2022)
- DS/PPE3070 Human Trafficking, Migration and Modern Slavery (Spring 2022/Spring 2023)
- DS/PPE3101 Education, Social Justice and International Development (Spring 2023)
Research student (senior thesis) supervision:
- Ms. Nujhat Nawar (May 2023), “Forced child street begging in Chittagong”.
- Ms. Annika Yeasmin (May 2023), “Discrimination in Madrasah education in Bangladesh”.
- Ms. Raida Zaman (May 2023, joint supervision), “Gender stereotypes in child development in Chittagong, Bangladesh”.
- Ms. Nur Hammamur Rizki (May 2023), “Youth participation for achieving Millennium Development Goals in Indonesia”.
- Ms. Lu Lu Tsin (July 2022), “Japanese sex toys and their impact on human trafficking” (Independent Study).
- Ms. Tanjina Sultana (July 2022), “Recruitment practices and precarious working conditions of migrant women in the readymade garments sector of Bangladesh”.
- Ms. Myat Su Aung (July 2022), “The Three Chinese-backed Mega Projects and Their Environmental Impacts in War-torn Burma”.
BRAC University
BRAC Institute of Governance and Development
Assistant Professor & Head of Academic Programmes (Jun 2021 – Jan 2022)
Teaching responsibilities:
I taught Masters courses in the Master of Development Studies (MDS) programme run by BRAC University’s Institute of Governance and Development: DEV690 Research Methods and Concepts, and DEV609 Nationalism, Identity Politics and Development. For teaching these courses, I prepared and delivered lectures, conducted assessments, and prepared and marked essays and assignments. I supervised and examined senior-level Masters theses. I also advised Masters students on academic and related matters.
Academic leadership responsibilities:
I provided academic leadership for coordinating three Masters programmes run by BIGD, BRAC University: Master of Development Studies (MDS), Master of Arts in Governance and Development (MAGD), and Masters in Procurement and Supply Management (MPSM). I participated in setting course and degree requirements, curriculum revision and academic planning for administering these Masters programmes. Also, I served BIGD’s Academic Steering Committee as Member Secretary.
Academic training responsibilities:
I led the Executive Development Centre that BIGD runs in association with the Skills for Employment Investment Programme (SEIP) of the Ministry of Finance of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh for skill development of mid-level managers in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector through a Postgraduate Diploma in Knitwear Industry Management (PGD-KIM).
Research responsibilities:
I participated in identifying research grant opportunities, mobilising research grants and undertaking other associated tasks relevant to BIGD’s research clusters. Strategic responsibilities: I provided strategic inputs and counsel to the BIGD Senior Management Team and formulated effective strategies of the Academic Programme Cluster of BIGD.
Operational responsibilities:
I led the day-to-day operations (i.e., student admission and induction, faculty search and selection, class scheduling and supervision, student advising etc.) for the Academic Programme Cluster through ensuring quality and integrity in the delivery of academic services.
Managerial responsibilities:
I supervised and managed the relevant staff of the Academic Programme Cluster and led their tasks to facilitate relevant documentation, records and routine paperwork. I also functioned as hiring manager for staff recruitment for the Cluster.
Ex-officio leadership roles:
- Member Secretary, Academic Steering Committee
- Director, Executive Development Centre
- Chair, Admission and Student Recruitment Panel (Master of Development Studies/Masters in Procurement and Supply Management)
- Chair (Hiring Manager), Academic Staff Recruitment Panel
Courses coordinated and taught (Masters level):
- DEV690 Research Methods and Concepts (Summer 2021)
- DEV609 Nationalism, Identity Politics and Development (Summer 2021)
Research student (Masters thesis) supervision:
- Ms. Soujannita Chowdhury (Dec 2021), “Women migration in Bangladesh: returnee Migrants and re-migration challenges during COVID-19”.
- Mr. Akib Haider Chowdhury (Dec 2021), “Return and reintegration of Bangladeshi domestic migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic”.
- Ms. Ayesha Tasnim Mostafa (Dec 2021, jointly), “Climate change action: Social and behavioural challenges impacted by COVID-19 in Bangladesh”.
- Mr. Md. Fazle Rabby (Nov 2021), “Challenges and opportunities for implementing the lead time in Bangladesh’s RMG sector”.
- Mr. Muhammad Atiqur Rahman (Dec 2021), “Sustainable procurement and supply chain management in Bangladesh’s garments industry”.
Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) internship supervision:
I supervised seven postgraduate diploma students undertaking industry-linked internship (RMG industry) under BIGD’s Executive Development Centre.
Reviewer (Masters thesis):
I performed review and examination of a number of Masters theses in my role as external examiner.
Asian University for Women
Social Sciences Programme
Assistant Professor & Coordinator of Development Studies (Aug 2018 – May 2021)
Key responsibilities:
- I planned, developed, taught and coordinated courses and seminars for undergraduate students minoring in Development Studies.
- I served as Coordinator for the Development Studies minor programme.
- I advised all students minoring in Development Studies as their academic advisor and mentor. I supervised students in developing and implementing senior thesis projects, including guiding them in data analysis, thesis writing, and presentation.
- I worked on research projects, attended donors and visitors, and attracted funding to engage in research and published my research work internationally and nationally. I provided leadership and service on faculty-led academic committees.
University service roles:
- Coordinator of Development Studies
- Academic Advisor, Development Studies Minor Programme Students
- Chair, Research and Ethics Committee
- Cluster Lead, AUW Centre for Assam Studies
- Faculty Advisor, AUW Student Government
- Faculty Advisor, AUW Entrepreneurship Club
- Faculty Advisor, AUW Debating Society
Courses designed, coordinated and taught:
- SOCA2600 Introduction to Development Studies (Fall 2018/Spring 2019/Fall 2019/Fall 2020)
- DS3650 Theories and Practices of Development (Fall 2018/Spring 2019/Fall 2019/Spring 2020/Spring 2021)
- PPE3254 Migration, Mobility and Development (Fall 2018)
- PPE3500 International Political Economy (Spring 2019/Summer 2020/Spring 2021) PPE3070
- Human Trafficking, Migration and Modern Slavery (Fall 2019/Spring 2020)
- PPE3077 Sociology of Work (Spring 2020)
- PPE3083 Industrial and Labour Relations (Fall 2020/Spring 2021)
- PPE3082 Refugees, Forced Migration and Displacement (Fall 2020)
Research student (senior thesis) supervision:
- Ms. Maria Sikandary (May 2020), “Towards Gender Equality: The Role of Educated Women in Afghanistan”.
- Ms. Nasrin Sultana Lipi (Jul 2019), “Youth and the social media: The role of civil society in democratisation of Bangladesh”.
- Ms. Sanam Gul (Jul 2019), “Education and women empowerment in Pakistan: The role of local NGOs” (Independent Study).
- Ms. Neealana Naushin (Jun 2019), “Joining sex trade business voluntarily: Hotel-based sex workers of Dhaka, Bangladesh”.
- Ms. Abreshmi Nowar (Jun 2019), “Migration, power and participation: The case of young women in Bangladesh”.
- Ms. Israt Jahan Oeeshi (Jun 2019), “Child labour, migration and development in Bangladesh: The case of informal sector in Chittagong”.
- Ms. Shamael Ahmed (Jun 2019), “Latent effect of Bangladesh’s economic boom on development”.
- Ms. Reth Choronai Leang (May 2019), “Political economy of labour: The cases of readymade garments industries in Asia”.
- Ms. Nang Nyunt Aye (Dec 2018), “Migration and its impact on the development of the Country” (Independent Study).
OTHER ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT
Flinders University
College of Business, Government and Law
Graduate Teaching Assistant (Semester 1, Feb - Jul 2018)
Course taught: LEGL1201 Law in Australian Society (With Dr. Maria Giannacopoulos)
Flinders University
School of Social and Policy Studies
Graduate Teaching Assistant (Semester 1, Feb - Jul 2017)
Course taught: SOCI2025 Sociological Research: Design, Methods and Ethics (With Dr. Mikhail Balaev)
Flinders University
School of Law Graduate Teaching Assistant (Semester 2, Jul - Dec 2016)
Course taught: LEGL1102 Contentious Justice Issues (With Dr. Maria Giannacopoulos)
CAREER IN RESEARCH
University of Dhaka
Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU)
Research and Communications Officer (Apr 2012 – Feb 2014)
Research projects:
I worked for the “Migrating out of Poverty”, a seven-year Research Programme Consortium led by the University of Sussex, UK and funded by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID/UKaid). In my role, I worked for the following research projects:
- “Impact of Migration on Poverty: The Case of Construction Workers in Bangladesh”. For this project, I led a team of seven Research Assistants to interview 200 construction workers in Dhaka and their rural households. I also organised a dissemination workshop.
- “Identifying Gaps and Challenges in Decision Making Process of International Labour Migration: Bangladesh Case”, commissioned by the Asia Foundation. For this project, I interviewed 200 migrant workers in four districts of Bangladesh.
- “Climate-induced Displacement”. For this project, I supervised a team of 15 Research Assistants to interview 1,600 climate change affected migrants in five natural disaster-prone districts of Bangladesh.
- “Migration Sector Review in Bangladesh”, commissioned by the World Bank, Dhaka Office. For this project, I researched the local labour market conditions and reviewed education system in Bangladesh.
- “Institutional Strengthening of the Office of Labour Attachés: The case of Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka”. For this collaborative regional research project, I interviewed 50 Bangladeshi migrant construction workers in Malaysia and few Bangladeshi government officials.
University of Dhaka
Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU)
Research Associate (Nov 2010 – Mar 2012)
Research project:
I worked for many research projects on international labour migration. I was responsible for preparing research reports based on primary data and consultations with the principal investigators and their research teams.
University of Dhaka
Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU)
Junior Programme Officer (Jun 2009 – Nov 2010)
Research project:
“Governance and Management of International Migration in Bangladesh”, commissioned by The World Bank Dhaka Office. I managed field-based datasets and assisted in preparing the research outputs.
University of Dhaka
Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU)
Field Researcher for the Young Researchers’ Forum (Jun 2008 – May 2009)
Research project:
“Migration of the Female Street Workers and Their Livelihood in Dhaka City”. For this project, I interviewed 100 female street workers and assisted in preparing research report and organising a dissemination workshop. I also coordinated the operations of the Young Researchers’ Forum.
N/A
North South University
SOC101 Introduction to Sociology (Undergraduate/Summer 2023/Intersession 2023/Spring 2024/Summer 2024)
Asian University for Women
DS/PPE3100 Work, Employment and Society (Undergraduate/Fall 2022)
DS/PPE3000 Migration and Development (Undergraduate/Summer 2022)
SOCA2600 Introduction to Development Studies (Undergraduate/Fall 2018/Spring 2019/Fall 2019/Fall 2020/Fall 2022/Spring 2022/Spring 2023)
DS3650 Theories and Practices of Development (Undergraduate/Fall 2018/Spring 2019/Fall 2019/Spring 2020/Spring 2021/Fall 2022/Spring 2022)
DS/PPE3070 Human Trafficking, Migration and Modern Slavery (Undergraduate/Fall 2019/Spring 2020/Spring 2022/Spring 2023)
DS/PPE3101 Education, Social Justice and International Development (Undergraduate/Spring 2023)
PPE3500 International Political Economy (Undergraduate/Spring 2019/Summer 2020/Spring 2021)
PPE3077 Sociology of Work (Undergraduate/Spring 2020)
PPE3083 Industrial and Labour Relations (Undergraduate/Fall 2020/Spring 2021)
PPE3082 Refugees, Forced Migration and Displacement (Undergraduate/Fall 2020)
PPE3254 Migration, Mobility and Development (Undergraduate/Fall 2018)
BRAC University
DEV690 Research Methods and Concepts (Postgraduate/Summer 2021)
DEV609 Nationalism, Identity Politics and Development (Postgraduate/Summer 2021)
Flinders University
LEGL1201 Law in Australian Society (With Dr. Maria Giannacopoulos/Undergraduate/Semester 1, Feb - Jul 2018)
SOCI2025 Sociological Research: Design, Methods and Ethics (With Dr. Mikhail Balaev//Undergraduate/Semester 1, Feb - Jul 2017)
LEGL1102 Contentious Justice Issues (With Dr. Maria Giannacopoulos//Undergraduate/Semester 2, Jul - Dec 2016)
Journal of Educational Science
Member, Editorial Board; March 2022 –
Journal of Humanities Education
Member, Editorial Board; March 2022 –
Global Labor Program- Platform for Organising by Workers for Empowerment and Recognition (GLP-POWER), USAID/Pragya, India
Member, Research Advisory Panel (South Asia); January 2022 –
(This project on marginalised, informal and precarious workers is being implemented in seven South Asian and South East Asian countries over the next five years by a consortium comprising Solidar Suisse, Pragya and British Institute of International & Comparative Law).
Global Labour Research Center (GLRC), York University, Canada
External Faculty; December 2018 –
Internal migration, rural-urban migration, seasonal migration, international migration, labour migration, youth migration, remittance, labour recruitment practices, labour management, labour rights, labour protection, informal economy, labour market inequality, precarious work, decent work, contingent employment, platform work, labour exploitation, human trafficking, sex trafficking, forced labour and modern slavery.