“UoPeople Helped Me Choose My Path and Move Forward,” Says Computer Science Student, Md. Sadid Hasan M.

Based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Md. Sadid Hasan M. earned his Associate of Science in Computer Science from UoPeople in April 2025 and is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at University of the People.

From childhood, Sadid was fascinated by technology. He spent hours taking apart old electronics, sketching app ideas, and imagining ways technology could solve real-world problems. But his formal education was interrupted after he completed his Secondary School Certificate. Rigid societal expectations, appearance-based discrimination, and coercive psychological control prevented him from continuing his studies and limited his freedom to make decisions about his future.

Financial challenges made the situation even more difficult. Without the resources for tuition, books, or transportation to alternative institutions, Sadid turned to online learning. During the July–August 2024 protests in Bangladesh, further disruption and the closure of educational institutions added to the uncertainty he was already experiencing.

Still, he kept learning. Using a broken laptop and intermittent internet, Sadid earned scholarships for professional certificates from Coursera, Google, and IBM.

“A river cuts through rock not because of its power, but because of its persistence,” he says. “That quote reminds me to keep moving forward.”

His search for an accredited, accessible university eventually led him to UoPeople. He was drawn to the university’s mission of making higher education accessible and to the opportunity to be evaluated on his abilities rather than the gaps in his formal education.

Sadid also transferred credits from his Google and IBM professional certificates, as well as ACE and ECTS credits from prior continuing education. He describes the transfer process as seamless and the university staff as quite supportive.

For Sadid, UoPeople’s flexibility has been essential.

“Without reliable electricity or a dedicated study space, I study whenever circumstances allow, including during power outages and brief moments of calm,” he explains.

He also appreciates UoPeople’s project-based, real-world approach to learning, which contrasts with the rote memorization that characterized much of his earlier education. The university’s global community has given him another valuable perspective. Collaborating with students from countries including Nigeria, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Indonesia has exposed him to experiences and viewpoints far beyond his own.

Outside his studies, Sadid writes about social justice, human rights, and the transformative power of education. He also builds small web applications as he prepares for his long-term goal of using technology to support others facing systemic barriers.

After completing his bachelor’s degree, Sadid hopes to pursue a fully funded master’s degree and eventually a PhD abroad. He ultimately wants to establish a nonprofit organization and digital platform focused on body autonomy & life choice justice, using technology to develop a safe, anonymous reporting and support platform, publish research, and advocate for policy changes.

His areas of focus include appearance-based discrimination, caste prejudice, forced marriage, honor-related violence, child marriage, and women’s safety.

When he is not studying or working on his projects, Sadid enjoys reading computer science papers and poetry, writing, and spending time with his cat, Sonali. He manages the challenges of his journey by breaking larger goals into smaller, achievable steps.

For Sadid, earning his degree is about more than academic achievement. It is an opportunity to reclaim the freedom to choose his own path and eventually use what he learns to help others do the same.

Sadid’s journey is a testament to the power of persistence—the belief that, no matter how difficult the path, it is always possible to keep learning, keep moving forward, and build the future you envision.