Mahbubul Hoque an AMU Alumni ( 1993-2000), the Founder of many institutions including University of Science & Technology Meghalaya & Chairman of ERD Foundation Guwahati. He is a visionary eduprenuer and institution builder who has given a new perspective of holistic development in the field of education through institution building with humble entrepreneurial journey.

Born to a rural family in Assam’s Karimganj district, Mahbubul Hoque had a turbulent early life as he lost his parents and supportive elder brother during childhood. He had to earn by doing private tuitions and selling home grown vegetables in the local market to continue his studies. Throught first class in his academic career, he completed his B.Sc. and MCA from prestigious AMU in the year 2000 and came back to his native state Assam with a vision to do something in the field of education.
He believes that right vision , honesty and hard work is the only way to succeed and therefore in spite of extreme financial constraints, he had started his entrepreneurial journey with just one computer, 4 students & Rs 85 in his pocket in 2001, rejecting lucrative job offers to him.
His first venture was a Study Centre which he started in the year 2001 in a rental house and run it through generating revenue by selling assembled computers in the market for promotion of computer lab for the trainer which became second best study‐centre of Manipal Group in the whole country. He continued his struggle in the field of education and succeeded to achieve milestone one after another traversing several impediments to set up the institutions in Assam and then Meghalaya.
Mr Hoque, being the founder Chairman of Education Research and Development Foundation (ERDF) has created a number of pioneer educational institution which caters education from KG to PG to Ph.D. through two CBSE affiliated Senior Secondary Schools, one AICTE approved Engineering College, two PCI approved Pharmacy Colleges, one BCI approved Law School, one AICTE approved Business School, one NCTE approved B. Ed. College, one Women’s College and his largest dream venture “University of Science & Technology Meghalaya (USTM) which has been accredited “A” Grade by NAAC in its 1st Cycle in 2021. Out of 9000+ students in his institutions 57% are girls students , 80% from rural areas and nearly 20% of total students getting either free or concessional education where nearly 1000+ teaching, administrative and non teaching staffs are shouldering their honest services for the growth of institutions with strong bonding and belongingness as team under his dynamic leadership. One of the most important feature of the university is that more than 30 community and tribe students from the whole of north eastern states are studying in the university.
His vision to promote research, innovation , entrepreneurship and development activities has made USTM a signatory to more than 250 MoUs with many reputed national and international institutions, industry, corporate, reputed NGOs, R & D organizations to engage university teaching learning community in such away so that they will be conversant to adopt any situations and overcome challenges in their academic, research, social and professional career through collaborative assignments.
The future roadmap of USTM encompasses Research and Extension activities focussing on rural education and achieving its Milestones. He has set up Milestones to make USTM one of the best in the country by 2025 and by 2030 as a World Class university facilitating the state of Meghalaya as a global education destination by attracting students and scholars from across the world and nurturing local youths creating a global community.
Besides education, he has initiated numerous other welfare activities such as Scholarships, Endowment Funds, Fellowships, Emergency medical assistance, Interest-Free Loans, Relief drives, etc. He is extremely sensitive about environmental protection and efficient use of energy which reflects in its Green Initiative and Green Campus because of which university already received many awards on Clean and Green campus initiatives. He believes in inclusivity, unity and diversity and therefore his way of doing work is acceptable to everyone. He is inspired by principle and life style of Gandhiji, Maulana Azad, Sir Syed, Dr Kalam, Dr Ambedkar and Nehru Ji.

On his invitation many eminent personalities including former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, ISRO Chairman Dr AS Kiran Kumar, former UGC Chairman Prof Ved Prakash & Prof DP Singh, Chairman of UGC Bangladesh Prof Abdul Mannan, former UPSC Chairman Prof DP Agarwal apart from more than 50 Vice Chancellors of prestigious universities, 1500 renowned academicians and scientists from the country and abroad, most of the Governors of the north-eastern states and Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya visited USTM.

He is now dreaming to set up a Medical College and Hospital with cutting edge research facilities in the near future and therefore searching visionary and like minded partners/organizations to be the part of this future mission. Establishing a women’s university in his native place is another dream project submitted to Govt of Assam for enactment.