Bangladeshi universities are lagging behind the world ranking in terms of quality research, publications and graduate ranking and reputation.
There is no Bangladeshi university among the top 500 institutions in the QS World University Rankings 2024. However, there is some positive news as 11 Bangladeshi universities have made it onto this year’s QS ranking.
Experts have identified several factors contributing to the underperformance of Bangladeshi universities in terms of research quality, publications, graduate ranking, and reputation. These include the recruitment of qualified teachers, graduate ranking and reputation, as well as the limited presence of foreign teachers and students.
Dr Muhammad Alamgir, a member of the University Grants Commission (UGC), explained that the absence of quality research, innovation, academic-industry collaboration, and an ideal teacher-student ratio are key reasons for the lower rankings. He emphasised the need to cultivate an academic environment and research culture, along with resolving the researchers’ reluctance caused by inadequate facilities.
Dr Alamgir further stressed that addressing the current situation requires not only the UGC’s efforts but also government policies aimed at improving university performance and positioning in global rankings. He cited the Indian government’s provision of substantial scholarships for master’s and PhD levels, contrasting it with the prevailing culture in Bangladesh, where individuals often finance their PhD studies abroad, which is not an ideal practice.
Moreover, Dr Alamgir emphasised the importance of granting universities autonomy to operate independently without interference, thereby fostering an environment conducive to improvement.
15 Bangladeshi universities in QS ranking
In the QS World University Rankings 2024, which features 1,500 global institutions, no Bangladeshi university managed to secure a spot within the top 500. However, 11 universities have achieved rankings this year. Dhaka University secured the position within the range of 691 to 700, while Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) is placed between 801 and 850. North South University is within the range of 851 to 900, and BRAC University falls within 1001 to 1200 in the QS ranking.
Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), Daffodil International University (DIU), East West University, Jahangirnagar University, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, and United International University all obtained rankings between 1201 and 1400. Additionally, the International University of Business, Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT), Khulna University, Rajshahi University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, and Stamford University Bangladesh made it to the list, but their rankings exceed 1401 in the QS ranking.
MIT tops the tally for 12 straight years
For the twelfth consecutive year, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) secured the top position in the QS ranking. Institutions from Europe and America dominate the top 10, many of which received perfect scores of 100 in indicators such as “Academic reputation,” “Employer reputation,” and “Faculty/Student ratio.” The National University of Singapore (NUS) is the only Asian institution in the top 10.
The University of California (UCB) earned a perfect score of 100 in the new “Sustainability” indicator, with the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Toronto, and the University of British Columbia following closely with scores of 99.9, ranked 12th, 21st, and 34th, respectively.
New entrants in QS Ranking 2024
The QS World University Rankings 2024 has seen the inclusion of 85 new entrants, with more than half of them hailing from Asia. Bangladesh has the highest representation among the new entrants with 11 universities, followed by Indonesia with 10, and India, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan with five each.
Among the new entrants, two universities have made it to the top 10 rankings: the National University of Singapore and the University of California, Berkeley.
This year’s rankings also feature institutions from new locations such as Iceland and Luxembourg, each with one institution, as well as Nigeria with two and Ethiopia with one. Notably, Hamad bin Khalifa University from Qatar and the University of Luxembourg have achieved impressive rankings, securing their positions in the top 400.
World’s top 10 universities in QS Ranking
The QS ranking evaluates universities based on parameters such as academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, international research network, and employment outcomes.
The top 10 universities in the world, according to the QS ranking, are Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US, University of Cambridge and University of Oxford in the UK, Harvard University and Stanford University in the US, Imperial College London in the UK, ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Switzerland, National University of Singapore (NUS) in Singapore, University College London (UCL) in the UK, and University of California, Berkeley (UCB) in the US.
Reasons for lagging behind of Bangladeshi universities
The quality of teaching and research in Bangladesh is not meeting the required standards, and the underlying issue is primarily the lack of adequate funding. Educationists have been emphasising the need for allocating 4 to 6 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) to the education sector to enhance the quality of teaching, learning, and research. However, Bangladesh has been allocating only 1 to 2 per cent, the lowest among South Asian countries.
The higher education sector, in particular, receives much less funding than needed, especially in the field of research. As a result, Bangladeshi universities are struggling to achieve notable success on the global stage.
While 11 Indian institutes and two Pakistani universities secured positions among the top 500 global universities in the QS ranking, no Bangladeshi university made the list. Academics argue that unless the government takes a serious look at the universities and allocates sufficient funds to the education sector, Bangladeshi universities will never be able to break into the top 500.
Experts also highlight the importance of research in securing a higher ranking. However, the quality of research in Bangladeshi universities is currently poor and does not meet international standards.
They emphasise that proper planning and adequate funding are essential prerequisites for conducting high-quality research at both public and private universities. It is high time to reconsider the country’s education system, particularly in higher education.
Dhaka University former Vice-Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique told The Business Post that Bangladeshi universities are not performing well in global university ranking because of some reasons including poor research facility.
He said the budget allocation for our universities is not enough as the higher educational institutes cannot enrol and recruit foreign student-teachers.
Prof Arefin said, “I think our universities would do well if visionary leadership could be developed along with increased financial allocations at the universities.”
“We have many talented teachers and students, but there is a lack of facilities to do quality research and make international standard educational institutes.”
Professor Atiqul Islam, vice-chancellor of North South University, expressed hope that their university’s position in the world university rankings will improve if they are allowed to conduct PhD programmes. He emphasised the university’s commitment to enhancing overall research and other academic activities, aiming to become one of the world’s best universities.
