Home ›› 04 Jan 2023 ›› Front
The People’s University of Bangladesh is one of the country’s old private universities that started its journey in 1996 but the institution is now operating with its top three posts lying vacant.
At present, there are no office bearers for the vice-chancellor (VC), pro-VC and treasurer posts at this university.
The VC’s post has been lying vacant since December 27, 2021, the pro-VC’s post since 2003 and the treasurer’s post has been vacant since 2000.
Reached for comment, the university’s Registrar Abu Bakr Siddique told The Business Post, “We have sent a proposal with names of possible VC candidates. It’s now being processed at the Education Ministry.”
Responding to a question, he said, “We have not been facing major problems despite the top three vacant posts at the university. However, we are now working on filling them up following strict instructions from the University Grants Commission (UGC).”
People’s University, however, is just one of at least 22 private universities that are currently operating with all top three posts lying vacant for a long time.
The 21 other universities that are operating without a VC, pro-VC and treasure include Green University Bangladesh, City University, Eastern University, University of South Asia, Victoria University of Bangladesh, East Delta University in Chattogram, the First Capital University of Bangladesh in Chuadanga, Britannia University in Cumilla, Chittagong Independent University, German University Bangladesh in Gazipur, NPI University of Bangladesh in Manikganj, Rupayan AKM Shamsuzzoha University in Narayanganj, Shah Makhdum Management University, Trust University in Barishal, Microland University of Science and Technology in Dhaka, Sheikh Hasina University of Science and Technology in Kishoreganj, The University of Comilla in Dhaka, and BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology in Chattogram.
At a glance
According to Section 29 (1) of the Private Universities Act 2010, it is mandatory for private universities to appoint VC, pro-VC, treasurer and registrar on a permanent basis to carry out administrative and academic activities properly.
But the major posts have remained vacant at many private universities in the country for years, hampering academic and administrative activities.
According to the latest UGC data, most of the 109 approved private universities in Bangladesh have no full-fledged administrative bodies.
The VC post lies vacant at 39 private universities and those are mostly run by acting VCs selected by these institutions’ Board of Trustees.
The situation is even worse when it comes to the posts of pro-VC and treasurer. At least 79 institutions have no pro-VCs while 43 have no treasurer.
Only 14 private universities currently have the top three posts filled.
Talking to The Business Post, former Dhaka University VC Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique said that the absence of a regular VC or the head of administration weakens the universities.
“Many universities that have VCs are already facing various crises. So we can easily imagine what the situation is at the universities that are running without the top three office-bearers,” he said.
“There may even be a conspiracy behind leaving the key posts vacant for a long time,” he said and urged the Education Ministry to find out the reasons and take steps to fill up the vacant posts immediately.
The problems
Sources said that there are enough competent professionals who can take up the top roles at these universities but in many cases, the Board of Trustees fails to find candidates who will be loyal to them.
It’s also alleged that the authorities of these private institutions are keeping the key posts vacant only to save money, ignoring the importance of continuing academic and administrative activities properly.
Moreover, questions have been raised over the quality of education offered by these higher education institutions while their top three posts remain unfilled, they said.
Educationists said the VC is an academic and administrative custodian who leads a university while the treasurer serves as the financial custodian. Their absence makes the institution’s smooth operation impossible.
Educationist Prof Dr Harun-Ur-Rashid Askari told The Business Post that the absence of key people like the VC or pro-VC is an obstacle to the full development and potential of any university.
He said universities without full-time VCs face problems in making decisions and carrying out academic and development activities.
“The founders did not establish the private universities with proper and specific planning. In most cases, it’s been found that business is now the main target of maximum private university founders,” said Prof Harun, also the former VC of Islamic University in Kushtia.
The appointment conundrum
The Private University Act makes it mandatory for a university to recommend names to the president, who is the chancellor of all public and private universities and chooses the right person for the post of VC.
The act does not cover the appointments of acting VC, pro-VC and treasurer but many private universities are functioning by appointing acting officials in these key posts in violation of the law.
However, UGC officials say universities are allowed to be run by acting VCs only when the existing VC’s tenure expires. One of the teachers can serve as the acting VC for an interim period until a new VC is appointed.
Getting the chancellor’s approval through the Education Ministry and the prime minister for a VC’s appointment should not take more than a month. But since the law does not stipulate any specific time limit, some universities are taking advantage of it and keeping the acting VCs in their posts for a longer period while others simply do not follow any rules, said a UGC official.
It’s also been alleged that the Board of Trustees, in many cases, is reluctant to appoint the VC and pro-VC to make sure it retains control over the university administration.
The Board of Trustees at some private universities are also running their institutions by appointing people to key posts on an ad-hoc basis, but such practice is illegal.
UGC Director (Private University) Md Omar Faruque told The Business Post that they are regularly instructing the private universities to fill up the key vacant posts to ensure smooth operation and quality education.
