After 32 years since the establishment of the first non-government university, the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC) has taken the initiative to introduce MPhil and PhD programmes at private universities in the country.
As part of this initiative, the UGC has formed a committee to prepare a policy for allowing MPhil and PhD programmes, according to commission sources.
The committee will talk to stakeholders in the education sector, including veteran academicians, noted researchers, vice-chancellors of both public and private universities, and foreign research experts to prepare the policy.
The policy development work is expected to commence soon, as it was planned to start after Eid-ul-Azha.
Md Omar Faruque, director of the Private University Division of UGC and a member of the newly formed committee, told The Business Post that they will do their absolute best to develop MPhil and PhD programmes that meet international standards.
“We have not started the work yet, but we will have an initial discussion soon. The first meeting of the committee will outline the next steps,” he said.
“I hope we can prepare a good policy which will help facilitate excellent research at private universities,” he added.
UGC sources said that universities must have skilled and qualified teachers, modern laboratories and libraries, good research funding, a permanent campus and certification, strong academic reputations from previous years, and vice-chancellors (VCs), pro-vice-chancellors (pro-VCs), and treasurers appointed by the chancellor to run MPhil and PhD programmes.
Professor Dr Biswajit Chanda, a member of the UGC and convener of the committee, told The Business Post that the inception of the MPhil and PhD programmes will depend on the policy. “We will try to make a good policy, but it will take time. We aim to make the best one,” he said.
“Firstly, the committee will draft and structure the policy. It will be approved after consulting with various stakeholders, including academicians, researchers and industry leaders. Universities that have good teachers and a conducive environment for research will get permission to run the programmes,” he added.
Professor Dr Atiqul Islam, vice chancellor of North South University (NSU), told The Business Post that this is a great news for private universities in Bangladesh. “We have been demanding permission to run MPhil and PhD programmes at private universities for a long time. It will also be a milestone in the history of self-financed universities in Bangladesh.
“Many autonomous universities have the capacity to run PhD programmes. But in the absence of permission, many of them get poor points in world rankings. For example, we do not get any point for PhD programmes when we compete with other higher educational institutions globally. I believe private universities will perform better in world rankings after getting permission to run PhD programmes,” he said.
“I agree with the UGC’s decision and hope that the policy will meet international standards. Everything should be fixed and clear so that no one can misuse it,” he added.
Professor Imran Rahman, vice chancellor of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), told The Business Post, “I am very glad about the UGC’s decision to introduce MPhil and PhD programmes at private universities. Private universities worldwide, including in India, are allowed to run MPhil and PhD programmes.”
“The University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), North South University (NSU), BRAC University (BracU), Independent University Bangladesh (IUB), United International University (UIU), American International University Bangladesh (AIUB) and other universities have been providing world-class education and conducting significant research. We also encourage our faculties to publish in internationally indexed journals. So, we deserve to run PhD programmes,” he said.
Research at private universities
There are currently 115 private universities in the country with more than 3,41,000 students and 16,000 teachers.
Private universities – especially reputed ones such as NSU, BracU, IUB, UIU, AIUB, Daffodil International University (DIU), International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT) and others – are also conducting substantial research.
According to UGC’s latest annual report, the country’s top ten public universities spent Tk 74 crore on research in 2022, while the top ten private universities spent Tk 175 crore for the same purpose.
BRAC University is the highest spender on research among both private and public institutions. The university spent Tk 59 crore on research, which is almost equal to the combined research funds of the top ten public universities.
Moreover, the curriculum of private universities continuously adapts to the demands of the job market.
Current situation of private universities
Since the establishment of NSU as the first self-financed university 32 years ago, private universities have proliferated across the country. However, most continue to operate in violation of regulations due to a lack of strict enforcement by the education ministry.
According to the Private University Act, 2010, academic and administrative activities must be conducted on a permanent campus within seven years of establishment. Currently, only 37 universities are operating their academic activities on permanent campuses.
The UGC’s 49th annual report reveals that out of 110 private universities, 91 have been established for over 12 years. This indicates that 54 private universities are operating in violation of the law.
A university must obtain a permanent certificate from the government within 12 years of establishment, but only eight universities have received this certification. According to the law, the remaining universities should cease operations.
Furthermore, many private universities are reluctant to submit their annual audit reports to the relevant authorities.
The UGC’s 49th annual report states that only 13 out of the 110 private universities currently operating in the country have all the required top officials, such as a vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor and treasurer. Moreover, 68 universities have vice-chancellors, 29 have pro-vice-chancellors and 64 have treasurers.
The Private University Act, 2010 specifies that every private university must regularly hold meetings of the board of trustees, academic council, syndicate, and finance committee. However, in 2022, six universities did not hold any board of trustees meetings, 17 did not hold syndicate meetings, 13 did not hold academic council meetings and 12 did not hold finance committee meetings.
Meanwhile, many private universities, including some reputed ones, have hired more temporary professors than permanent faculty members, violating the conditions set by the law.
