22 universities discuss proposed changes in admission test

The vice-chancellors of 22 general, science and technology public universities in a meeting on Monday discussed dates, fees, examination centres and migration facilities to bring required changes in cluster-based admission tests.
Proposals were made to bring forward the date of admission tests, increase the fees for tests and a one-time admission fee for migrating from one university to another, joint head of cluster-based admission committee Md Imdadul Hoque, also the vice-chancellor of Jagannath University, said.
Currently, 22 universities are under the general, science and technology cluster, three are under engineering and seven are under agricultural clusters.
Professor Imdadul Hoque told New Age that some universities proposed to bring the admission test date forward for general and science universities to reduce session jams.
He also said that proposals came to increase the admission test fees.
‘As prices of everything went up, including essentials, it was quite normal that fees for admission tests could go up a bit,’ Imdadul said.
Currently the fee for admission tests under cluster system is Tk 1,200.
Currently under the cluster system if a student takes admission in one university and later migrates to another university the student needs to take a fresh admission.
‘This time we are thinking to transfer the admission fees from one university to another if any student changes university,’ he said.
A proposal was made about allowing the candidates to take the test at their desired centres, he added.
The University Grants Commission on April 7 year announced that 32 universities would join the cluster-based admission test for the 2021-2022 academic year.
The next day the Association of Universities of Bangladesh decided to take the admission test for the 22 universities under the general and science and technology cluster on three dates – September 3, September 10 and September 17 – for science, humanities and business studies groups.
The 22 universities are – Khulna University, Jagannath University, Islamic University, Cumilla University, Barisal University, Rabindra University, Begum Rokeya University, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Sheikh Hasina University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Univerisity – Kishoreganj, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Pabna University of Science and Technology, Rangamati Science and Technology University, Chandpur Science and Technology University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Digital University and Bangamata Sheikh Fojilatunnesa Mujib Science and Technology University.