Thirteen out of the 51 private universities in the country violated the law by sending no money on research in 2010, according to the University Grants Commission.
Violation of Private University Act of 2010, is not acceptable said the UGC annual report for 2010.
For quality higher education, said UGC, research is a must.
The UGC submitted annual report to president Zillur Rahman on Sunday.
The UGC described research as the ‘backbone of university education’ and expressed the hope that the universities would spend the funds needed for research in coming academic years.
The Private University Act states that every private university has to set aside and spend funds out of its total annual expenses on research activities.
Expenditure on research fell in 2010 compared to 2009, said the report.
In 2009, the private universities spent on an average Tk 60,37,966 on research which dropped to Tk 50,31,476 in 2010.
In 2010, the combined expenditure of the private universities stood at Tk 19,11,96,123, said the report.
The 13 private universities which spent nothing on research include, Darul Ihsan University, The People’s University of Bangladesh, BGC Trust University, Sylhet International University, South East University, City University, Prime University, Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology, United International University, Victoria University of Bangladesh, University of South Asia, University of Information Technology and Science, Royal University of Dhaka.
BRAC University spent the highest amount on research followed by American International University- Bangladesh and Independent University came third in this regard.
It is regrettable that private universities show no interest in spending on research though they scharge high tuition fees from students, said Dhaka University Institute of Education Research professor Siddiqur Rahman.
He said that neither the public nor the private universities give due importance to research.
Former vice chancellor of Jahangirnagar University Kazi Saleh Ahmed said that research should be made compulsory for universi-ties.
-With New Age input
