News Desk : dhakamirror.com
The University Grants Commission of Bangladesh took an initiative to prepare a guideline on the introduction of academic activities in new public universities to ensure quality education.
The guideline formation committee held its first meeting on Monday, where the participants observed that many public universities had been starting academic activities without having proper infrastructure, finalising curriculum, and appointing senior teachers.
The situation is affecting the academic activities in most of the new public universities, and students are being deprived of quality education, said a press release issued by the commission.
The guidelines will determine how academic activities will start in the new public universities. Once the guideline was drafted, the UGC said it would organise discussions and seminars with stakeholders.
Earlier, a five-member committee was formed headed by the commission member, professor Muhammed Alamgir, to prepare the guidelines.
The other members of the committee are Bangladesh Accreditation Council member Sanjoy Kumar Adhikary, Bangladesh Open University pro-vice-chancellor Mahbuba Nasreen, Khulna University’s science, engineering, and technology school dean Afroza Parvin and UGC public management department deputy director Mauli Azad.
The UGC said that in recent times, most public universities introduced academic activities without any preparation and some even by renting buildings.
The UGC said these situations were hindering academic activities and the mental growth of the students, for which the formation of a guideline was necessary.
At the meeting, committee chief Alamgir said that the new public universities were starting academic activities without finalising the curriculum and infrastructure.
The guidelines, he said, would ensure higher education and a research-friendly environment to produce world-class graduates.
Other committee members found that the public universities were trying to carry on their academic activities with junior teachers. They added that an academic master plan for universities was also very necessary.
According to the UGC, there were no professors at three public universities – Rangamati Science and Technology University in Rangamati, Rabindra University, Bangladesh, in Sirajganj, and Khulna Agricultural University in Khulna- until August 4 this year.
According to the 47th UGC annual report, there is only one professor at Bangamata Sheikh Fojilatunnesa Mujib Science and Technology University in Jamalpur, two professors each at Barisal University and Sheikh Hasina University in Netrakona, and four at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Digital University in Gazipur — all public universities.
Currently, out of a total of 52 public universities, academic activities are going on in 46 public universities, according to UGC.
