Speakers at a workshop here on Wednesday stressed the need for formation of Assurance and Accreditation Council for monitoring the standard of higher education in the country.
The consultative workshop, titled ‘Draft Quality Assurance and Accreditation Council of Bangladesh (QAACB)’, was held at UGC auditorium.
UGC Chairman Prof Dr AK Azad Chowdhury attended the programme as the chief guest.
Senior Operations Officer of the World Bank Dr Mokhlesur Rahman was present as a special guest.
Prof Dr Mesbahuddin Ahmed, Head, Quality Assurance Unit, UGC delivered the welcome address. Prof Dr Mohammad Farash Uddin, Chairman, Pay and Service Commission and Former Governor of Bangladesh Bank, Helal Uddin, Additional Secretary of Ministry of Education spoke on the occasion.
In his speech, the UGC Chairman said, “There has been a massive expansion of higher education in Bangladesh. Now we need quality education. If we can infuse quality into higher education, Bangladesh will be able to hold its head high into the global arena.” The proposed quality assurance and accreditation council is a positive effort for quality higher education in Bangladesh, he added. He also laid emphasis on carrying out research activities at university level.
UGC Member Prof Dr Abul Hashem said quality education should be ensured for the socio-economic development of the country with the expansion of higher education.
Prof Mesbahuddin Ahmed said that accreditation council is highly needed for quality improvement to make our graduates competent to compete with their counterparts in global arena. Dr Farash Uddin urged the Vice Chancellors to create leaders for leading the country forward.
The proposed Quality Assurance and Accreditation Council of Bangladesh (QAACB) will be an autonomous body to implement the quality assurance mechanism, to oversee the higher education quality and accredit academic programs and higher education institutions. Vice Chancellors and Pro Vice-Chancellors of different public and private universities, representatives of ministry of education, UGC, World Bank, Quality Assurance Unit and HEQEP among others were present on the occasion.
