Campus Desk :
A total of 19 of the 68 functional private universities up to the year 2013 in Bangladesh did not spend a penny on research in 2013 even though there is no alternative to research in ensuring the qualitative development of higher education, disclosed sources in the University Grants Commission (UGC).
The commission believes it is a hindrance for the qualitative development of higher education if there is no adequate allocation for research.
According to the Private University Act, 2010, each university should spend a substantial amount of money from its budget on research.
The universities that did not spend on research in 2013 were North South University, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, City University, Royal University of Dhaka, Sylhet International University, Central Women’s University, The People’s University of Bangladesh, Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology, Darul Ihsan University, Varendra University, Hamdard University, Bangladesh, North East University, Bangladesh, Ishakha International University, Bangladesh, ZH Shikdar University of Science and Technology, North Western University, Khwaja Yunus Ali University, Sonargaon University, Feni University and Britannia University.
The remaining 49 private universities spent a total of Tk. 5,831.24 lakh, which is, on an average, Tk. 119 lakh. In 2012, the total expenditure on research was Tk 4,103.84 lakh, with an average of Tk. 91.18 lakh.
According to the UGC, expenditure on research has increased in 2013 and, at the same time, average expenditure has increased as well. The commission considers this to be satisfactory.
BRAC University spent the highest amount of Tk. 4,064.57 lakh on research in 2013 while American International University was in the second position in terms of research expenditure of Tk. 400.06 lakh. University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh was in the third position, spending Tk. 225.16 lakh.
In 2012, BRAC University topped the list of research expenditure with Tk. 2,550.99 lakh and was followed by American International University, which spent Tk. 346.32 lakh. Independent University of Bangladesh spent Tk. 143.04 lakh.
Though the 19 universities did not spend money on research, but the student expenditure per head on education was the highest in some of these universities.
Feni University did not spend money on research in 2013, but topped the list among 68 private universities that had the highest student expenditure per head – with Tk. 5,40,830.07. Central Women’s University was in the second position, in terms of student expenditure per head of Tk. 4,19,969.00, while Hamdard University, Bangladesh, occupied the fourth position in terms of student expenditure per head of Tk. 2,05,024.00.
The commission, in its analysis report, found that student expenditure per head has been increasing every year, which was not desirable.
Prof Dr Siddiqur Rahman of the Institute of Education and Research (IER), University of Dhaka, told The Independent that the purpose of education is twofold: acquisition of knowledge and practice.
“For practice, we need research. Almost all the universities worldwide place emphasis on research. Teachers don’t get promotions if they are not engaged in research work. But this is very much absent in both public and private universities in our country,” he rued.
“The main purpose of the universities is being thwarted in the absence of research. As a result, knowledge is being created in other countries where research is being carried out, and we only memorise their knowledge,” he observed.
“As there is inadequacy in research work, the universities in Bangladesh are lagging behind in world rankings,” the professor added.
He believes budgetary allocation is necessary for conducting research. At the same time, teachers should be compelled to conduct research, he felt.
In its report, the UGC expressed its hope that these universities would allocate the necessary amount of money on research and spend it for that purpose by considering the qualitative development of higher education. At the same time, they would take national development into account, it hoped.
The UGC disclosed this information in its ’40th Annual Report, 2013,’ based on all the data of public and private universities. The UGC will formally publish the report after submitting it to the President.
In 2013, there were 78 approved private universities in the country, but 10 of them did not launch their academic activities. That is why the UGC prepared the annual report with 68 universities, reports daily independent.
Courtesy: Geebd.com
A total of 19 of the 68 functional private universities up to the year 2013 in Bangladesh did not spend a penny on research in 2013 even though there is no alternative to research in ensuring the qualitative development of higher education, disclosed sources in the University Grants Commission (UGC).
The commission believes it is a hindrance for the qualitative development of higher education if there is no adequate allocation for research.
According to the Private University Act, 2010, each university should spend a substantial amount of money from its budget on research.
The universities that did not spend on research in 2013 were North South University, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, City University, Royal University of Dhaka, Sylhet International University, Central Women’s University, The People’s University of Bangladesh, Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology, Darul Ihsan University, Varendra University, Hamdard University, Bangladesh, North East University, Bangladesh, Ishakha International University, Bangladesh, ZH Shikdar University of Science and Technology, North Western University, Khwaja Yunus Ali University, Sonargaon University, Feni University and Britannia University.
The remaining 49 private universities spent a total of Tk. 5,831.24 lakh, which is, on an average, Tk. 119 lakh. In 2012, the total expenditure on research was Tk 4,103.84 lakh, with an average of Tk. 91.18 lakh.
According to the UGC, expenditure on research has increased in 2013 and, at the same time, average expenditure has increased as well. The commission considers this to be satisfactory.
BRAC University spent the highest amount of Tk. 4,064.57 lakh on research in 2013 while American International University was in the second position in terms of research expenditure of Tk. 400.06 lakh. University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh was in the third position, spending Tk. 225.16 lakh.
In 2012, BRAC University topped the list of research expenditure with Tk. 2,550.99 lakh and was followed by American International University, which spent Tk. 346.32 lakh. Independent University of Bangladesh spent Tk. 143.04 lakh.
Though the 19 universities did not spend money on research, but the student expenditure per head on education was the highest in some of these universities.
Feni University did not spend money on research in 2013, but topped the list among 68 private universities that had the highest student expenditure per head – with Tk. 5,40,830.07. Central Women’s University was in the second position, in terms of student expenditure per head of Tk. 4,19,969.00, while Hamdard University, Bangladesh, occupied the fourth position in terms of student expenditure per head of Tk. 2,05,024.00.
The commission, in its analysis report, found that student expenditure per head has been increasing every year, which was not desirable.
Prof Dr Siddiqur Rahman of the Institute of Education and Research (IER), University of Dhaka, told The Independent that the purpose of education is twofold: acquisition of knowledge and practice.
“For practice, we need research. Almost all the universities worldwide place emphasis on research. Teachers don’t get promotions if they are not engaged in research work. But this is very much absent in both public and private universities in our country,” he rued.
“The main purpose of the universities is being thwarted in the absence of research. As a result, knowledge is being created in other countries where research is being carried out, and we only memorise their knowledge,” he observed.
“As there is inadequacy in research work, the universities in Bangladesh are lagging behind in world rankings,” the professor added.
He believes budgetary allocation is necessary for conducting research. At the same time, teachers should be compelled to conduct research, he felt.
In its report, the UGC expressed its hope that these universities would allocate the necessary amount of money on research and spend it for that purpose by considering the qualitative development of higher education. At the same time, they would take national development into account, it hoped.
The UGC disclosed this information in its ’40th Annual Report, 2013,’ based on all the data of public and private universities. The UGC will formally publish the report after submitting it to the President.
In 2013, there were 78 approved private universities in the country, but 10 of them did not launch their academic activities. That is why the UGC prepared the annual report with 68 universities, reports daily independent.
Courtesy: Geebd.com
