Campus Report :
A daylong workshop on ‘Draft Strategic Plan for Higher Education in Bangladesh organized by Strategic Policy Unit under Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project was held at UGC auditorium on Wednesday. Prof Abdul Mannan, Chairman, UGC presided over the function. Mohiuddin Khan, Additional Secretary, Education Ministry, spoke on the occasion. Dr Gauranga Chandra Mohanta, ndc, Project Director (Additional Secretary), Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP) delivered the address of welcome.
Prof Dr Syed Manzoorul Islam, National Consultant, HEQEP presented a draft report on Strategic Plan for Higher Education in Bangladesh 2017-2030. Earlier, the Ministry of Education formed six expert committees to formulate strategic plan for higher education and research in universities of Bangladesh.
Besides, Prof Dr Syed Rashidul Hasan, former Treasurer, Dhaka University presented a paper on ‘Rationalization of Student Fees in Public University’, Faruq Mainuddin, Additional Managing Director, City Bank Ltd, Dhaka on ‘Student Loan Program for Public and Private Universities in Bangladesh’ and Dr Md. Shamsul Arifeen Khan Mamun, Research Officer, HEQEP, UGC on ‘Student Loan Program in Bangladesh and Other Countries’. Nominated students and their guardians of six public and four private universities participated in the workshop. Most of the students agreed on the proposal to rationalize students’ fees based on the income of their guardians.
They also consented to developed a mechanism for student loan program as investment loan not as consumer loan.
Prof Manzoorul Islam wrapped up the discussion and informed that the valuable comments/ suggestions of the students and their guardians will be reflected in the strategic plan.
UGC Chairman, in his presidential speech said that the report on strategic plan for public and private universities would play an important role for enhancement of quality higher education and research in Bangladesh.
He stressed on technical education alongside general education for socio-economic development of the country. He also said that higher education has been gaining momentum over the years.
At present, presently 3.2 million students are at tertiary level in the country, which is expected to reach 4.1 million by 2026.
Prof Dr Mohammad Yousuf Ali Mollah, Member, UGC, Prof Dr Dil Afroza Begum, Member, UGC, Prof Dr Md. Akhtar Hossain, Member, UGC, officials from different banks, students and their guardians from different universities, officials from UGC and HEQEP, among others were present on the occasion.
