Feature

Seminar on University Education

Harun ur Rashid

The public universities of the country have reached a state of almost irreparable mediocrity and because of unethical and unwarranted activities of most of the private universities of Bangladesh the overall condition of university education in the country is facing major challenges. This was commented by the speakers in a seminar on university education in Bangladesh held on May 11. Organized by the Bangladesh Forum for Education in Bangladesh (BAFED) and held at the auditorium of the Faculty of Business Studies, Dhaka University, the seminar was presided over by the eminent educationist, Dr. Ajoy Roy. The Vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, Professor SMA Faiz was present as the Chief Guest while Professor Abdul Mannan, the former Vice-chancellor of Chittagong University and Professor of East West University presented the keynote paper entitled 'Reengineering of University Education in Bangladesh-Road to Excellence.'

Professor Mannan sharing his three decades of teaching and administrative experience at University level education said that the key to improving the competitiveness of Bangladesh graduates and making them at least regionally competitive the entire university education in Bangladesh needs total overhauling. One of the major hurdles of functioning of universities in Bangladesh is the over politicisation of the universities and inadequacy of funds in the public universities. He said budget allocation for education should be considered as investment rather than just expenditure. Professor Mannan while elaborating the administrative issues of public universities noted that a section of people often unfairly criticize the 1973 Act for the current chaotic situation prevailing in public universities though only four out of twenty four such universities have these Acts. Moreover in none of these four universities are the Acts fully functional. If the public universities of Bangladesh are to regain the past glory there is no alternative other than granting them full autonomy in running the affairs of the universities.

In his paper he also criticised the conditions prevailing in the private university education of the country and said during the tenure of previous government random permission for opening of private universities were granted only on political consideration. He said private universities cannot be alternative of public universities and they can only play a complimentary role in university education in this country for all foreseeable future. However, under visionary leadership, some private universities of Bangladesh have the possibility of emerging as trendsetters in private sector education in Bangladesh Professor Mannan noted.

Professor Shahidul Islam, the founder Director, IER, Rajshai University and Air Cdre (Retd) Ishfaq Ilahi Chowdhury, Registrar of the University of Asia Pacific also spoke in the seminar while Professor Abu Hamid Latif, Chairperson of BAFED gave the opening remarks.

(BAFED, Dhaka)

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