2 more private universities get govt nod

The number of private universities has reached 101, with the government approving two new ones. The two universities are Bandarban University, whose entrepreneur is Bir Bahadur U Shei Ching, MP, and Shah Makhdum Management University in Rajshahi, whose entrepreneur is BM Shamsul Haque, a Bangladeshi expatriate in Singapore, Secondary and Higher Education Division sources said yesterday (Thursday). As per the University Grants Commission (UGC), there is a list of 97 private universities on its website. On April 18, the government gave permission to two new private universities—Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah University in Khulna and Ahsania Mission University of Science and Technology in Rajshahi. With two more being announced yesterday, the number goes up to 101.

The Secondary and Higher Education Division issued two notices for the new two universities.  Ministry sources said there are some other proposed private universities awaiting government nod. Under the temporary permission, it is said that the universities will have to follow all provisions of the Private University Act 2010, one of them being having a minimum of 25,000 square feet building of its own or on rent. The proposed university should have three faculties, each having a minimum of six departments.

Besides, the universities should have full-time qualified teachers. But reports are that the number of private universities is increasing every year without prior assessment of the need for such educational institutions at the tertiary level. As it is, the existing institutions are beset with myriad problems.

The government and the UGC have reports that most of the private universities are not following the Act. As per the UGC report till 18 May last year, at least 32 private universities out of 97 did not have vice-chancellors, while 68 universities had no pro-VCs and 48 universities treasurers.

As per the Act, the Chancellor has to appoint a VC, pro-VC and treasurer, picking from a three-member panel for each post.

Also, there is an acute crisis of teachers in private universities. Most of these universities are still in rented buildings. There are no lab facilities.

The UGC’s annual report also finds that the quality of research is not satisfactory, though it is one of the prime tasks of the universities.

Some of the universities are at loggerheads with the government and there are several cases in court on various issues. There is also conflict of interest in the Board of Trustees (BOT) that ultimately leads to the filing of cases in courts, hampering education.

There is such conflict in the IBAIS University board and the university has not got its address approved by the government.

Premier University too has a board conflict and there is a case in court.

Against this backdrop, the number of universities is increasing. But educationists maintain that the government should ensure quality education before increasing the number of institutions. They observe that most of the universities are running common programmes without assessing placement. Graduates coming out of the universities are not getting their desired jobs.

2 more private universities get govt nod

The number of private universities has reached 101, with the government approving two new ones. The two universities are Bandarban University, whose entrepreneur is Bir Bahadur U Shei Ching, MP, and Shah Makhdum Management University in Rajshahi, whose entrepreneur is BM Shamsul Haque, a Bangladeshi expatriate in Singapore, Secondary and Higher Education Division sources said yesterday (Thursday). As per the University Grants Commission (UGC), there is a list of 97 private universities on its website. On April 18, the government gave permission to two new private universitiesKhan Bahadur Ahsanullah University in Khulna and Ahsania Mission University of Science and Technology in Rajshahi. With two more being announced yesterday, the number goes up to 101. The Secondary and Higher Education Division issued two notices for the new two universities. Ministry sources said there are some other proposed private universities awaiting government nod. Under the temporary permission, it is said that the universities will have to follow all provisions of the Private University Act 2010, one of them being having a minimum of 25,000 square feet building of its own or on rent. The proposed university should have three faculties, each having a minimum of six departments. Besides, the universities should have full-time qualified teachers. But reports are that the number of private universities is increasing every year without prior assessment of the need for such educational institutions at the tertiary level. As it is, the existing institutions are beset with myriad problems. The government and the UGC have reports that most of the private universities are not following the Act. As per the UGC report till 18 May last year, at least 32 private universities out of 97 did not have vice-chancellors, while 68 universities had no pro-VCs and 48 universities treasurers. As per the Act, the Chancellor has to appoint a VC, pro-VC and treasurer, picking from a three-member panel for each post. Also, there is an acute crisis of teachers in private universities. Most of these universities are still in rented buildings. There are no lab facilities. The UGCs annual report also finds that the quality of research is not satisfactory, though it is one of the prime tasks of the universities. Some of the universities are at loggerheads with the government and there are several cases in court on various issues. There is also conflict of interest in the Board of Trustees (BOT) that ultimately leads to the filing of cases in courts, hampering education. There is such conflict in the IBAIS University board and the university has not got its address approved by the government. Premier University too has a board conflict and there is a case in court. Against this backdrop, the number of universities is increasing. But educationists maintain that the government should ensure quality education before increasing the number of institutions. They observe that most of the universities are running common programmes without assessing placement. Graduates coming out of the universities are not getting their desired jobs.