Private varsities skip vital meetings: UGC

�In 2014, six universities did not hold trustee board meetings, 11 did not hold syndicate meetings and 11 skipped academic council meetings�

A number of private universities have failed to hold such crucial committee meetings such as board of trustees, syndicate, academic council, and finance committee meetings, which are essential to ensure transparency of the institutions.
The recently published 41st annual report of the UGC of 2014 said that six universities did not hold board of trustees meetings, 11 universities did not hold syndicate meetings, 11 universities skipped academic council meetings, and eight universities bypassed finance committee meetings.
The Leading University and ZH Sikder University of Science and Technology carried out all their activities, but did not bother to hold the above meetings during the year.
In 2013, these two universities skipped all these crucial meetings, ignoring all the rules and regulations.
As per the Private University Act 2010, the universities are supposed to hold these meetings, to ensure transparency in their activities, as these bodies perform the vital task of running the university.
According to the Private University Act 2010, a board of trustees consists of a minimum of nine and a maximum of 21 members, and oversees the work of the syndicate and other bodies involved with the management of the university.
While the syndicate functions as the board of management, the academic council is one of the authorities for management and the finance committee is one of the authorities of the university.
As per law, a syndicate of a private university consists of vice-chancellor (VC), pro vice-chancellor, treasurer, a member, dean and departmental head nominated by the VC, an academician nominated by the government, three members nominated by the BoT, and a representative nominated by the UGC and registrar.
Experts said when a university skips these crucial meetings, it naturally raises questions about the university's accountability, and transparency in its administrative and academic activities.
In 2014, there were 80 private universities. But, four private universities like Times University, Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib University, Global University Bangladesh, and CCN University of Science and Technology could not hold any meeting, as they did not get UGC permission to conduct their academic activities.
The universities that did not hold a board of trustees meeting were Leading University, Prime Asia University, Sylhet International University, BGC Trust University, Chittagong, ZH Sikder University of Science and Technology, and Britannia University.
No syndicate meeting was held in 11 universities—International University of Business Agriculture and Technology, Bangladesh University, Leading University, IBAIS University, Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology, Prime University, Fast Capital University of Bangladesh, ZH Sikder University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences, Fareast International University, and Ranada Prasad Saha International University.
The universities that avoided academic council meeting were Southeast University, Dhaka, Prime Asia University, IBAIS University, ZH Sikder University of Science and Technology, EXIM Bank Agriculture University Bangladesh, Feni University, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences, Notre Dame University Bangladesh, North Bengal International University, Ranada Prasad Saha University, and Leading University.
Finance committee meeting was not held in Leading University, BGC Trust University, ZH Sikder University of Science and Technology, EXIM Bank Agriculture University Bangladesh, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences, Notre Dame University, North Bengal International University, and Ranada Prasad Saha University.
In 2014, 358 board of trustees meetings, 342 syndicate meetings, 241 academic council meetings, and 203 finance committee meetings were held. On an average five, four, four and three meetings were held respectively.
Generally, two meetings of these bodies are supposed to be held in a year, but many universities held only one meeting round the year.

 

Private varsities skip vital meetings: UGC

�In 2014, six universities did not hold trustee board meetings, 11 did not hold syndicate meetings and 11 skipped academic council meetings�

A number of private universities have failed to hold such crucial committee meetings such as board of trustees, syndicate, academic council, and finance committee meetings, which are essential to ensure transparency of the institutions. The recently published 41st annual report of the UGC of 2014 said that six universities did not hold board of trustees meetings, 11 universities did not hold syndicate meetings, 11 universities skipped academic council meetings, and eight universities bypassed finance committee meetings. The Leading University and ZH Sikder University of Science and Technology carried out all their activities, but did not bother to hold the above meetings during the year. In 2013, these two universities skipped all these crucial meetings, ignoring all the rules and regulations. As per the Private University Act 2010, the universities are supposed to hold these meetings, to ensure transparency in their activities, as these bodies perform the vital task of running the university. According to the Private University Act 2010, a board of trustees consists of a minimum of nine and a maximum of 21 members, and oversees the work of the syndicate and other bodies involved with the management of the university. While the syndicate functions as the board of management, the academic council is one of the authorities for management and the finance committee is one of the authorities of the university. As per law, a syndicate of a private university consists of vice-chancellor (VC), pro vice-chancellor, treasurer, a member, dean and departmental head nominated by the VC, an academician nominated by the government, three members nominated by the BoT, and a representative nominated by the UGC and registrar. Experts said when a university skips these crucial meetings, it naturally raises questions about the universitys accountability, and transparency in its administrative and academic activities. In 2014, there were 80 private universities. But, four private universities like Times University, Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib University, Global University Bangladesh, and CCN University of Science and Technology could not hold any meeting, as they did not get UGC permission to conduct their academic activities. The universities that did not hold a board of trustees meeting were Leading University, Prime Asia University, Sylhet International University, BGC Trust University, Chittagong, ZH Sikder University of Science and Technology, and Britannia University. No syndicate meeting was held in 11 universitiesInternational University of Business Agriculture and Technology, Bangladesh University, Leading University, IBAIS University, Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology, Prime University, Fast Capital University of Bangladesh, ZH Sikder University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences, Fareast International University, and Ranada Prasad Saha International University. The universities that avoided academic council meeting were Southeast University, Dhaka, Prime Asia University, IBAIS University, ZH Sikder University of Science and Technology, EXIM Bank Agriculture University Bangladesh, Feni University, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences, Notre Dame University Bangladesh, North Bengal International University, Ranada Prasad Saha University, and Leading University. Finance committee meeting was not held in Leading University, BGC Trust University, ZH Sikder University of Science and Technology, EXIM Bank Agriculture University Bangladesh, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences, Notre Dame University, North Bengal International University, and Ranada Prasad Saha University. In 2014, 358 board of trustees meetings, 342 syndicate meetings, 241 academic council meetings, and 203 finance committee meetings were held. On an average five, four, four and three meetings were held respectively. Generally, two meetings of these bodies are supposed to be held in a year, but many universities held only one meeting round the year.