UGC plans virtual platform to connect global academics with Bangladesh universities
Bangladesh's UGC plans to digitally connect 180 universities and engage expatriate and international academics through virtual platforms to strengthen higher education, research and global knowledge sharing.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh has announced a digital transformation initiative to connect Bangladeshi academics working abroad and international faculty members with universities across the country through virtual platforms. The commission also aims to bring all 180 public and private universities under an integrated digital higher education ecosystem within the next two years.
UGC Chairman Prof. Dr. Mamun Ahmed announced the initiative while speaking as the chief guest at the "BdREN–Cambridge University Press Collaboration: Pathways Towards Global Knowledge" discussion held in Dhaka on Wednesday (July 22).
He said the commission plans to expand high-speed internet connectivity, campus-wide free Wi-Fi, smart classrooms, digital libraries, and access to international research databases and e-resources to reduce learning gaps and ensure equal opportunities in higher education and research.
According to the UGC chairman, the objective of digital transformation extends beyond upgrading technological infrastructure. It is aimed at ensuring that students at every university receive equal access to quality education and research opportunities, regardless of geographical location.
The initiative will be jointly implemented by the UGC, the Bangladesh Research and Education Network (BdREN), and the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) Project. Under the programme, all 180 universities will gradually be connected to a unified digital academic ecosystem.
Once implemented, universities in newly established and remote regions will gain easier access to internationally recognised e-resources, research materials and digital learning services. The platform will also enable Bangladeshi and international academics working overseas to deliver online lectures, supervise research and strengthen inter-university academic collaboration.
Prof. Ahmed also said digital library services will be significantly expanded over the next two years, allowing wider access to international books, scholarly journals and globally recognised research databases. A sustainable institutional framework will also be established to ensure the continuity of the programme beyond the project's completion.
He noted that technology-driven higher education is essential to addressing the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Strengthening digital infrastructure, he said, will reduce disparities in education and research among universities while expanding international academic and research collaboration.
Among others, UGC ICT Director Md. Omar Faruk, HEAT Project Director Prof. Dr. Asaduzzaman, Cambridge University Press National Head Debratam Bhattacharya and Head of Publishing Qudsia Ahmed also addressed the event. They highlighted the importance of digital collaboration in advancing higher education, improving research quality and expanding access to global knowledge resources.
//DBTech/UIHU/NAM//
