Digital Transformation Key to Higher Education

Bangladesh’s higher education sector must embrace digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies to improve global competitiveness while ensuring quality education, stronger research capacity and employable graduates, said Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed. He stressed expanding digital technology across education, research, administration, information management and student services while building teachers’ and students’ capabilities in emerging technologies.

He made the remarks as the guest of honour at the ‘QS Bangladesh Forum-2026’, organised by American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) at Sheraton Hotel in Dhaka on Monday (August 17).

Professor Mamun Ahmed said the UGC has adopted a five-year strategic plan to transform Bangladesh’s higher education sector. The plan includes initiatives to improve research quality, ensure quality education, enhance students’ employability, accelerate digital transformation and internationalisation, and develop skilled human resources aligned with changing labour-market demands at home and abroad.

Emphasising digital transformation, the UGC chairman said universities must ensure the effective use of modern technologies. Alongside increasing the use of digital technology in education, research, administration, information management and student services, universities must develop teachers’ and students’ capabilities in AI and other emerging technologies.

He further said, “We want to engage more effectively with the international ranking system. At the same time, we must continue strengthening the capacity of our universities, advancing digital transformation, improving research quality and making higher education modern and technology-driven. Rankings will be an indicator of our progress; but the quality of education and student success will remain our core objectives.”

The UGC chairman said international university rankings are important, but rankings cannot be the sole measure of a university’s success. The primary objectives of universities should be quality education, knowledge creation, research and innovation, and developing students into skilled and employable citizens.

He said a university’s primary responsibility is to conduct research, create new knowledge and apply that knowledge to social and economic development. One of the UGC’s key responsibilities is to transform the higher education system so that Bangladeshi universities can meet national development needs while becoming more competitive globally.

Professor Mamun Ahmed said Bangladesh should develop an effective assessment framework based on international ranking indicators and standards but adapted to the country’s needs. Such an assessment should consider universities’ realities, capacities and national priorities while integrating education quality, research, innovation, employability and international engagement.

Emphasising the need to reduce disparities in access and quality, he said Bangladesh currently has 180 universities. Differences in infrastructure, faculty, research, technology, funding and educational facilities among these institutions must be reduced to ensure quality higher education opportunities for all students. The UGC is working towards this goal, he added.

He said a strong position in an international ranking does not necessarily mean that a university’s graduates will achieve the greatest success in the workplace. University curricula must be aligned with industry and labour-market demands. Students should have opportunities to develop communication, problem-solving, technical, leadership and entrepreneurial skills alongside academic knowledge, as well as the ability to adapt to changing work environments.

Highlighting limitations in international ranking systems, he said several important factors—such as Bangladesh’s relatively low-cost higher education opportunities, students’ social and economic realities, education’s contribution in the local context and universities’ role in national development—are not adequately reflected in global rankings.

He said universities must strengthen their foundations to improve their ranking performance. Sustainable progress cannot be achieved by merely pursuing rankings without improving education quality, research environments, faculty development, digital infrastructure, administrative capacity and international collaboration.

The UGC chairman called for coordinated efforts by the government, UGC, universities, industry, international organisations and development partners to advance Bangladesh’s higher education at the international level. He said improving higher education is not the sole responsibility of universities; participation from all relevant stakeholders is essential for national development and building a knowledge-based economy.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan attended the forum as the chief guest. QS Vice President-Strategic and International Engagement Dr. Ashwin Fernandes, Chief Commercial Officer Jason Newman, AIUB Board of Trustees founding member and Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB) Secretary General Ishtiaq Abedin, APUB President Dr. Sabur Khan, and AIUB founding member and Chairman Nadia Anwar also spoke at the event.

Members of the UGC, vice-chancellors of various universities, representatives of leading universities, government officials, members of diplomatic missions, representatives of international organisations and development partners, and industry representatives attended the programme.

The ‘QS Bangladesh Forum-2026’ was organised by AIUB in collaboration with QS, UGC and APUB. According to the organisers, the forum, held ahead of the QS World University Rankings 2028, is expected to strengthen dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders in Bangladesh’s higher education sector, facilitate knowledge exchange on international standards, and contribute to developing a practical and effective roadmap for the country’s universities.

//DBTech/MIST/SME//