Universities to Connect Digitally

Bangladesh plans to digitally connect classrooms at urban and rural universities to reduce disparities in higher education, University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed has said. The initiative will also promote human-resource and knowledge sharing among universities, connect Bangladeshi teachers and researchers working abroad with local universities, and expand PhD fellowship opportunities.

On September 10, 2026, Thursday the UGC chairman made the remarks as the chief guest at East West University’s Freshers’ Reception 2026 and an event marking Nazrul Year. He also called on universities, teachers and students to practise free thought and express opinions responsibly.

Professor Mamun Ahmed said universities must ensure opportunities for free speech, knowledge development and expression of opinions. However, everything has its limits. Freedom of thought must therefore be accompanied by a sense of responsibility. Teachers and students should build an academic culture where free thinking is practised responsibly.

Highlighting plans to expand the use of digital technology in higher education, he said technology would be used to facilitate human-resource and knowledge sharing among universities. Digitally connecting classrooms at urban and rural universities could help reduce disparities in access to and quality of higher education.

The UGC chairman also said initiatives were being planned to connect Bangladeshi teachers and researchers working in different countries with universities in Bangladesh. He further mentioned plans to increase the number of PhD fellowships to strengthen research capacity.

Addressing newly admitted students, Professor Mamun Ahmed said academic merit alone was not enough for success. Hard work, perseverance and commitment were also necessary. Students should participate in extracurricular activities alongside their studies. University graduates need not only academic knowledge but also the skills required for professional and real-life challenges, along with social, mental and psychological resilience.

Highlighting challenges facing higher education, he said that despite the significant expansion of higher education, producing quality graduates remained a challenge. In many cases, university education was not sufficiently aligned with the job market and real-life requirements. Education must be connected with life and the workplace.

He said Bangladesh’s greatest asset was its human resources. Investment in quality education and skills development would create employment opportunities at home and abroad. Even where formal jobs were unavailable, skilled people could create their own employment opportunities.

On the UGC’s role in improving higher education, he said the commission did not want merely to regulate universities but also wanted to provide support and assistance. The UGC made no distinction between public and private universities and would support institutions that were performing well and making efforts to improve.

Regarding the responsibilities of boards of trustees and academic administrations at private universities, he said their responsibilities and jurisdictions were defined by law. All concerned must work within their respective mandates. Private universities, as non-profit institutions, should spend funds on faculty development, research and student welfare. Scholarship opportunities should also be expanded for financially disadvantaged students.

On reducing value-added tax on private universities, the UGC chairman said the government had reduced VAT by 5 percentage points following a UGC recommendation. The commission was working to secure another 5-percentage-point reduction next year. The UGC expected universities to use the resulting financial opportunity for faculty development, research and student welfare.

Calling for equal research opportunities for public and private universities, he said research proposals would not be judged based on whether a university was public or private, old or new. The merit and quality of the proposal would be the primary considerations. The UGC would support innovative research aimed at addressing Bangladesh’s real-world problems and social challenges.

Referring to Kazi Nazrul Islam’s literature and philosophy, Professor Mamun Ahmed said Nazrul’s ideas remained relevant to combating inequality and building a non-communal society and state. His ideas also continued to inspire people in overcoming adversity.

East West University Board of Trustees Chairperson Professor Dr Mohammad Farashuddin, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Shams Rahman, Dean Professor Dr Anup Chowdhury, along with university teachers, board members and students, attended the event.

//DBTech/IHU/MIS/SME//