UGC Plans PhDs for 3,000 University Teachers

The University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC) plans to support at least 3,000 university teachers in earning PhD degrees at home and abroad over the next five years to address the shortage of doctoral-qualified faculty, strengthen research capacity and apply research-based knowledge to national development. During the same period, the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) project plans to provide Tk 12 billion in research grants. The initiatives also include professional training for 5,000 teachers and plans for a residential training academy for newly recruited faculty members.

UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed announced the plans at the closing ceremony of a Training of Trainers programme under the Junior Faculty Professional Development Programme at BRAC CDM in Savar on Wednesday evening, 14 October. The programme was organised under the HEAT project with support from the British Council.

Professor Mamun Ahmed said the number of PhD-qualified teachers and skilled researchers remained insufficient compared with universities’ needs. To address the shortfall, UGC increased the number of its PhD fellowships by 40% this year. It plans to raise the number of fellowships to 500 next year. He stressed that developing skilled human resources was essential to improving the quality of higher education and achieving international standards in research over the long term.

Tk 12 billion planned for research

Outlining the proposed research funding under the HEAT project, the UGC chairman said grant decisions would prioritise the quality of research proposals, innovative thinking and the potential contribution of research to solving real problems in Bangladesh.

Teachers from both public and private universities will be eligible to submit research proposals. Eligible research subprojects will be selected for funding through an impartial evaluation process, he said. The approach is intended to ensure research quality while encouraging work that addresses the country’s needs.

Training planned for 5,000 teachers

Professor Mamun Ahmed said the HEAT project planned to provide professional development training to 5,000 university teachers, ranging from lecturers to professors. Separate initiatives would also strengthen the leadership, administrative management and financial management skills of senior university officials, including vice-chancellors, pro-vice-chancellors, deans and treasurers.

Noting that decisions made by senior university leaders have a significant impact on academic standards, institutional governance and financial management, he said many officials did not have access to formal training in higher education administration before taking up their posts.

However, effective university management requires skills in academic planning, financial administration, accountability and strategic decision-making. He said training opportunities for teachers and university administrators therefore needed to be expanded.

Higher education training academy planned for Gazipur

The UGC chairman said a higher education training academy was planned for Gazipur to continue faculty development after the HEAT project ends. Newly recruited teachers would be offered residential training lasting three to six months. An additional training centre outside Dhaka was also being considered.

The proposed centres would serve as platforms for exchanging knowledge and experience across different sectors. Alongside university faculty and administrators, government policymakers and industry leaders would be given opportunities to participate in training programmes. This, he said, could strengthen cross-sector collaboration and help apply university knowledge, skills and research more effectively to national development.

Preparing graduates for global labour markets

Professor Mamun Ahmed stressed the need to modernise teaching, research and student learning to improve higher education. He said students should develop the knowledge and skills required to meet the demands of both domestic and international labour markets.

He added that universities should prepare graduates not only to seek jobs but also to become entrepreneurs, create employment and apply their knowledge and skills across different professions.

The UGC chairman said a strategic plan had been developed to improve the quality, relevance and international competitiveness of higher education in Bangladesh. He called for collective cooperation among universities, teachers, researchers and all other relevant stakeholders to implement the plan.

Twenty-two teachers complete six-day training

In his remarks as chair of the closing ceremony, HEAT Project Director Professor Dr. Asaduzzaman said the training would help strengthen university teachers’ professional skills and institutional leadership capabilities. He said trained faculty members would be better equipped to contribute to strategic changes in higher education and help build universities that meet future needs.

A total of 22 teachers from public and private universities across Bangladesh participated in the six-day training programme, held from 9 to 14 October.

The closing ceremony was attended by Maria Rehman, deputy director of the British Council Bangladesh; Mark Philip O’Hara, senior consultant at Advance HE; Professor Selina Zaman, chief programme coordinator of the HEAT project; Professor Dr. Md. Abdus Salam, faculty professional development specialist; and Md. Zillur Rahman, senior communication specialist. Officials from UGC, the HEAT project and the British Council were also present.

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