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Private Universities in Bangladesh: A Catalyst for National Development

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

At a critical juncture in the country's history, private universities in Bangladesh are emerging as a driving force in shaping the nation's future. With over 400,000 students and hundreds of thousands of jobs created, they deliver significant public value despite operating without government subsidies. Dr. Sabur Khan, chairman of the Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB), offers a vision for unlocking the full potential of these institutions.

The APUB, under Dr. Khan's leadership, is currently working towards several strategic goals, including introducing a performance-based ranking and quality assurance model for private universities, strengthening industry-academia partnerships, and ensuring stakeholder participation in higher education policymaking. Dr. Khan also emphasizes the need for regulatory reforms, prioritizing proactive policy engagement, evidence-based research, constructive dialogue, and collective action to establish a fair, efficient, and student-centric higher education ecosystem.

Key Takeaways:

  • Private universities in Bangladesh are a driving force in shaping the nation's future, with over 400,000 students and hundreds of thousands of jobs created.
  • APUB's role has evolved to include proactive policy engagement, evidence-based research, and constructive dialogue to establish a fair, efficient, and student-centric higher education ecosystem.
  • The UGC should adopt a performance-based classification system, considering parameters such as accreditation, graduate employability, research output, and student satisfaction.
  • Regulatory delays hinder growth in emerging disciplines like FinTech, AI, and Biotechnology, and the UGC should establish a fast-track approval process for globally relevant, industry-aligned academic programs.
  • The GED should be recognized as a graduate program pathway, allowing graduates to apply for undergraduate programs and preventing dropout risks.
  • APUB is planning to take proactive steps, including a government-backed student loan program and a matching scholarship scheme, to support students directly.
  • Private universities face bottlenecks in promoting Ph.D.s, research, and post-doctoral education, and APUB advocates for UGC approval of pending PhD programs, dedicated research grants, and post-doctoral fellowships.
  • APUB is seeking VAT and tax exemptions for private universities, and a Joint Working Group between UGC and APUB can help improve higher education.

Statistics:

  • Over 400,000 students are educated in private universities in Bangladesh.
  • Hundreds of thousands of jobs are created by private universities.
  • 15% VAT and 10% income tax are charged to private universities despite serving the public.
  • Only 5-10% of students from private universities receive tuition waivers or scholarships.
  • The UGC currently receives 50+ new applications from private universities for the establishment of new degree programs each month.

Sources:

  • Dhaka Tribune (interview with Dr. Sabur Khan, Chairman of APUB)
  • Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB)

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