Three more public universities will hold cluster entry tests for the academic year 2023-2024. The universities are Kurigram Agricultural University, Sunamganj University of Science and Technology, and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University in Pirojpur. A press release issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) said the decision was taken unanimously in a discussion meeting on cluster-based admission tests in public universities on Sunday (Jan 14) at the UGC building.   A total of 35 universities will hold the examinations in three separate groups: general, science and technology, and agriculture and engineering.   Vice chancellors of 32 public universities were present in the meeting chaired by UGC Chairman (Additional Charge) Prof Dr Muhammad Alamgir.   Professor Alamgir said, “UGC is working to maintain the independence and identity of the universities. Participating in cluster system admission tests will not detract from the character of public universities.”  

India has surpassed China with the highest number of universities listed in the QS Asia University Rankings 2024 released on Wednesday. The rankings show the highest number of 37 new entrants from India. Seven Indian universities are among the top 100 Asian universities. India is now the most represented higher education system with 148 featured universities, according to the QS Asia University Rankings 2024. Compared to 148 Indian institutions, the number from China is 133 and Japan is 96. IIT Bombay is the highest-ranked Indian institution and is placed 40th in Asia in the Quacquarelli Symonds University Rankings 2024. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been laying thrust on the higher education system both in terms of its reach and quality and has said that the institutes in the country are making progress in terms of quality education, student-faculty ratio and reputation. "Our education institutes have created an identity for themselves in the world. Our institutions are making rapid improvement in terms of quality education, student-faculty ratio and reputation," he said earlier. There has been a significant improvement in India's presence in the QS rankings over the past nearly 10 years during the rule of the Modi government. While 16 Indian institutions featured in QS Asia University Rankings in 2014, the number significantly expanded to 148 in 2023. Even the past year has seen a significant improvement. The QS Asia University list featured 111 Indian institutions in 2023 and the number has gone up to 148 in 2024. In a speech at Delhi University in June this year, the Prime Minister emphasized that education is not merely a process of teaching but also a way of learning. He talked about the flexibility in the new National Education Policy for selecting subjects and mentioned about the National Institutional Ranking Framework which is motivating the institutions to improve quality while also fostering a spirit of competitiveness. The Prime Minister said that due to the futuristic educational policies and decisions, recognition of Indian universities is increasing and gave credit to the youth for the transformation. According to QS Asia University Rankings 2024, IIT Bombay received an overall score of 67.2 out of 100, excelling in academic reputation (83.5) and employer reputation (96). In terms of faculty-student ratio, the score was 14.8, staff with PhD (100), and papers per faculty (95.7). IIT Bombay's staff with a PhD stood out as its strongest indicator. According to the rankings, IIT Delhi is ranked 46th, IIT Madras holds the 53rd position, and IIT Kharagpur is positioned 59th. IISC Bangalore has secured the 58th rank. QS World University Rankings is a portfolio of comparative university rankings compiled by global higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds.   Source: Beijing Bulletin

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday invited French universities to set up their campuses in India. "We invite French universities to set up their campuses in India," PM Modi said while addressing a press meeting alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris.  French President Macron said that they want to send 30,000 French students to India by 2030.  "We can't forget the youth...By 2030, we want to send 30,000 French students there (to India)...For the young Indians who want to pursue higher education in France, we want to make a conducive visa policy," Macron said.  PM Modi also expressed delight and said that India sees France as a natural partner.  While addressing the Indian community at La Seine Musicale in Paris on Thursday, PM Modi said that we will open a new Indian consulate in the city of Marseille in the south of France. PM Modi said, “We welcome the decision to grant long term visas to people of Indian origin studying in France.” PM Modi also congratulated France President Macron for successfully organizing Olympics which are going to be held next year in Paris and will see Indian athletes’ participation.  "Next year, all the Indian athletes are very keen for the Olympics to be held in Paris. I congratulate President Macron and his entire team for its successful event. I congratulate President Macron and his team for successfully organizing this," PM Modi said. "We are celebrating 25 years of our strategic partnership. We are making a roadmap for the next 25 years on the basis of the strong foundation of the previous 25 years. Bold and ambitious goals are being set for this. People of India have taken the resolve to make ourselves a developed nation. In this journey, we see France as a natural partner...," PM Modi added.  Furthermore, he said that there has been deep people to people contact between India and France for a long time. "Our discussions today will further strengthen this relationship," PM Modi said.  On the behalf of India, PM Modi further said, "I and all Indians are very eager to welcome you (President Macron) in India during the G20 summit this year.  Underlining the natural partnership between India and France, PM Modi highlighted the shared vision and goals that will shape the future trajectory of the bilateral relationship. “PM Modi attending July 14 Bastille Day celebrations as the guest of honour in Paris “is a sign that India and France's strategic partnership is very close. It is very strong and its role will increase in the coming times, not only for both of us, not only for Europe and India but also for the whole world,” the Indian Ambassador to France said. PM Modi, who is in France for a two-day visit, on Friday attended the lunch hosted by President of France's National Assembly Yaël Braun-Pivet in Paris.Earlier on Friday, PM Modi attended the military parade on France’s National Day as the Chief Guest. The Bastille Day Parade took place under bright and sunny skies at Champs-Élysées in Paris.PM Modi took the ceremonial salute from the Indian contingent as they marched at the Champs-Elysees. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met thought leaders and some prominent business people during the second day of his visit to France. He met prominent aerospace engineer and pilot Thomas Pesquet and Chanel CEO Leena Nair. He also met Charlotte Chopin, a yoga practitioner who will turn 100 soon. 

Education Minister Dipu Moni on Thursday said some of the newly established public universities do not have their own campus yet. She also said that professors of the old universities do not want to go to new universities. The Education Minister said this while speaking at the passage of Mujibnagar University, Meherpur Bill, 2023 in Parliament. Stating that there are 53 public universities in the country, the Education Minister said that the most recently established universities have no place of their own so far. “The construction work has not begun. Apart from that, there are some completely new ones. There is no professor rank except vice-chancellor and treasurer.” She said that no one with the rank of professor from the old university wants to go to the new university. “Lecturers are appointed as teachers there, it will take another 15 years for them to become professors. But it is not that research opportunities have been created in the new universities. We have to accept that reality.” Dipu Moni admitted that research in all universities is not the same. She said that the standards and interest in research are not the same in all universities. “University is not for practising knowledge, but for creating knowledge. The way to create that knowledge is research.” She said that the government has opened honours indiscriminately due to the interest of public representatives. “If the students are not of honours standard the teacher may not be of honours standard either. But we have opened honours courses,” she said. In the discussion of public opinion, the Education Minister said that she is working to increase efficiency. “70 percent of our higher education students go to national universities in 2,257 colleges across the country.” Participating in the discussion on public opinion, Jatiya Party MP Shamim Haider Patwary demanded the establishment of an expatriate university.He said that eight to 10 lakh people go abroad every year. “What has the education system provided for them? Didn't do anything. Didn't even teach them the language.” “Passport and immigration knowledge is not given. We need expatriate universities. Where the sons and daughters of expatriates will study? And they will get the knowledge of what they will do abroad.” Patwary claimed that no research has been done on how much manpower is needed in a sector of the country. “We have not done any global research. How many lorry drivers are needed all over the world, how many nurses are needed, even how many are needed in our country.” Claiming that European Union is interested in talent partnership with Bangladesh, he said: “We should go for talent partnership. If we don't do this and create only graduates, they will wander around the world as unemployed.” He said that education was, is and will be the backbone of the nation. A country that has no resources such as oil and gas people are the wealth of that country. “Educating them and making them skilled is wealth. From there we are giving more focus to bricks, stones while considering bridges, culverts as the backbone of the nation. Education and skills should be the backbone of the nation.” Jatiya Party’s Pir Fazlur Rahman said that the tenure of the 11th parliament is coming to an end. The education minister repeatedly told the parliament that she would appeal against the decision to exclude Members of Parliament from the post of president of higher secondary colleges. “Appeals will be made, hearings will be held, listening to that the whole term of this Parliament is coming to an end.”

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has decided that certain universities can hold the internal examinations using online platforms. The UGC and Vice Chancellors of different public universities have reached in this decision after holding a meeting through Zoom Platform on Thursday. In this regard the certain university has to decide the matter in its academic council meeting. The technical committee has given certain directions along with a guideline for holding examinations through online. After abiding by the matters universities have to take the examinations. If any student or university does not want to take part in the online examination then it should not be forced. If any university thinks that it would take the exams offline after situation improves then they will do that. That means it would not be forced upon anybody to hold the online examinations. In this regard UGC Secretary (additional responsibility) Dr. Ferdous Zaman said, decision has been taken to hold the examinations abiding by the international guidelines. But each university has to obtain approval from its syndicate and academic council. He said, viva would be given more priority. Universities were asked to maintain all types of strategies for holding the examinations in a transparent way. Discussions were held about developing software. Mentionable, according to the sources universities can arrange examinations using online platforms if they want after the Eid ul Fitr. AH

President of Bangladesh University Council and CUET Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Rafiqul Alam has informed that date for the admission tests of Bachelor (hons) degree for the session 2020-21 under different universities of the country have been fixed. The decision was taken at the virtual meeting of Bangladesh University Council, an organization of the Vice Chancellors of different universities across the country.  The admission test for the students of science, humanities and commerce group under 20 universities will be held on last two Saturdays of June and first two Saturdays of July. The admission test under cluster method of seven agricultural universities will be held on May 29. Besides, admission tests for BUET will be held on June 10 and for RUET, KUET, CUET the admission tests will be held on June 12. The admission tests of Dhaka University will take place on June 21,22,27 and 28 June. The test of Jahangir Nagar University will be held from June 3 to 18.  Moreover, tests under cluster for the engineering universities will take place on June 18, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University on June 27, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University on June 4,5. AH 

The University Grants Commission (UGC) is going to take measures for holding examinations for honors and masters level students by the public universities following academic council decision of respective universities. The permission for taking examinations was given at a virtual meeting presided over by the UGC Chairman Professor Kazi Shahidullah, said a press release. Apart from the UGC members Vice Chancellors of 39 public universities were connected virtually in the meeting. Universities have been closed along with other educational institutions from March 17 on the wake of coronavirus pandemic worldwide. Holidays have been declared for all the educational institutions in the country till December 19. Though public universities were holding online classes but they were unable to take examinations. Now permission for semester final and final examinations has been given. UGC has offered seven recommendations on the ground of final examination, practical class and evaluation. 1. To make up the irreparable loss of the students of honors and masters level due to coronavirus crisis the concerned universities can take measures following their academic council decision to hold the semester final examinations. 2. The evaluation and uncompleted practical classes of science, technology, agriculture, medical and other disciplines have to be completed following the health guidelines. 3. To complete semester exams, practical classes and evaluation students of the last semester will get preference. 4. Dormitories of the universities have to remain closed. 5. Examinations and practical classes have to be completed following the health guidelines keeping in mind the health protection measures for the students. Students have to appear one hour before starting of the examinations and they have to leave the campus within one hour after completion of the examinations.   6. The ongoing online learning activities in the educational institutions will continue due to Covid-19 crisis. 7. Have to follow and maintain the directions of World Health Organization in the universities to prevent transmission of virus. In the meeting UGC Chairman said, to take examinations the concerned committees including deans committee and academic council will take the final decisions. It should be kept in mind that no question arises regarding quality of the examination. Not hurriedly, the examinations should be taken by phases according to capability. AH  

Most of the public universities have agreed to take combined admission test to avert sufferings of the students in this coronavirus situation. Quoting Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni the information was delivered through a press release of the education ministry. The education ministry and University Grants Commission (UGC) are trying to hold integrated admission test for the public universities for long period to avert the sufferings of students and guardians, to save money and the to solve the residential problems while appearing for the examinations. The education ministry said, in the present context of coronavirus pandemic situation travel of students in the public transport and their movement across the country can help transmission of the virus at a larger scale. In this regard Education Minister Dipu Moni said, most of the universities have informed about their consensus. Even Chancellor of the universities and President has expressed his eagerness clearly. In this situation on Sunday four Vice Chancellors have taken a positive decision after holding virtual meeting. The meeting was organized with participation of Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Professor Md. Akhtaruzzaman, BUET Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Satyaprasad Majumder, Rajshahi University Vice Chancellor Professor Abdus Sobhan and Jahangir Nagar University Vice Chancellor Professor Farzana Islam. AH         

President Abdul Hamid on Monday said commercial courses are turning public universities into business institutions disrupting the campus atmosphere. “Thousands of graduates are being produced every year with these commercial courses. A particular class of teachers is making profits [from these courses] … and turning the universities into business institutions,” he said at the 52nd convocation of Dhaka University. President Hamid, also the Chancellor of the university, noted that there was a question about how much students are benefiting from these degrees even though a section of teachers is benefiting.  “This is disturbing the education atmosphere at the universities. Many public universities assume the character of private universities at night … This is unacceptable,” he said.  Hamid noted that there are some teachers who are reluctant about taking classes of regular courses but are very serious when it comes to evening and diploma courses, and classes at private universities.  “It’s because they get cash benefits from these private universities. But remember, the universities are run with taxpayers’ money. So, you’ve to be accountable to people,” the Chancellor said. He said it is the responsibility of vice-chancellors and teachers to ensure the proper use of university funds. "But the activities of some VCs and teachers make it seem like they’ve forgotten what the real task of the university is. The job of the university is not just to impart knowledge, rather, the real work is to apply the acquired knowledge," he added.  Terming research a “very important and fundamental task of higher educational institutions,” Hamid said there is a lot of criticism about the quality of research. Research for promotion, or basic research, should also be taken into consideration.  "In many departments, the number of professors is now higher than the teachers of other positions. Many teachers have forgotten the identity of a teacher who got an administrative post," he said.   President Hamid also criticized the university authorities for a series of recent incidents. He said the image of universities and the reputation of students were tarnished by some inhumane and undesirable incidents in recent times.  "Students are enrolled in university for acquiring knowledge, not to return home as corpses or expelled. These unexpected incidents could have been prevented in many cases if the authorities took the right steps in time. The university authorities cannot avoid the responsibilities completely," he said. President Hamid hoped that the authorities will take proper action in this regard in the future.  The 52nd convocation of Dhaka University (DU) was held on its campus with the participation of 20,796 graduates. Nobel Laureate in physics and Special University Professor Dr Takaaki Kajita, also Director of the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research of Tokyo University, delivered his speech as the convocation speaker. Extending his sincere thanks and felicitations to the Nobel Laureate for his gracious presence at the convocation, President Hamid said his presence provided a fresh impetus to the graduates and the university as well.  The President said Prof Kajita’s deliberation has been a great source of inspiration for the graduates and the students. Ninety-eight students received gold medals from the president while Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degrees were conferred upon 57 and 14 recipients respectively. Seven DU-affiliated colleges also participated in the convocation ceremony from two venues — Dhaka College and Eden Mohila College– through videoconferencing. Source: UNB AH

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Saturday said university authorities will decide whether they will permit organizational student politics on their campuses or not. “It’s up to them,” she said while replying to a question at Chandpur Circuit House. She said universities operating under the 1973 Ordinance will decide according to that ordinance while rest of the universities that run under their own set of laws will decide accordingly.  Dipu Moni said the abuse of power and bad politics played roles in the recent incident at Buet. Abrar Fahad, a second-year EEE student of Buet, was beaten to death, reportedly by Bangladesh Chhatra League activists at the Sher-e-Bangla hall last week. “The culture of ragging and bullying at residential halls of educational institutions has been prevalent for years in many countries. If the students, guardians and teachers at Buet had taken an initiative against this culture before, then the incident (Abrar killing) might not have happened,” she said. She called for raising more awareness among people to ensure politics is practiced in a healthy manner. Chandpur Deputy Commissioner Mazedur Rahman Khan, Additional Superintendent of Police Md Mizanur Rahman, Awami League’s Chandpur unit president Nasiruddin Ahmed and General Secretary Abu Nayeem Patwari Dulal were present at the occasion. Source: UNB AH