The University Grants Commission (UGC) is developing a clear and stringent policy to regulate the establishment of foreign university branch campuses in Bangladesh, aiming to ensure quality higher education while preventing its commercialisation.
According to UGC member and head of the sub-committee on private universities, Professor Dr Mohammad Anwar Hossain, a high-powered committee has been tasked with drafting the policy, reports UNB.
The committee includes prominent academics from several leading public and private universities, including the University of Dhaka, BUET, North South University, and Jahangirnagar University. The vice-chancellor of BUET is heading the main committee, while Dr Hossain is leading a key sub-committee within the group.
In an interview with UNB, Dr Hossain said, “We are assessing how beneficial foreign campuses will be for Bangladesh. A high-powered committee, consisting of experienced professors, is actively preparing a guideline policy. Once this policy is finalised, we will be able to decide on the approval of foreign campuses.”
He explained that while the UGC generally supports the idea of foreign university campuses, it is approaching the issue with caution.
“We are closely examining whether student interests might be hampered, or if public and private universities would come under undue pressure. Private universities have reached a certain standard. However, when we consider the living standards, salary structures, and research facilities for public university teachers, the picture is less satisfactory. If foreign universities begin operating here, our educators might face even more strain,” he added.
The UGC plans to finalise the policy only after a comprehensive review and assessment of national interests. “If the move proves to be beneficial for the country, we will structure the policy accordingly,” Dr Hossain said.
UGC sources said the commission is currently revising the 2014 Regulations for the Operation of Foreign University Branch or Study Centres due to ambiguities and limitations in the existing rules.
The new draft policy proposes permitting only full-fledged branch campuses, explicitly excluding study centres.
The draft outlines several mandatory conditions for foreign universities wishing to open a branch campus in Bangladesh. These include a minimum of 25,000 square feet of campus space, employment of full-time academic staff, maintaining a fixed deposit of Tk 5 crore, and a non-refundable application fee of Tk 10 lakh.
The commission stressed that the core objective of the policy is to uphold high standards in higher education and prevent the commercial exploitation of the education sector.
Currently, UCSI University is the first foreign institution to receive approval from both the UGC and the Ministry of Education to establish a branch campus in Bangladesh. The Malaysian university has already started academic activities in Dhaka.
The UGC noted that future approvals will only be granted after the new policy is finalised and will be limited to recognised, high-quality foreign institutions.
Bd-Pratidin English/FNC
