Our universities lag behind in world ranking

It's shocking that for years now not a single Bangladeshi university has managed to secure a place in the top 1,000 universities across the globe. However, only Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and Dhaka University (DU) have reportedly secured position in 1000+ group in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021.

This ranking is basically based on teaching, research, citations, international outlook and industry outcome. It is unfortunate that our universities are lagging behind the world standard.

Still we can follow some constructive measures if our universities want to improve their ranking. The University Grants Commission (UGC) can launch an evaluation process of the universities much like the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. It will help authorities organise a 'cluster system' to enrol students to public universities. At the same time, the government should concentrate on quality of university by ensuring their research and publication including other criteria like teacher-student ratio, budget per student, infrastructure facility, technological update and library and research facilities.

Staying top in the list of rankings is a matter of prestige for a university which attracts the best minds of the world to study and teach in that particular university. We hope the authorities concerned will soon formulate a process so that our universities do not lag behind the world standard.

Md Zillur Rahaman

Gandaria, Dhaka.

[email protected]