Quality of universities

The United States enforced institutional quality assurance cell (IQAC) at universities to ensure required standard of higher education in 1900 whereas the Bangladesh's University Grants Commission (UGC) introduced the method only in 2014. However, the IQAC is yet to prove its worth as international ranking of Bangladeshi universities is going down day by day. Also, most of the universities have not introduced the IQAC. In fact, according to a media report, less than 50 per cent of around 150 public and private universities of the country have adopted the IQAC system.

This shows the level of concern among our authorities about the state of higher education. Of course only IQAC will not be a panacea for higher education. First, the authorities concerned need to have the right attitude that they would raise quality. Secondly, the government, university administration and faculties need to take steps that include culture and academic atmosphere. Thirdly, they must compete with universities around the world and instill a competitive attitude into their students. The simple question is whether they want to bring such changes in the country's higher education.

Mosaddek Rumi

San Diego, California (US)

[email protected]