What do we mean by a researcher, and why must university teachers be good researchers? Researchers are those who are constantly driven by curiosity and the desire to make new discoveries. They are essentially scientists. Typically, researchers are found in two sectors: academia and industry. University teachers, who belong to academia, cultivate new researchers every year. Some of these researchers later join industry, applying their knowledge to practical challenges, starting businesses, and contributing economically. However, industry does not create new researchers; it relies on 'ready-made' researchers nurtured by universities.
Thus, the origin of researchers is academia. University teachers are the ones who sow the seeds of research. When students engage in research alongside their coursework, they develop the skills necessary to pursue advanced degrees and research careers. But what happens if university teachers themselves are not researchers? The answer is simple: the system collapses. Without research-active teachers, even the brightest students cannot become competent researchers. Universities then produce graduates who lack the skills to teach effectively or meet industry needs, leading to a proliferation of underqualified graduates. Once this cycle begins, it is difficult to reverse.
Unfortunately, in Bangladesh, many university teachers are appointed without research experience, and some have even been promoted to professor without a PhD. Recent reports indicate that 432 teachers without a PhD have been promoted to professorship at one university-a truly astonishing fact. Globally, a PhD is the basic qualification for university teaching, with postdoctoral experience and research achievements considered for advancement. Yet, in Bangladesh, many young lecturers are hired after completing only honours or masters degrees, often without any research experience. Consequently, they remain confined to teaching and administrative duties, with little academic or research output.
Does being a university teacher only mean delivering lectures, completing syllabi, and grading exams? If yes, then what distinguishes universities from colleges?
The solution lies in reforming recruitment practices: hiring should begin at the level of Assistant Professor, with a mandatory PhD and preferably postdoctoral research experience. Initiatives such as reverse brain drain should be promoted to bring back researchers from abroad. Now is the time to dismantle this dysfunctional structure and foster a research-based academic culture. Merit-based recruitment and internationally aligned standards will be the turning point for higher education in Bangladesh.
Ashikujaman Syed
Business Development Manager
Tianjin Pharmacn Medical Technology Co., Ltd.
Tianjin, China
syedashikujaman@yahoo.com
