Universities need quality students

Higher education is widely regarded as the foundation for building a nation's future. Governments invest heavily in universities, families make enormous sacrifices, and society places its hopes on students to become researchers, innovators, professionals and future leaders. These investments are ultimately intended to produce capable graduates who can drive national development.

Yet discussions on the quality of higher education often focus solely on institutional shortcomings while overlooking students' own responsibilities. Although the education system has undeniable weaknesses, students must also be held accountable for how they use the opportunities available to them. With unprecedented access to knowledge through the internet, many still spend more time on social media and entertainment than on academic or intellectual pursuits.

For a considerable number of students, university life revolves around irregular sleep, passive classroom participation, endless scrolling on smartphones, and socialising rather than learning. Library visits, independent study and meaningful academic discussions have become increasingly rare. Many postpone studying until examinations approach, while some even resort to unfair means to secure good grades. Such attitudes not only waste individual potential but also undermine the investment made by families and the state, contributing to the country's shortage of skilled and competent graduates.

A university student should be disciplined, intellectually curious and committed to lifelong learning. Attending lectures attentively, reading beyond course materials, engaging in critical discussions and continuously improving one's skills are habits that distinguish quality graduates from degree holders.

Students who are better suited to vocational and technical education should be encouraged to pursue those pathways without stigma. Countries that value technical education produce highly skilled workforces and lower graduate unemployment. Bangladesh must adopt a similar approach while also fostering a culture in which university students recognise that success depends not only on the quality of education they receive but also on the effort and responsibility they bring to it.

Shabrina Sharmin

Institue of Education and Research

University of Rajshahi

shabrinasharmin80@gmail.com