Recently this scribe had an exciting interaction with the members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) from one of the leading private universities in Bangladesh. The most appropriate question they posed was: What are the qualities and strategies that a Vice-Chancellor (VC) must possess to elevate the university to global academic excellence-combining several key inquiries? Drawing on over two decades of experience in academia and academic leadership across the USA, the Middle East, Australia, Ireland, and Bangladesh, I highlighted several essential strategies and leadership qualities that can guide any university to achieve global recognition.
No longer does today's dynamic and dramatically changing academic environment maintain universities in the standard formats of mere knowledge-imparting systems but, in fact, as loci of innovation, cultural exchange, and socioeconomic progress. Privately-run universities, particularly in Bangladesh, have that extra role to play regarding shaping the future of the nation. While private universities are mushrooming, most fail to grow into globally recognized world-class universities. The secret behind this journey toward excellence rests in the leadership provided by the Vice-Chancellor.
A visionary VC has to possess certain qualities and implement a set of actionable strategies that will align the university's mission with global standards of education. In this write-up, I would like to discuss some of these invaluable attributes and strategic steps that would likely allow a private university in Bangladesh to be among the world's most renowned institutions.
1. Visionary Leadership
A great Vice-Chancellor has to have the vision to see beyond the immediate needs of the institution and, hopefully, try to anticipate what might ensure the relevance of higher education in the rapidly changing world. Higher education today should not only produce graduates but also leaders, innovators, and critical thinkers. The VC must therefore give a roadmap that stipulates what needs to be achieved both in the short and long run and align these with global trends across education, technology, and industry. Such a vision must not stop at academic excellence but must go further to touch on social impact, inclusiveness, and sustainability. For example, Dr. Shigeo Katsu, President of Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan, managed to position the university to a path of being among global leaders by fostering research innovation, building strategic global partnerships, and placing sustainability at the heart of university policy.
2. Governance of Teamwork and Shared Decision-Making
For a university to aim high and achieve academic excellence, a VC is expected to make teamwork and shared governance first among his priorities. The intent of this leadership style is to create a collaborative culture in which faculty, staff, and students, along with external stakeholders, would work together in collaboration to achieve common goals and objectives. Decision-making processes that are transparent and inclusive tap into diverse voices within the institution and create ownership and accountability. Other than instilling a sense of unity, shared governance stirs continuous improvement. As Peter Senge once said, "A learning organization is continually expanding its capacity to create its future." It is only through teamwork and shared governance that the Vice-Chancellor would lead the path toward establishing an institution resilient, innovative, and globally relevant for times to come.
3. Academic Integrity and Ethical Governance
The credibility of any educational institution rests upon the bedrock of integrity and ethical governance. These are the values that a Vice-Chancellor should keep alive by ensuring that at all levels of management within the university there are transparency, fairness, and accountability. This would, in turn, build confidence among faculty members, students, and stakeholders who would help create a favourable academic environment where intellectual freedom and academic excellence prevail. A strict adherence to academic standards has to be followed, and any misconduct in terms of plagiarism or grade inflation has to be shunned at all costs. Through ethical governance, the university will have its degrees recognized all over the world while maintaining an impeccable reputation.
4. Community Engagement and Industry Partnerships
The enterprise Vice-Chancellor will introduce networking with the outside community, parents, social organizations, and industrialists to provide various career opportunities to the students. Strong relationships with businesses and industry groups build a network where the students are given opportunities like placements, research, and jobs. This proactive engagement has something to do with the alignment of academic programs and the demands of the job market for an enriching educational experience where students learn by doing. Industry partnerships enhance not only employability but also the university's reputation, serving as a bridge between education and industry.
5. Global Outlook with Local Relevance
While aspiring toward international standing, a Vice-Chancellor needs to ensure that the linkages with which the university is concerned remain relevant to addressing local issues. A VC who encourages such programmes towards helping Bangladesh meet its developmental challenges-sustainable agriculture, public health, and technological innovations among many others-should nurture cross-cultural collaborations and global knowledge sharing. Research programmes catering to local challenges but supported by international networks can consolidate the university's leading position in applied research both nationally and internationally.
6. Technological Adaptability and Foresight
In this era of digital transformation, a Vice-Chancellor must compulsively champion technological foresight. Online learning, artificial intelligence, and digital platforms are also part of this integration, which is becoming a must if one wants to sustain competitiveness. A progressive VC should invest in state-of-the-art technology aimed at enhancing teaching and research capabilities. Besides creating digital infrastructure supporting hybrid and remote learning, the VC would enjoy an attractive competitive advantage in attracting international students, attracting global faculty members, and placing local students in a competitive position in a digital world.
7. Strong Interpersonal and Communication Skills:
The Vice-Chancellor is the face and voice of the university; hence, strong interpersonal and communication competencies are a core requirement. Whether negotiating partnerships, inspiring faculty and students, or communicating the university's vision to donors and international stakeholders, a successful VC must know how to articulate ideas clearly and persuasively. Effective communication not only fosters collaboration within the university but also makes sure that external partners realise an institution's strengths, values, and goals.
8. Commitment to Research and Innovation
Climbing the rankings in global academic standing requires the university to commit to a strong research culture. The Vice-Chancellor has quite an important role in creating an enabling environment that encourages original thought and interdisciplinary research. Further, the VC has to ensure that research addresses specific problems and societal benefits accrue either with technology innovation, health care solution, or socio-economic development.
Strategies to Upgrade a University to International Level
1. Building a Research Culture
A research culture is crucial in realizing an international status. While establishing state-of-the-art research facilities and inculcating a propensity to ask questions will inspire faculty and students alike to pursue groundbreaking research, this will be further augmented through collaborations with international universities and the award of research grants from global councils.
2. Fundraising and Collaborative Engagement:
Fundraising is an indispensable phase for sustaining research and creating infrastructure. The VC will need to engage with alumni, philanthropists, government agencies, and industrial partners for the financial inputs needed to drive innovation and expansion. The fostering of long-term relationships with major donors and the active linkage of faculty members will make sure that the university's research priorities are met and it stays globally competitive.
3. Building Global Partnerships
Collaboration with world-class global institutions could bring joint research, the exchange of faculty members, and dual-degree programmes that raise academic quality and visibility internationally. Building partnerships with universities in North America and Europe will not only increase opportunities for students and faculty to visit but also elevate the university's standing in global rankings.
4. Curriculum Reform and Pedagogy
The VC shall spearhead curricula reforms toward global relevance, yet responsive to local needs. Moving beyond mere note learning, the focus should be on critical thinking, problem-solving, and life application to enable students for careers across the globe. This may include flipped classrooms and other innovative pedagogies, such as experiential learning, that will enrich their academic experiences and also make sure that students are globally competitive.
The road to global recognition is paved mainly through the leadership provided by the Vice-Chancellor. Indeed, with this type of visionary leadership, academic integrity, and strategic planning, a VC is somewhat competent and worthy of leading a private university in Bangladesh to orbit around global recognition. By incorporating research-driven growth, building international partnership, and investing in quality education, the university will be among the finest in the world and thus contribute to progress and prosperity within the nation.
Sir John Hood, former Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, rightly said, "A great university makes a huge difference to the world, and that begins with enlightened leadership." In Bangladesh, this begins with just one vice-chancellor prepared to guide the institution toward a future of academic excellence, global influence, and societal impact.
Dr. Serajul I. Bhuiyan is a Professor and former Chair of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications at Savannah State University, Georgia, USA.
sibhuiyan@yahoo.com