But, many teachers, researchers and experts opine that the fund is not enough, and more allocation is needed. They think that DU's position in the international ranking will improve further, if a better atmosphere for research is created with adequate allocation.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has approved Tk 116.90 billion (11,690 crore) budget for the 55 public universities for FY 2024-25. An allocation of Tk 1.88 billion has also been approved for research support of the universities, which was Tk 1.74 billion in the previous FY.
In FY 2024-25, the highest revenue budget of Tk 8.04 billion has been allocated to DU, which has also received the highest research budget of Tk 200 million.
The total budget of DU in FY 25 is Tk 9.0 billion. Compared to the previous year, the budget allocation is lower by Tk 130 million, but its allocation for research has increased by about Tk 45 million.
In FY 24, the allocation for research was Tk 155 million, which was 1.64 per cent of the total budget. In FY 25, the research allocation (Tk 200 million) is 2.2 per cent of the total budget.
The Financial Express (FE) has analysed the DU budget for the last decade. During the period, the budget has more than doubled, and the research budget has increased almost four and a half times.
Dhaka University's budget in the last ten years:
In FY 2015-16, the total budget was Tk 4.25 billion, and the research budget was Tk 45 million, which was 1.5 per cent of the total budget.
The total budget was Tk 6.64 billion in FY 2016-17, while the research budget was Tk 115.4 million, and it was 1.73 per cent of the total.
In FY 2017-18, the total budget was Tk 6.64 billion, and the research budget was Tk 140 million, which was 2.0 per cent of the total.
The total budget was Tk 7.41 billion Iin FY 2018-19, while the research budget was Tk 365.5 million or 4.93 per cent of the total.
In FY 2019-20, the total budget was Tk 8.10 billion, and the research budget was Tk 408.0 million, which was 5.04 per cent of the total budget.
The total budget was Tk 8.69 billion in FY 2020-21, while the research budget was Tk 95.0 million or 1.09 per cent of the total.
In FY 2021-22, the total budget was Tk 8.31 billion, and the research budget was Tk 110 million or 1.28 per cent of the total.
The total budget was Tk 9.22 billion in FY 2022-23, while the research budget was Tk 150 million or 1.63 per cent of the total.
In FY 2023-24, the total budget was Tk 9.13 billion, and the research budget was Tk 155 million or 1.64 per cent of the total.
The total budget is Tk 9.00 billion in FY 2024-25, while the research budget was Tk 200 million or 2.22 per cent of the total budget.
Dhaka University's position in the QS Ranking:
In the QS World University Rankings of 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, the position of Dhaka University was 701+. In the QS rankings of 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the university's position slightly declined and was between 801 and 1,000.
However, in the 2024 QS ranking, DU was ranked at 691-700, and in the 2025 rankings the university secured 554th position.
Director of DU Centre for Advanced Research in Sciences (CARS) Professor Dr. Ishtiaque M Syed said other top-ranked universities in the world, such as MIT, Harvard, Oxford, etc, have a large amount of research allocation. Their research equipments are also highly advanced.
"Dhaka University has been ranked 554th this year. But the universities which are around or behind us in the rankings have much higher research allocation than us."
Besides increasing the allocation, he also emphasised proper management of the research process, encouraging the researchers, overcoming the challenges in research, and elimination of bureaucratic complications, which will move DU forward in the international ranking.
DU Vice-Chancellor A S M Maksud Kamal earlier said the government should increase allocation for research for improvement of meritocracy.
"In the FY 25 budget, Dhaka University has got an allocation of about Tk 9.00 billion, whose major share is for infrastructure development. The country's best university has been allocated Tk 200 million for research, which is only 2.2 per cent of its total budget," he added.
DU research budget up to Tk 200m, but more needed
TAHMID SHAKIB | Published: June 21, 2024 23:41:41
DU research budget up to Tk 200m, but more needed
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