UGC takes Tk 6.81b project for higher education, research
Sunday, 23 May 2010
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has undertaken a Tk 6.81 billion (681 crore) project, titled "Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP)", for improving the quality of higher education in the country and for research works, reports UNB.
International Development Association (IDA), a soft lending arm of the World Bank (WB), will provide Tk 5.98 billion while the government will finance the remaining Tk 825.6 million to implement the five-year project with the UGC as project coordinator.
"The main objective of the project is to improve the quality and importance of the teaching and research environment in higher education institutions," said UGC Chairman Prof Nazrul Islam while addressing a media orientation programme at the CIRDAP auditorium Saturday.
Prof Nazrul Islam presided over the programme, addressed by project director Rukonuddin Ahmed, UGC members Prof Amena Begum, Prof Tajul Islam, Prof Ehsanul Haque and Prof Monjurul Hakim.
Speaking on the occasion, Project Director Rukonuddin Ahmed said the HEQEP consists of four components - Academic Innovation Fund (AIF), Bangladesh Research and Education Network (BDREN), Building Institutional Capacity of the UGC and the universities, and project management."
"There will be two phases of proposal invitation in the duration of HEQEP," he added.
According to a UGC official, more than Tk 3.72 billion will be allocated in the first phase under the AIF component - 35 per cent of the AIF grant available for the first phase is about Tk 1.30 billion while the remaining 65 per cent will be provided during the second phase.
The AIF is designed to be awarded to participating public and private universities as non-refundable grant to promote innovative proposals for quality development.
Earlier, on April 5 last year, the government of Bangladesh and the WB signed a Financing Agreement (FA) to implement the project.
The development project of the HEQEP was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council on October 23, 2008.
International Development Association (IDA), a soft lending arm of the World Bank (WB), will provide Tk 5.98 billion while the government will finance the remaining Tk 825.6 million to implement the five-year project with the UGC as project coordinator.
"The main objective of the project is to improve the quality and importance of the teaching and research environment in higher education institutions," said UGC Chairman Prof Nazrul Islam while addressing a media orientation programme at the CIRDAP auditorium Saturday.
Prof Nazrul Islam presided over the programme, addressed by project director Rukonuddin Ahmed, UGC members Prof Amena Begum, Prof Tajul Islam, Prof Ehsanul Haque and Prof Monjurul Hakim.
Speaking on the occasion, Project Director Rukonuddin Ahmed said the HEQEP consists of four components - Academic Innovation Fund (AIF), Bangladesh Research and Education Network (BDREN), Building Institutional Capacity of the UGC and the universities, and project management."
"There will be two phases of proposal invitation in the duration of HEQEP," he added.
According to a UGC official, more than Tk 3.72 billion will be allocated in the first phase under the AIF component - 35 per cent of the AIF grant available for the first phase is about Tk 1.30 billion while the remaining 65 per cent will be provided during the second phase.
The AIF is designed to be awarded to participating public and private universities as non-refundable grant to promote innovative proposals for quality development.
Earlier, on April 5 last year, the government of Bangladesh and the WB signed a Financing Agreement (FA) to implement the project.
The development project of the HEQEP was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council on October 23, 2008.