The need arises mainly for three reasons. One is economical, second is economical, and the third is obviously economical as well. After the Covid-19 and Ukraine war, and the meltdown of the desired supply chain, and price rise due to sanctions here and there, the need for a competitive international level campus in Bangladesh is more than timely and long due. It will save the nation from foreign reserves going down, increase healthy competition amongst universities, and more international students will come to Bangladesh to acquire knowledge.
Historically, students from Malaysia, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Arabia, Africa and elsewhere did seek degrees in Bangladesh, and they still share their lovely experiences during their stay in Bangladesh, every now and then. Medical students from Nepal, Bhutan and elsewhere still prefer Bangladesh over India. And that inflow of overseas students can be enhanced manifold, and more students will come and outgoing students from Bangladesh have an option to stay back in home country rather than seeking education opportunities in UK, Canada, USA, Australia and elsewhere. In this turbulent foreign reserve shortage period, any initiative to retain foreign currency in-house and let the outflow of reserves decrease, should be seen as good ingenuity and needs to be welcomed.
The India's University Grants Commission has already drafted for foreign campuses to set up with relaxed and viable rulings. The university in Malaysia where I am currently attached to, has been set up just over three decades ago, and it is in the middle of a forest-- nearly 550km away from the capital near the Thai-Malaysia border, and the nearest township is nearly 50km away. But due to setting up of a new university (which by now ranks among top two universities in Malaysia with an AACSB accredited and global ranking among top 150, was conceptualised in 1984 only), a new vibrant township is emerging in nearby vicinity, and all amenities are growing slowly but steadily.
In Malaysia, many universities, like Curtin University Malaysia branch, an international top-rated Australian university, is located in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia, and not in Kuala Lumpur, the capital. This explains the fact that every university need 'not' to be built in the capital, but can be hundreds of miles away, and it will help spur the local economic, social and community development.
If as a nation we can provide a blueprint to be a destination for global learning, ensuring quality and affordability, and allow good overseas universities to look into the possibilities of joint ventures, like twinning programmes, dual programmes and similar or otherwise, then possibly a lot of overseas students may enrol and it will help Bangladesh diversify its earnings, and alongside medical and engineering faculties may pop up, thereby medical tourism in Bangladesh can prosper, as it is understood that a teaching university will be next to a teaching hospital. These collaborations will give wider choices and approaches, and that will help Bangladesh students to have a world class degree sitting at home.
Similarly, lot of job opportunities may take place, and local area development is obvious due to such healthy growth. One point to note is that the costs need to remain competitive, so international students may have choices to select the right country to pursue their first or second degree. But one thing needs to be understood that any venture coming to Bangladesh is not meant for generosity, but rather for a yield in return to the host university, and that needs to be understood loud and clear, but this option is still a better one, and a win win situation for all.
Any university of international repute will emphasise on research along with teaching, which is a bonus point for educational development. Necessarily, this trend is obvious in a globalised world and it may enhance the local universities also to look for upgrading their pedagogical structure.
Though before the pandemic and war in Europe, it might have been alright for students to pursue studies overseas, but if an option is available locally, the foreign currency outflow can be reduced significantly by this initiative. It would be easier to invite an international university to open a branch than just start a new university as it is a challenging task and demands developing courses afresh, and create an atmosphere for research from scratch. In a globalised situation, Bangladesh is growing in all sectors, why not in giving world class education, as it is the noblest of all. One can be confident that if this is looked into positively, then a milestone can be set for Bangladesh, the region and for the future generation.
Dr M Ashraf Al Haq is Postdoctoral Fellow, University Utara Malaysia An AACSB Accredited Institution.
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