UGC
HC directs UGC to find out about pvt unis' benefits for FF children, underprivileged
The High Court has asked the University Grants Commission (UGC) for information on the number of students at private universities availing benefits as offspring of freedom fighters, or stipends as poor or under-privileged since 2010.
Besides, the court also asked the UGC to report how much money has been allotted for research by the private universities since 2010.
UGC will have to submit the information to the High Court within the next 60 days.
The bench of Justice Md Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the order with a rule on Monday.
In the rule, the court also wanted to know why the inaction of the government in implementation of a law to facilitate 6 percent of the student body at private universities from poor backgrounds should not be declared illegal.
Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, counsel for writ petitioners the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), said: "According to section 9(4) of the Private Universities Act, 6 percent seats should be reserved for the children of freedom fighters and meritorious students every year. According to section 9(6) of the law, a certain portion of the budget fixed by the University Grants Commission should be kept for research in the budget of private universities every year. These accounts must be sent to UCG. The UGC will later send the report to the ministry, and the ministry will send it to the parliamentary committee. They will take necessary action. We have tried to find out on behalf of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh, and our investigation found that since 2010, no private university has met these requirements."
READ: HC orders probe on ‘disappearance’ of birth and death registration info
The education secretary and UGC chairman are among those made respondents of the rule and they have to explain to the court within the next four weeks.
The court has also fixed August 14 for the next hearing on the writ.
Deputy Attorney General Bipul Bagmar stood for the state.
Architect Mubasshar Hussein, on behalf of CAB, filed the writ petition last week.
UGC approves Tk 10,444.04 crore budget for 51 public universities in 2022-23
The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Monday approved a budget of Tk 10,444.04 crore for 51 public universities of the country for 2022-23 fiscal year.
The commission approved the budget at its 162th meeting held virtually with UGC Chairman (Additional) Professor Dr Dil Afroza in the chair.
In the total budget of Tk 10,515.71 crore, UGC will get Tk 71.67 Crore, UGC said in a press release .
Also read: UGC to bring all varsity students under digital device coverage by 2023
In the main budget for the universities, the size of the revenue budget is Tk 6,023.60 crore while the development budget is Tk 4,420.44 crore for 40 projects.
In fiscal 2022-23, the allotted budget for the public universities has increased Tk 937.80 crore from the previous year.
Also read: Cluster admission tests to be held in 32 universities in 2021-22 session: UGC
In this fiscal, Dhaka University will get the highest revenue budget of Tk 864.94 crore while Sheikh Hasina Medical University, Khulna will get lowest Tk 3.83 crore.
In the main budget Tk 150 crore has been allotted for research under UGC and public University which is Tk 32 crore more than the previous year.
Britannia will be no university- UGC moves to stop new admissions
The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Monday directed Britannia University, Cumilla, to stop admitting any new students under any of the varsity’s dubious academic programs.
A notice was issued in this regard on Sunday, signed by Md Omar Faruque, Director of the Private University Division of UGC.
The notice said that on a recent excursion to Cumilla, the commission found Britannia falling hopelessly short in almost criterion required by universities. The number of teachers is inadequate, it lacks qualified teachers, there is no research, it has no educational campus, the library is useless, and all its curricula are expired.
Also read: Cluster admission tests to be held in 32 universities in 2021-22 session: UGC
In a further shock, even the legal authority appointed by the chancellor is said to be absent. This means from the opening of Britannia University in 2017 till today - it does not have a VC , Pro VC or treasurer.
According to section 18,20 of the Private University Act, 2010, syndicate and academic councils are responsible for admission, education, taking exams and publishing results of the private university.
According to section 17 of the law, the Vice-Chancellor appointed by the Chancellor and the President following section 31 is the president of the syndicate and academic council.
The notice said, in absence of the VC appointed by the Chancellor all the exams taken and results published of a private university will be legally invalid.
Also read: UGC to bring all varsity students under digital device coverage by 2023
The syndicate and academic council of the university presided by someone else has no legal validity, it said.
For this reason, Britannia University authorities have been instructed in writing to suspend the admission of new students to all programs until further notice by the Commission.
Cluster admission tests to be held in 32 universities in 2021-22 session: UGC
Cluster admission tests will be held in 32 public universities in 2021-22 academic year.
This year admission tests will be held under cluster system in three more universities-Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman University, Kishoreganj, Chandpur Science and Technology University, Habiganj Agricultural University, said University Grants Commission (UGC) in a press release on Thursday.
The schedule for the admission tests will be informed at the Bangladesh University Council’s meeting on Friday and exam centers this year will be arranged in colleges if necessary.
The decisions were taken at a view-exchange meeting of UGC with the Vice Chancellors of the universities on Thursday.
UGC chairman Dr Dil Afroz Begum presided over the meeting in presence of 36 university VCs and their representatives.
Last year, admission test was held in 29 universities under three clusters- general, science and technology and agriculture.
UGC to bring all varsity students under digital device coverage by 2023
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has initiated steps aimed at ensuring equal access to education for all and eliminating the digital divide in a hybrid system of teaching.
To start with, top UGC officials said, all university students would be brought under the digital device coverage by next year.
“The UGC has taken steps to ensure 100% internet connectivity through Bangladesh Research and Education Network and installed campus networks at all universities,” said Prof Kazi Shahidullah, the UGC.l chairman.
Besides, the UGC has a plan to provide data centre facilities to 50% of university students by 2025 while bringing 100% of students under the laptop or digital device coverage by 2031, he said.
Read: HSC Results: Jashore Board secures highest pass rate & Dhaka excels in GPA 5
Recently, the UGC has adopted a blended learning system after coordinating onsite, online, TV and other medium.
"The issue of smartphone and internet connectivity have been added to the blended learning system using maximum use of modern technology and eliminating the digital divide," the chairman said.
The blended learning system will ensure inclusive higher education by 2023 as well as create opportunities for equal access to education for all, he added.
RU may turn to UGC to improve food options for students
As universities have opened their doors again following the long closure caused by the pandemic, and healthy lifestyles foremost in people's minds, residential and non-residential students of Rajshahi University have raised concerns over the eating options available to them at one of the largest public universities in the country.
Even the chief medical officer at the university's own medical centre has admitted meals served at the university's dining centres fall short of providing the daily nutritious intake recommended for a person to lead a healthy life.
Students meanwhile allege they are being served food cooked in unhygienic conditions and even stale meals at the cafeterias and hall dinings.
Most of the residential students take their regular meals from their respective hall dinings. Sometimes they allege insects and other unhealthy items are found in the meals of hall dinings.
Earlier on the day of the admission test at the university, many students allegedly suffered from food poisoning after having food from the cafeteria.
Abdus Sabur Lotus, a 2nd-year student of Mass Communication and Journalism department of the university, told UNB that he suffered from food poisoning after having lunch at the central cafeteria.
Read: Prof Golam Sabbir Sattar appointed as VC of Rajshahi University
Action to be taken against misuse of laws in universities: UGC chairman
Chairman of the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC) Prof Dr Kazi Shahidullah on Monday said if the laws are abused for personal interest in the universities, those responsible would face the music.
“The laws can’t be abused for personal interest in the universities. They (the authorities) can’t bow down to any pressure at any level. In case of misuse of law, action would be taken against the guilty following the investigation,” he said.
Dr Shahidullah said this while addressing the inaugural session of a two-day workshop titled “Budget Preparation and Implementation in Public Universities” at the UGC.
Also read: DU expels two students for digital and admission fraud
He said manpower recruitment beyond organogram as well as temporary, master roll, ad-hoc, contract and daily wage-based jobs will have to be stopped in the public universities. Sitting allowance can’t be given going beyond the rules. If salary and allowance are given against any posts going beyond the rules, the universities will have to pay back the money, he warned.
5 conditions set for online recruitment in public universities
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has allowed online recruitment tests in public universities along with in-person exams on five conditions.
A letter signed by UGC Secretary (Additional Responsibilities) Dr Ferdous Zaman was sent to the vice-chancellors and registrars of all public universities Sunday in this connection.
Educational institutions are now conducting most of their operational activities, including classes, online amid the pandemic. Universities will be able to conduct online recruitment tests and interviews based on five conditions.
Red RU to hold exams scrapped in 2019, 2020 in-person from this month
Firstly, online recruitment tests and interviews cannot violate any law governing the institution.
Second, the recruitment process must start through publishing an open circular based on the university's laws, statutes, and rules given the requirement of the concerned academic institution.
Third, for holding online recruitment tests and interviews, a policy must be put in place and approved by the university's syndicate. The policy must follow the recommendations of the university's academic council.
Read Barishal University: 82, inc. 40 teachers, earn promotions
Fourth, the audiovisual record of the online recruitment process, relating to tests and interviews, will have to be preserved by the university for at least two years.
Lastly, the original certificates and other paperwork of the selected applicants must be verified properly before appointing them.
Read WURI Ranking 2021: ULAB among global top 100 innovative universities
University students to be vaccinated for reopening dorms: UGC
The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Tuesday decided to vaccinate university students as soon as possible so that their dormitories could be reopened.
The decision was taken at a virtual meeting chaired by Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni. The vice-chancellors of public universities and officials of the Education Ministry and UGC took part in the meeting.
As per the instructions of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, all the university students would be vaccinated on priority basis starting with residential ones.
Also read: Bangladesh sees rise in Covid infections; 41 more die
The meeting decided to permit all the public and private universities to conduct online and direct examinations at their respective university campuses.
The academic councils of the respective universities would take the final decisions regarding the online and direct examinations following the UGC instructions.
Also read: Take exams but don’t reopen halls: UGC
Dorms will be reopened making it sure that all the students are vaccinated and the academic activities of the universities are run regularly, said a UGC media release.
The universities were asked to prepare a Recovery Plan according to their capacity and the social reality so that the damage caused to the students during the pandemic could be minimised, the release added.
‘London School of Commerce’ in Dhaka running illegally: UGC
The University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC) has found that an unauthorized study centre is operating in Dhaka using the name ‘London School of Commerce’.
The study centre named ‘London School of Commerce Dhaka (LSC Dhaka)’ did not receive permission from the government and also the UGC to run here, said a UGC release on Tuesday.
The study centre offers different diploma, bachelor and master and doctoral degrees under three UK institutions ---Wrexham Glyndŵr University, University of Bedfordshire and Scottish Qualifications Authority.
The study centre opened a website (https://www.lscdhaka.org/) in 2007.
Read UGC wants cluster admission system for private universities
Its admission ads have recently come to the notice of UGC. The LSC Dhaka has been running its operation since 2005.
The LSC Dhaka opened two offices in Dhaka – one at Gulshan Centre in Gulshan-2 and another at Ocean Tower in Banani.
The centre offers BA (Hons) Business Studies, Master of Business Administration, Foundation in Business, Professional Diploma in International Business degrees from the two places.
Read UGC signs MoU to get house building loan
The duration of the courses is from eight month to two years. The admission in the courses will start in May next.
According to its website, LSC Dhaka in collaboration with its partner universities has been offering fast-track degrees like BA (Hon’s) and MBA at affordable fees.
It is said that the students of LSC Dhaka would have scope to transfer their credits to the international campus of its partner universities located in different places including London, Malta, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.
Read UGC asks private universities to update syllabuses
UGC member Prof Dr Biswajit Chanda, who is in-charge of private universities, said no branch or study centre of any foreign university and institution can operate admission or academic activities in Bangladesh.
It is absolutely illegal according to the articles 3 (3) and 39 of the Private University Act 2010, he said.
The UGC member asked the students and jobseekers to remain alert over the admission in such study centres.
Read UGC to provide loans to 41,501 public univ students for buying smartphone
Prof Chanda asked the authorities concerned of the government to take measures to shut down the unauthorized study centre soon.