Bangladeshi professors earn less than S Asian peers: UGC chair
University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Dr SMA Faiz has highlighted that university teachers in Bangladesh receive inadequate salaries, allowances, and facilities compared to their counterparts in other South Asian countries.
Speaking at a workshop titled 'Regional Cooperation in Higher Education; Especially Student Exchange, Teacher Training, and Research' held at InterContinental Dhaka on Tuesday (April 22), Dr Faiz emphasised the need for increased budget allocation to improve education and research in the country. The workshop was organised under the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HIT) project.
Dr Faiz noted that while the UGC is committed to ensuring quality higher education in Bangladesh, the current compensation and benefits for university teachers are insufficient when compared to those in SAARC nations. He stressed that enhancing financial support for educators is crucial to advancing the country’s academic and research capabilities.
The event was attended by Siddique Jobayer, Senior Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division under the Ministry of Education, who delivered the keynote address. He urged universities to ensure high-quality education to attract foreign students to pursue higher studies in Bangladesh.
Jobayer pointed out that Bangladesh hosts a variety of specialized public and private universities. However, without maintaining educational standards, the country risks losing its appeal to international students. He also called for an improved research environment in universities, which he said would help elevate Bangladesh's position in global rankings.
The World Bank's South Asian Lead Economist, Dr Hershey Atarupane, and HIT Project Director Professor Dr Asaduzzaman also addressed the workshop, shedding light on various aspects of regional cooperation in higher education.
Participants, including academicians and researchers, proposed several recommendations to strengthen regional collaboration in higher education. These included:
- Ensuring regular academic sessions in universities.
- Encouraging foreign students to enrol in Bangladeshi institutions for higher education and research.
- Establishing a dedicated desk for regional higher education within the Ministry of Education.
- Setting up international offices in universities to facilitate global partnerships.
- Formulating updated policies for student exchange programs, credit transfers, joint degrees, and fellowships.
- Reviving the SAARC scholarship program to support students from member countries.
Special guests at the workshop included UGC Member Professor Dr Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan, Professor Dr Mohammad Anwar Hossain, Professor Dr Md Saidur Rahman, and Additional Secretary (Development) of the Ministry of Education, Md Humayun Kabir, who shared their insights on improving higher education in Bangladesh.
The workshop underscored the importance of addressing challenges in higher education and fostering regional collaboration to position Bangladesh as a hub for academic excellence and innovation.
