We applaud the University Grants Commission (UGC) for allowing PhD degrees in those private universities which are at the forefront of education and research. There are some private universities in the country that have capabilities, we believe.
We think this is high time for enabling private universities to provide PhD degrees. Otherwise, we cannot encourage research. A committee has been formed to draft the policy in this regard, according to media reports. Currently, only 56 approved public universities in the country offer PhD programmes, while none of the 114 private universities under the UGC offers such programmes.
We have observed that some private universities in the country have proved their capacity and potential in providing quality education and research, as shown by their positions in the QS World University Rankings. As the conducting of research in the universities both public and private is a main tool of economic and technological development of a country, there is no alternative to it.
Some experts caution that PhD
programmes should not be
introduced indiscriminately
in private universities
The universities should be turned into hubs of research for generating knowledgeable and competent nation-building workforces. However, some experts caution that PhD programmes should not be introduced indiscriminately in private universities.
They opined that only those that meet specific standards should be able to launch these programmes. There should be no compromise on the quality of research. Keeping this in mind, our valued teachers and talented students should play an important role from their respective positions to build a poverty-and hunger-free ‘Sonar Bangladesh’ with their knowledge, merit, wisdom and innovativeness.
Teachers and students of universities must pay more attention to conducting research in order to build skilled human resources for the country. Bangladesh has made many infrastructural developments over the years and the country will attain more progress in future.
