In an important direction Thirty-two years after Bangladesh’s first private university opened for business, the University Grants Commission (UGC) of that nation is considering permitting private universities to provide PhD programs. In June, the regulatory body established a committee with the responsibility of creating a draft policy for the introduction of PhD programs at private universities.

For an extended period of time, private universities have been requesting permission to offer PhD programs. In a meeting with Bangladesh’s President Mohammed Shahabuddin, who also serves as chancellor of all institutions, the Association of Private institutions of Bangladesh (APUB) also requested his involvement to permit the establishment of PhDs at private universities.

“We have established a committee tasked with creating a draft policy. Before making a final decision, we will discuss it with the pertinent parties, acting UGC chairman Professor Muhammad Alamgir said in a press conference.

Professor Bishwajit Chanda, a member of the UGC, will lead the six-member group in developing a draft policy and curriculum or modules pertaining to PhD coursework or research methods appropriate for various academic fields.

Sheikh Kabir Hossain, the chairman of the APUB, deemed the UGC’s action to be constructive. He declared, “For the past few years, we have been demanding approval of PhD courses at the private universities. We have also written letters to the previous president and the current president requesting that they take steps.” He continued, “Many private universities around the world are ranking alongside public universities in international rankings and they ought to be allowed to offer PhD programs.”