UGC plans 5-year higher education roadmap
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has taken an initiative to finalise a five-year “National Action Plan for Higher Education Transformation and Sustainable Excellence (2026-2030)” to raise Bangladesh’s higher education sector to international standards.
An exchange of views meeting, chaired by Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon, was held at the UGC chairman’s conference room on Thursday to discuss the draft action plan, according to a press release.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Education and the UGC took part in the discussion.
Speaking at the meeting, the education minister said the leadership of the UGC needs to become more effective and dynamic to achieve the desired standards in higher education.
He stressed the need to adopt successful reform experiences from other countries while considering Bangladesh’s own realities.
The minister also called for an integrated national policy to attract foreign students and establish Bangladesh as a regional destination for higher education.
He suggested studying the experiences of countries including China, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Pakistan in this regard.
UGC Chairman Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed said the long-term reform plan has been prepared to align Bangladesh’s higher education system with changing global realities and labour market requirements.
The action plan identifies five strategic priorities: improving graduate employability through demand-driven education, strengthening university-industry collaboration, promoting digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI), developing faculty capacity, and enhancing research excellence and internationalisation.
The UGC chairman said the plan aims to introduce Outcome-Based Education (OBE), Career Development Centres, Learning Management Systems (LMS) and digital administration systems at all universities by 2030.
The roadmap also includes targets to double research publications and patents and develop Bangladesh as a regional hub for higher education and research.
A series of consultation meetings with universities, industry representatives and other stakeholders will be held before finalising the draft action plan.
