Dhaka eyes to be global edn hub, source for outbound students

Bangladesh is working to transform itself not only into a source country for outbound students but also into an international destination for foreign learners, University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Mamun Ahmed said on Wednesday.

He made the remarks when a three-member delegation from the Australian High Commission in Bangladesh and the Australian Consulate General in India paid a courtesy call on him at his office.

The delegation included Vic Singh, Trade and Investment Commissioner at the Australian Consulate General in India, Megha Gupta, Trade and Investment Commissioner at the Australian High Commission in Dhaka, and Mostafizur Rahman, Senior Director for Trade and Investment. UGC International Cooperation Department Director Jasmine Parveen was also present.

During the meeting, Mamun Ahmed said the UGC was pursuing a structured roadmap to raise Bangladesh's higher education institutions to global standards, including upgrading selected top-tier universities and establishing new world-class institutions.

"The UGC is implementing a focused plan to bring the country's higher education sector to international standards. As part of the initiative, several leading universities are being upgraded to world-class level, while plans are also underway to establish new globally competitive institutions," he said.

He assured full institutional support from the UGC to strengthen academic and research collaboration between universities in Bangladesh and Australia.

The visiting delegation said a high-level roundtable is scheduled in Dhaka in June to deepen strategic engagement in higher education between the two countries. Representatives from seven to eight leading Australian universities are expected to join the dialogue.

The delegation also sought UGC cooperation in selecting suitable representatives from Bangladeshi universities for participation in the proposed discussions.

They invited the UGC Chairman and representatives from Bangladesh's higher education sector to attend the Australian International Education Conference to be held in Australia in October.

The delegation further briefed the UGC Chairman on ongoing collaborative initiatives between Australian institutions and the UGC, highlighting past engagements and future areas of cooperation.