Our tertiary edn must align with job markets

Bangladesh must focus not only on improving the position of its universities in global rankings but also on ensuring the quality of higher education, strengthening research and innovation, and preparing graduates for the changing domestic and international job markets, policymakers and higher education experts have said.

Recent remarks by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Haque Milan and University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed suggest that Bangladesh’s higher education policy is increasingly shifting towards a broader definition of university excellence, one that combines academic quality, research, innovation, technology, international engagement and graduate employability.

The issue came into renewed focus at the QS Bangladesh Forum 2026 held at a hotel in Dhaka on August 17, where representatives from more than 90 universities participated. Speaking at the forum, the education minister called for greater emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI), technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and research to strengthen Bangladesh’s position in global higher education.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had earlier stressed the importance of research and innovation at a workshop on higher education reform held at Dhaka University on May 12. He called for universities to move beyond textbook-based education and place greater emphasis on research, innovation and the creation of new knowledge.

The prime minister’s position reflects a growing recognition that university performance cannot be measured solely by examination results, graduation rates or international rankings. The ability to generate new knowledge, translate research into practical solutions and contribute to national development is equally important.

Research quality crucial for better rankings: At the QS Bangladesh Forum, Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Haque Milan said there was no alternative to technical and vocational education and training if Bangladesh wanted to transform its large population into a skilled workforce. He also stressed the need to expand TVET at the university level and increase the use of AI in higher education. According to the minister, universities must keep pace with rapid technological changes if Bangladesh is to remain competitive globally.

The minister also highlighted the need for a “reverse brain drain”, arguing that the expertise of Bangladeshi students, academics and researchers working abroad should be brought back and utilised for the country’s development. He expressed optimism that Bangladesh has the potential to emerge as an education hub if its academic institutions can improve their quality and international connectivity.

Ranking is important, but not the final measure: UGC Chairman Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed has also emphasised that global rankings are important indicators of institutional progress but cannot be considered the sole measure of a university’s success. According to him, the fundamental responsibilities of a university are to provide quality education, create new knowledge, conduct research and innovation, and produce skilled and employable graduates.

Graduate employability has emerged as one of the most important challenges facing Bangladesh’s higher education system.

A university may produce graduates with academic degrees, but if those graduates lack the skills demanded by employers, questions inevitably arise about the effectiveness of the education system.

Professor Mamun Ahmed said a strong position in an international ranking did not necessarily mean that a university’s graduates would be the most successful in the workplace. He called for university curricula to be aligned with the needs of industries and the labour market.

Students, he said, should have opportunities to develop not only academic knowledge but also communication skills, problem-solving abilities, technological competence, leadership, entrepreneurship and the ability to adapt to changing work environments.

The rapid expansion of AI-driven industries has made this challenge even more urgent. Universities will increasingly have to revise traditional curricula and teaching methods to ensure that graduates can work effectively in technology-intensive environments.

Bangladesh’s universities have long faced challenges in achieving stronger positions in international rankings. For instance, the University of Dhaka was placed in the 801�"1000 band in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026. But rankings alone do not capture the full picture of the country’s higher education sector.

Bangladeshi universities still need stronger research funding, more internationally recognised publications, closer links with industry, better faculty development, greater capacity to attract international students and stronger mechanisms for turning research findings into practical and economic outcomes.

Professor Mamun Ahmed has therefore called for a more comprehensive approach to evaluating universities, one that considers Bangladesh’s national priorities, local realities and the social and economic contributions of higher education institutions alongside international benchmarks.

The government is also seeking to attract more international students and strengthen Bangladesh’s position as a regional education hub.

A larger international student population could enhance the global visibility of Bangladeshi universities while creating opportunities for greater cultural exchange, joint research and participation in international academic networks.

For Bangladesh, internationalisation is therefore not simply a matter of improving ranking indicators. It can also help universities develop stronger academic partnerships and expose students and faculty members to global standards and practices.

The expansion of university education has significantly increased access to higher education in Bangladesh. The next challenge, however, is ensuring that the expansion is accompanied by improvements in quality.
Differences among universities in terms of faculty strength, research facilities, laboratories, libraries, technology, infrastructure, financing and administrative capacity remain significant.

Experts believe these disparities need to be reduced if Bangladesh wants to build a strong and inclusive higher education system.

Universities also need greater investment in faculty training, modern teaching methods, research facilities and academic collaborations.

Strengthening only a handful of universities may improve Bangladesh’s representation in global rankings, but it will not by itself transform the country’s overall higher education landscape.
Both public and private universities will therefore need to improve their academic and research capacities.

Despite the challenges, recent statements from the government and higher education authorities reflect considerable optimism about Bangladesh’s potential.

The education minister has highlighted the strength of Bangladeshi students and academics, noting their achievements at home and abroad. Harnessing this talent and creating better opportunities for research and innovation could significantly strengthen the country’s higher education sector.

Taken together, the prime minister’s emphasis on research and innovation, the education minister’s focus on AI, TVET and internationalisation, and the UGC chairman’s call for quality education and graduate employability point to a broader vision for Bangladesh’s universities.

The message is clear: Bangladesh needs to improve its position in global university rankings, but not for rankings’ sake. Sustainable progress will depend on quality education, stronger research, innovation, technological capacity and graduates who are capable of competing in a rapidly changing global labour market.

Ultimately, the success of a university should not be judged only by where it stands on an international ranking table. The more important questions are whether its graduates possess knowledge and skills relevant to the real world, whether its researchers are creating new knowledge, and whether the institution is contributing meaningfully to the country’s social and economic development.

For Bangladesh, improving global rankings should therefore be viewed as an outcome of building stronger universities, not as a substitute for doing so.