International offices to be set up at all universities: UGC member Al Mamun

The government has taken initiative to set up international offices at all universities across the country this year to bring higher education up to international standards, expand academic and research collaboration with foreign universities, and create more opportunities for global knowledge exchange, a University Grants Commission (UGC) member said on Wednesday.

Professor Abdullah Al-Mamun, a member of the UGC’s Public University Management Division, made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a programme organised by Bangladesh Open University (BOU) to inaugurate three digital services: the MyBOU Mobile App, e-Attendance System and Complaint/Services Management System.

He said the initiative was part of the government’s efforts to implement its election manifesto.

The government also plans to launch a central online portal, titled Study Bangladesh, to simplify the application process for foreign students seeking admission to Bangladeshi universities, Mamun said.

Initially, 20 universities will be brought under the portal. The UGC has already invited expressions of interest (EOIs) from universities for selection under its Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) project.

Through the proposed portal, international students will be able to access information about universities in Bangladesh and apply for admission online. The initiative is expected to raise the international profile of the country’s higher education institutions and expand opportunities to attract foreign students.

The programme was chaired by BOU Vice-Chancellor Professor Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan.