Varsities should fit for more foreign students, says UGC Chairman

BSS

Published On: 09 May 2026, 19:42

Photo: BSS

DHAKA, May 9, 2026 (BSS)- Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Prof Mamun Ahmed today said the UGC is working to transform the country’s universities into attractive destinations for foreign students.

“We want to build such a higher education system where, alongside local students, foreigners will also get the opportunity to study in a large number,” he said.

He said this while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the China-Bangladesh Education Cooperation Forum-2026 at the International Mother Language Institute in the capital here today.

Emphasizing on making the country education suiting for international students, the UGC chairman said many talented Bangladeshi students are pursuing higher education abroad and working with reputation at the international level.

“We have to develop a system through which the talented and skilled human resources staying abroad can contribute to the needs of the country,” he said stressing ensuring the ‘circulation of talent’ instead of merely preventing brain drain.

Prof Mamun Ahmed said Bangladesh could elevate its higher education system to the international stage by learning from China’s progress in the higher education sector over the past decades.

He laid importance on deeper engagement with China, particularly in developing modern laboratory infrastructure, joint research funds and enhancing teachers’ professional skills.

Calling on universities not to remain confined only to signing formal Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), he said effective initiatives should be undertaken, including joint degree programmes, dual supervision for PhD researchers and publication of joint research papers in high-quality journals.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen chaired the programme. Among others, Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary Abdul Khaleque, BUET Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr A B M Badruzzaman and Director General of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) Prof Dr Khan Moinuddin Al Mahmud Sohel also addressed the programme.