Private Universities: UGC for uniform admission system

The University Grants Commission now wants a uniform admission system for all private universities as the majority of public universities are set to introduce the new system next year.

Once introduced, the uniform system at private universities will reduce the financial burden and hassles of admission seekers and their guardians, says the regulatory body for both public and private universities.

In its "Annual Report 2019", the UGC has made a set of recommendations, including the introduction of uniform admission system for private universities.

It submitted the report to President Abdul Hamid on Sunday.

Top UGC officials said the new system will help address the issues regarding some private universities that enrol students without any admission tests, flouting the UGC rules on student admission. 

"We have made the recommendations, keeping in mind many issues," UGC Member Prof Muhammed Alamgir told The Daily Star yesterday.

The majority of public universities have already announced that they would hold a uniform admission test titled "Central Admission Test" to reduce the hassles of admission seekers, he mentioned.

"Now we can tell the private universities to go for uniform admission test. Public medical colleges first introduced the system and then private medical colleges followed suit.

"Once it is introduced, we will know which subjects have high demand among the students…" he added.

In its report, the UGC has mentioned that the government may prepare a guideline on uniform admission test for private universities.

Asked, a top official of the education ministry said they would consider the matter after the UGC discusses it with private universities.

Contacted, Sheikh Kabir Hossain, chairman of the Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB), said they haven't yet discussed the issue of uniform admission test.

"We will hold meetings and give opinion about it.

"I think uniform admission system will be good for private universities. Students will benefit from it," he said.

North South University Vice Chancellor Prof Atiqul Islam said they haven't yet thought about uniform admission test.

He said they will think about it since the UGC has made recommendations in this regard.

The UGC recommendations come about a month after 19 public universities announced that they would hold uniform admission test.

At a meeting on December 19, the VCs of the universities decided that under the new system, there will be three exams -- one each for science, humanities and business studies students -- based on Higher Secondary Certificate exams syllabus.

Dhaka University, Rajshahi University, Jahangirnagar University and Chattogram University decided not to follow the new system.

The new method of admission has been in discussion since 2010. It is aimed at relieving admission seekers of the hassles of travelling to different universities in various parts of the country just to be able to sit for the tests every admission season.

On January 23 this year, the UGC announced that universities would hold a uniform admission test in the 2020-2021 academic year.

UGC Member Alamgir said seven agricultural universities and three of the four engineering universities in the country will form two more separate clusters of universities.

The three engineering universities are Chattogram University of Engineering and Technology, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology and Khulna University of Engineering and Technology.

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) is now showing interest in joining this cluster, the official mentioned.

PVT UNIVERSITIES

The government has so far approved 105 private universities across the country. Of those, 97 are carrying out academic activities. Now, they enrol students through separate admission tests.

"Private universities enrol more than one lakh students a year, and the total number of students is around four lakh," said APUB Chairman Kabir Hossain.

They enrol students in three semesters -- spring (January to April), summer (May to August) and fall (September to December). And almost half of the students get enrolled in the spring semester which starts after the publication of HSC results.

About 25 percent of the students get enrolled in the summer semester and the rest in the fall semester, according to insiders at private universities.

The minimum requirement set by the UGC for admission to a private university is GPA 2.5, in both the SSC or HSC, or a total of 6 grade points.

"But many private universities do not take any admission test. They sometimes enrol students flouting the minimum requirement set by the UGC," said a top UGC official on condition of anonymity.

Asked, Alamgir said these issues will be resolved once the uniform admission system is introduced. The modalities and other aspects of the new system will be sorted out through discussions with the private universities.

OTHER UGC RECOMMENDATIONS

The UGC recommended that the universities increase their research budgets.

It suggested establishing Central Research Laboratory and National Research Council with government funds. It also recommended setting up University Teachers Training Academy for creating qualified teachers.

The regulatory body also called for revising the Private University Act, 2010, under which the private universities run, to make it up-to-date.

It also proposed scrapping the evening, weekend and other executive courses at public and private universities, terming them certificate-oriented.