New ordinance for private universities
It is learnt from a report published in DS on 16th July 2008 that the Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh protested the proposed Private University Ordinance -2008, saying some of the rules in the ordinance will change the basic structure of private universities. The private universities are now run according to the Private University Act-1992 and its amendment 1998. I am neither a decision maker nor a protestor. I am just a victim of the complexities of the ordinance and its amendments. I am interested to know “what type of basic structure exists in the private universities at the moment”? The university is generally known as an academic institution of higher learning. There are several types of universities in the world such as:
Humboldtian University at which academic freedom prevails.
Napoleonic University on which the state has a strong influence.
Newman University in which personal development is the central goal.
The American University in which service to the community is the first priority.
What category of universities do we have? Can we call them Oscillating Universities?
Can anybody define a university in the context of Bangladesh?
What is the difference between a public and a private university in the country?
Can anybody show me the model of a public or a private university in Bangladesh?
Who are serving in the top positions like VCs, Pro-VC, Deans, chairmen of departments in private universities? Who are involved in good or bad activities of the private universities?
Do we really need so many private universities in the country, particularly in Dhaka city?
Answers to those questions have become very important when the issue of selling certificates by private universities has come to the notice of the international bodies. We need to understand that the prestige of the nation is involved in such activities.
I was appointed as Vice-Chancellor of a private university in January 2003 for a tenure of 04 (four) years. It was the first ICT based university in rural atmosphere. The university was shut down in 2006 along with seven other universities on a report submitted by an inspection team. Unfortunately, none of the team members was scientifically or technologically qualified. Here is the gap between the reality and the responsibility. If the activities of the existing universities are now judged by the same formula, the doors of all the private universities are bound to shut down.
The lesson learnt from the activities of the high powered inspection team is that closure of some universities cannot solve the problems of all the private universities created by university authorities, politicians, academics etc.
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