Dhaka: Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Prof Mamun Ahmed today announced that the UGC is striving to transform the universities in the country into appealing 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 stated. Prof Mamun Ahmed shared these thoughts while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the China-Bangladesh Education Cooperation Forum-2026 at the International Mother Language Institute in the capital.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Prof Mamun Ahmed emphasized the need to make the country’s education system suitable for international students. He noted that many talented Bangladeshi students are pursuing higher education abroad and are earning recognition at the international level. He stressed the importance of developing a system that allows these talented individuals to contribute to the country’s needs, advocating for the ‘circulation of talent’ rather than merely preventing brain drain.
Prof Mamun Ahmed suggested that Bangladesh could elevate its higher education system internationally by learning from China’s progress over the past decades. He emphasized the importance of deeper engagement with China, focusing on developing modern laboratory infrastructure, establishing joint research funds, and enhancing the professional skills of teachers.
He urged universities not to limit themselves to signing formal Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), but to undertake effective initiatives. These initiatives include joint degree programs, dual supervision for PhD researchers, and the publication of joint research papers in high-quality journals.
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen chaired the programme. Other speakers at the event included 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.