Dhaka:The University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced a plan to integrate all public and private universities in the country into a digital network over the next two years. This initiative aims to enhance connectivity and transform educational institutions into digital campuses.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed shared these plans during a consultative workshop titled 'Digital Transformation of Higher Education Management' held at the National Science and Technology Complex in Agargaon, Dhaka. The workshop was attended by IT-related educators, researchers, and officials from the UGC and the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) project.
The UGC's goal is to equip universities with proper network facilities, high-speed Wi-Fi, and necessary support systems. As part of this digital transformation, all academic and administrative services, such as admissions, fee payments, hall seat allocation, and certificate collection, will be moved online to streamline processes and reduce student difficulties.
Professor Mamun Ahmed also announced plans to make internships mandatory within the next five years to enhance students' workplace experiences. An online platform will be developed to facilitate coordination between universities and industries or government offices for this purpose.
The UGC intends to involve experienced teachers from prominent institutions like Dhaka University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) to conduct online classes for other universities. The expertise of Bangladeshi teachers abroad will also be utilized to address teacher shortages and enhance skilled manpower.
To improve efficiency, integrated software and online platforms will be developed for university administration, enhancing the current systems rather than creating separate software for each institution. UGC members Professor Dr. Masuma Habib and Professor Dr. Aslam Hossain, along with HEAT Project Director Professor Dr. Asaduzzaman, also addressed the workshop attendees.