UGC to establish language centres at 30 universities, prioritising Chinese

The Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) will begin establishing language centres at 30 universities within the next three months, giving priority to Chinese as the preferred third language.

UGC Chairman Prof Mamun Ahmed announced the initiative today (4 August) during a meeting at the UGC headquarters with a six-member delegation from the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka and China's Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University.
Language centres currently operate at 10 universities, with another 20 to be set up in phases, enabling students to learn a foreign language alongside Bangla and English, he said.

Prof Mamun said the decision reflects expanding Bangladesh-China cooperation in education, trade, technology and development, which has increased the demand for Chinese language skills.

Noting a shortage of qualified Chinese language teachers in Bangladesh, he proposed training local instructors with Chinese support, including sending trainers to China for advanced training. He also called for the introduction of Bangla language courses at Chinese universities.

The meeting also discussed improving higher education quality, strengthening graduate skills, promoting employment-oriented education, implementing the five-year higher education transformation programme, expanding scholarships and internships for Bangladeshi students in China, and enhancing cooperation in technical and vocational education.

The Chinese delegation said Bangladeshi teachers would receive training under its Global Teachers Training Programme. It also announced plans to conduct teacher training for Bangladesh and other South Asian countries through the International Chinese Language Education Centre at Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University.

UGC Member Prof Abdullah-Al-Mamun, Secretary Fakhrul Islam, Director of International Cooperation Sultan Mahmud Bhuiyan and other officials attended the meeting.