UGC drafts 5-year roadmap to transform higher education
The draft strategy for 2026-2030 outlines priorities including improving graduate employability, strengthening university-industry links, advancing digital transformation and attracting international students.
The Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) is finalising a five-year National Action Plan for Higher Education Transformation: Achieving Sustainable Excellence (2026-2030) to align the country's higher education system with global standards.
The draft roadmap was reviewed at a meeting of senior officials from the Ministry of Education and the UGC, chaired by Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon at the commission's headquarters today (23 July).
UGC Chairman Professor Mamun Ahmed said the action plan is designed to drive long-term reforms in response to evolving global trends, rapid technological advances and changing labour market demands.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The roadmap identifies five strategic priorities: improving graduate employability through demand-driven education; strengthening university-industry collaboration; accelerating digital transformation and the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI); enhancing faculty development and professional skills; and strengthening research, innovation, internationalisation, governance and quality assurance.
By 2030, the UGC aims to introduce outcome-based education, learning management systems, digital administration, AI-enabled teaching and learning, career development centres, and internship and graduate employment tracking systems across all universities.
The plan also seeks to double research publications and patents, expand international research partnerships, and establish Bangladesh as a regional hub for higher education and research.
Speaking at the meeting, the education minister said the UGC must play a more proactive role in leading the transformation of the higher education sector. He urged the commission to draw on successful higher education reforms from around the world while tailoring initiatives to Bangladesh's needs.
He also called for stronger efforts to attract international students and position Bangladesh as a regional higher education destination, stressing the need for a coordinated national policy on international student admissions, academic collaboration and internationalisation.
According to the UGC, the action plan will be finalised after incorporating feedback from vice-chancellors of public and private universities, academics, industry representatives, development partners and civil society before being submitted to the education ministry for implementation.
