Why public and private universities must be partners, not rivals

Recent remarks by Honorable incumbent State Minister Boby Hajjaj have reignited a familiar debate in Bangladesh: public universities versus private universities. 

While many disagreed with the language and approach used in his comments, the controversy has also highlighted a deeper and more important question: how can Bangladesh strengthen its higher education system in an increasingly competitive global environment?

Rather than engaging in a divisive contest over which sector is superior, it is time to acknowledge a simple reality that public and private universities are not rivals. They are partners in a shared national mission.

Bangladesh stands at a critical juncture in its higher education journey. 

Over the past three decades, the country has expanded access to tertiary education at an unprecedented pace. Today, with more than 160 universities, the majority of them privately operated, higher education has become accessible to a much larger segment of the population. 

But access alone is not enough. Concerns regarding academic quality, research productivity, graduate employability, and institutional sustainability continue to challenge the sector.

Public universities have historically served as the intellectual backbone of the nation. They have produced generations of scholars, researchers, policymakers, civil servants, and professionals who have shaped Bangladesh's development trajectory. 

Their strengths lie in experienced faculty, established academic traditions, strong research foundations, and affordable education. However, many public universities struggle with overcrowded classrooms, inadequate funding, aging infrastructure, and administrative constraints that limit innovation and responsiveness.

Private universities, on the other hand, have brought flexibility, competition, investment, and market-oriented innovation into the higher education landscape. 

Many have introduced outcome-based education, industry-linked curricula, digital learning platforms, and student-centred academic services. Nevertheless, concerns remain regarding uneven academic standards, limited research culture, and insufficient engagement with national research priorities.

These realities should not be viewed as weaknesses of competing systems but as complementary strengths waiting to be combined.

The future of sustainable higher education in Bangladesh depends on collaboration rather than competition. Sustainable education is not merely about producing graduates; it is about creating knowledge, fostering innovation, promoting inclusion, and preparing future generations to address complex societal challenges. No single institution or sector can achieve these goals in isolation.

One of the most promising areas for collaboration is research and innovation. Public universities possess deep academic expertise and experienced researchers, while private universities often have stronger industry connections and greater administrative agility. Joint research centres, shared laboratories, and interdisciplinary projects could significantly enhance national research output and international visibility.

One of the most promising areas for collaboration is research and innovation. Public universities possess deep academic expertise and experienced researchers, while private universities often have stronger industry connections and greater administrative agility. Joint research centres, shared laboratories, and interdisciplinary projects could significantly enhance national research output and international visibility.

Particularly important is the development of collaborative doctoral programmes. 

Joint PhD degrees involving both public and private universities could combine rigorous academic supervision with applied and industry-relevant research. Introducing co-supervision arrangements, where doctoral candidates are guided by faculty members from both sectors, would strengthen research quality, expand mentorship opportunities, and encourage cross-institutional learning. 

Similarly, a structured system of external examiners drawn from partner institutions would enhance transparency, quality assurance, and academic credibility.

Faculty collaboration offers another transformative opportunity. Exchange programmes, joint training workshops, and shared professional development initiatives could help create a more integrated academic community. 

Young academics in private universities would benefit from the research traditions and mentorship culture of public institutions, while public university faculty could gain exposure to innovative teaching methods, digital learning technologies, and stronger industry engagement practices.

Students, ultimately, stand to gain the most from greater cooperation. Credit transfer systems, joint courses, shared online learning platforms, collaborative competitions, and community engagement projects would provide richer educational experiences and prepare graduates for an increasingly interdisciplinary and globalised workforce.

Collaboration is also essential for advancing Bangladesh's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Universities play a vital role in promoting quality education, gender equality, decent work, innovation, and climate action. Joint sustainability initiatives, policy-focused research, and community-based projects can amplify impact while avoiding duplication of resources.

However, meaningful collaboration will not emerge automatically. 

It requires visionary leadership, institutional trust, and supportive policy frameworks. The University Grants Commission and the Ministry of Education can play a catalytic role by creating dedicated funding mechanisms for joint initiatives, recognising collaborative research and supervision in promotion criteria, and establishing clear guidelines for joint degrees, faculty exchange, and external examination systems.

Equally important is a shift in mindset. 

Viewing private universities merely as commercial enterprises or public universities as resistant to change serves no national interest. Such stereotypes only deepen divisions and distract from the larger objective of building a world-class higher education system.

Bangladesh's demographic dividend will not last forever. To harness this opportunity, the nation must produce graduates who are knowledgeable, innovative, ethical, and globally competitive. Achieving that goal requires collective effort.

The future of Bangladesh's higher education sector does not lie in choosing between public and private universities. It lies in creating meaningful partnerships that leverage the strengths of both. Collaboration is not about erasing institutional identities; it is about using diversity as a source of strength.

If Bangladesh is serious about becoming a knowledge-based economy, its universities must move beyond rivalry and embrace cooperation. 

The sustainability of higher education and indeed the future competitiveness of the nation will depend on how effectively public and private universities work together to serve students, society, and national development.

Mohammad Masudur Rahman, Ph.D. is an assistant professor at East West University. He can be reached at: masudur@gmail.com

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.