A draft policy prepared by the education ministry and Universities Grant Commission (UGC) proposes to lift the existing ban on foreign universities opening branches and operating joint ventures in Bangladesh.
The proposal discriminates against local private universities; foreign universities may open with as few as 30 students and only 15,000 square feet of space, whereas local private universities have to operate at least four schools and have a minimum of 25,000 square feet of space. Local private universities also have to be non-profit organisations, but no such restriction has been proposed for foreign universities.
Undoubtedly there is a large market for higher education, as can be seen by the national private university sector over the last 20 years, which has grown to serve 300,000 students today. However, the UGC’s thinking that loosening the current restriction on foreign universities, in a way which also discriminates against local private universities, will help meet this demand is flawed.
Not only does it undermine the national private sector, but by proposing a lighter touch oversight for foreign universities, the UGC does nothing to build confidence in educational standards and ensure value for students.
While deregulation that allows top-ranking foreign universities to operate in Bangladesh sounds good in principle, the proposal in its current form is more likely to open the floodgates to weaker institutions, especially if they can be run as commercial ventures.
The UGC should think again. As a starting point, it should ensure equal treatment between Bangladeshi universities and foreign universities when setting standards.