Each year in October, “Times Higher Education” (THE) -- one of the world’s premier ranking agencies -- releases its findings on higher educational institutions around the world. Rankings for 2024 included 1,904 universities from 108 countries to make them the largest and most diverse yet. The agency evaluates the performances of a university across five major areas to include “teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook.” The University of Oxford was ranked #1 in the world this year.
These rankings also placed six Bangladeshi universities towards the tail-end of top 1,000 universities: Brac U at 775; U of Dhaka at 805, Jahangirnagar U at 832, NSU at 885, Bangladesh Agricultural U at 963, and BUET at 964. KUET, United University, and AIUB were placed below 1,300 other universities alongside universities from countries such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Algeria.
Evidently, the universities in Bangladesh aren’t doing very well. Among others, these low ranks also suggest the comparatively lower quality of our workforce. This raises a major concern for the future of our youth and for its ability to compete with the rest of the world (a recent survey indicated that given the opportunity, over 85% of our youth would leave the country). Typically, after the publication of these rankings, there’s a round of self-denunciation and outrage in Bangladesh expressed at the nation’s TV talk shows, newspaper op-eds, etc. However, typically, no meaningful corrective measures are taken, and next year, similarly disappointing results come in and the process of condemnations begins all over again.
To improve rankings, universities must raise their standards and quality of education to an international level. This is a difficult process and it takes a significant amount of resources to accomplish the goals. Since there are (1) no specific “requirements” of improving the quality of higher education is imposed neither by our governmental agencies nor by the governing bodies of our universities, and (2) no shortage of people/students in the country willing to get a “certificate” for a fee, most universities simply do not undertake this arduous and time-consuming effort. In other words, there seems to be no obligation for any institution to do anything to improve the quality of education. So, the rankings of Bangladeshi universities remain low year after year. For the well-meaning policy-maker, the puzzle is: How, then, does one make these educational institutions want to improve their quality?
Here’s a suggestion: Find ways to require the universities to get accreditation from an agency in a developed nation, preferably from the US, within a certain timeframe. Our universities will then have to work towards improving their standards. If possible, allow grants and other forms of governmental incentives, facilitate negotiations, recognize initiatives, etc. The process itself will improve the rankings, and that, in turn, will bring fame and fortune for the university in question. The country will benefit from a more competent workforce and other multitude of benefits.
Accreditation is a legal status and recognition of a standard of education. This standard is an advantage for the graduates to gain admission to other/overseas reputable institutions of higher learning; a degree from an accredited institution offers opportunities for better and gainful employment as well.
Accrediting agencies are organizations authorized by individual governments. Their purpose is to (1) establish operating standards for educational institutions, (2) assess if these standards are being met, and to (3) approve or deny accreditation based on the assessment.
US agencies offer accreditation to (1) an institution/university as a whole or (2) to an individual unit, like a faculty or a department. There are two levels of accreditation: Accreditation with full compliance, and conditional/provisional accreditation. Institutional accreditation indicates that each component contributes to the goals of the university and has maintained a certain level of excellence. Faculty-based accreditation applies to a specific faculty or department within the larger institution.
These agencies in the US are private, non-profit trade organizations but they have to be authorized by the government. There are 11 national and seven regional agencies in the country which have so far accredited more than 95% of all US four-year colleges and universities. The seven regional agencies are also authorized to offer accreditation to foreign universities.
Benefits for the private universities in Bangladesh which might receive accreditation from the US can be substantial: (1) The students at these universities are assured to receive education good enough to either get admission at comparable US universities for higher studies, and/or to get gainful employment with reputable employers almost anywhere in the world; (2) the recognition will attract high-quality students and boost enrollment; (3) enrolled students may have the opportunity to transfer credits to overseas universities; (4) the accredited universities will get students enrolled from foreign countries which will benefit the university and the country by bringing in foreign currencies; and (5) the process of gaining accreditation will certainly help a university achieve higher global ranking.
The accreditation process takes place in three main steps: (1), the institution seeking accreditation conducts an extensive self-study and submits it to the accrediting agency; (2), the institution hosts the foreign agency in order to conduct its own assessment; and (3), the accrediting agency reviews the evidence collected from the self-study, from the site visit, and makes the decision.
The low rankings of Bangladeshi universities paint a discouraging picture about the quality of our education. But, some of our private universities can take the initiative and become pioneers in offering education of international standard. And, that might begin to change the education landscape of Bangladesh.
Dr Halimur R. Khan is a university professor and can be reached at halimurkhan@gmail.com.