A recent study by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) reveals that 28.24% of graduates from National University-affiliated colleges remain unemployed, with rural students and women being disproportionately affected.
Among those employed, many hold low-paying jobs.
The findings were presented during the third day of the BIDS Annual Development Conference held at a hotel in Dhaka on Monday.
BIDS Research Director SM Zulfikar Ali unveiled the report, highlighting the challenges faced by college graduates under the National University system.
The study surveyed 61 out of 608 public and private colleges affiliated with the National University.
Participants included 1,340 graduates, 670 current students, 61 principals, and 100 employers.
Subject Trends
Most graduates are from disciplines like sociology, humanities, and business education, while science-based subjects account for only 3.82% at the undergraduate level and 3.10% at the postgraduate level.
Conversely, 44.26% of graduates specialized in business education.
Employment Status
Only 42.29% of graduates have salaried jobs, and 16.24% are self-employed.
Women and rural students experience higher unemployment rates.
Graduates with technical or vocational education have better employment prospects compared to those from general education streams.
Unemployment by Discipline
Unemployment is highest among graduates in BA (Pass Course), political science, library management, Bangla, and Islamic history and culture.
It is lowest among graduates in English, economics, accounting, sociology, and finance and banking.
Career Preferences
Approximately 36% of graduates enter teaching, followed by roles such as officers or assistant officers.
A significant 43.13% of graduates aspire to government jobs.
Challenges Identified
The study highlighted several issues plaguing National University-affiliated colleges, including poor institutional quality, low student attendance, lack of teacher incentives and training, and curriculum misaligned with job market demands.
The findings underscore the urgent need for reforms to enhance the employability of National University graduates and address systemic issues in affiliated colleges.
