The School of Business at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) hosted the Peer Review Team (PRT) of the South Asian Quality Assurance System (SAQS) from August 11–13 as part of its quality assurance and accreditation process.
The three-day visit enabled the PRT to assess the ULAB School of Business’s (USB) academic and administrative practices, institutional systems, stakeholder engagement, campus facilities and commitment to continuous improvement against SAQS standards.
The PRT was led by Professor Abdur Rab, vice chancellor of the International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT). Other members were Professor Somayajulu Garimella, distinguished professor (Adjunct) at Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, and former director of the Institute of Management, NIRMA University, Ahmedabad, India; Professor Jit Tshering of the Centre for Leadership Development, Royal Institute of Management, Thimphu, Bhutan; and Khondkar Morshed Millat, sustainable finance and sustainability specialist and faculty member at the Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM), and former director of the Sustainable Finance Department at Bangladesh Bank.
During the visit, the PRT met with ULAB and USB leadership, faculty members, students, alumni, administrative and support staff, and corporate and other external stakeholders.
The team reviewed relevant documents, policies and procedures, as well as academic activities, research and consultancy initiatives, international collaborations, student support services and corporate engagement practices.
The PRT also visited USB facilities to assess the physical and learning environment and the resources supporting teaching, learning, student development and other academic activities.
The meetings and observations allowed the PRT to gain an understanding of USB’s educational environment, achievements, strengths and areas for further improvement. The visit also gave USB an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to academic quality, stakeholder engagement, internationalization, sustainability and continuous institutional development.
Based on the PRT’s report, the SAQS Accreditation Awarding Committee will make the final decision on accreditation. USB has not yet received SAQS accreditation.
The visit marks an important step in USB’s quality assurance journey. The discussions, stakeholder interactions, facility assessments and feedback from the PRT members are expected to support the school’s continued efforts toward academic excellence and strengthen its position in the regional higher education landscape.
