The University Grants Commission (UGC) is planning to launch a dedicated satellite television channel for higher education to reduce disparities in access to educational opportunities across the country.
The commission is considering launching a pilot programme by utilising the existing technological facilities of Bangladesh Open University (BOU), UGC Chairman Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed said on Wednesday.
He disclosed the plan while speaking as a special guest at a discussion marking the 34th founding anniversary of Bangladesh Open University.
The UGC chairman said disparities exist in educational opportunities and academic activities among the country's universities, with some located in urban areas and others in remote regions.
To strengthen connections among teachers and students across these institutions, the UGC plans to introduce a separate television channel dedicated to higher education, he said, adding that a pilot programme could be launched using BOU's existing facilities.
Mamun Ahmed also said the commission plans to bring around 180 public and private universities under a digital network within the next two years.
The initiative will involve developing high-speed internet connectivity, digital classrooms and other facilities needed for digital campuses, he said. It would expand opportunities for academic communication, joint research and collaboration among universities.
The network would also make it possible to connect Bangladeshi teachers and researchers working at foreign universities with higher education institutions in the country, he added.
The UGC chairman said advances in artificial intelligence (AI), data science and online technologies were challenging conventional education systems, making it essential to focus on both knowledge acquisition and skills development.
He stressed the need to ensure quality, technology-driven and skills-based education.
Noting that people can now access educational resources from home through YouTube and other online platforms, Mamun Ahmed said Bangladesh Open University's teaching methods and infrastructure needed to be updated to meet changing circumstances.
He said the UGC and the open university should work together to achieve this goal.
The chairman observed that conventional education systems could not bring people of all ages, social backgrounds and geographical locations under their coverage, leaving many to drop out or remain excluded from mainstream education.
Bangladesh Open University could reach these people by utilising its extensive network, he said. The university currently has around 300,000 students, and enrolment could increase further if quality and skills-based education were ensured.
Mamun Ahmed said the idea of establishing Bangladesh Open University was introduced by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and implemented in 1992 during the tenure of then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.
The university has the technological facilities required for distance learning, a full-fledged media centre and a nationwide network to maintain contact with students, he said.
Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon attended the programme as the chief guest, while BOU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Siddiqur Rahman Khan presided over it.
Former Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Emeritus Professor Dr Anwarullah Chowdhury delivered the keynote address.
