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PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES

Changes in law to streamline trustee boards
MOHIUDDIN ALAMGIR
At least a third of the trustee board members of a private university will have to be academics, according to a draft amendment to the Private University Act-2010.
Under the existing law, a private university can have nine to 21 members in its trustee board. The proposal to have a third of the trustee members from educationists is aimed at creating a congenial academic atmosphere at the private institutions, said officials of the education ministry and University Grants Commission.
The draft proposes that a trustee will not take financial benefits for attending any meeting as well as for other university-related activities. Also, the trustees and their family members will not hold any offices of profit at a university, it says.
The other major changes in the draft include empowering the government or the UGC to appoint observers at private universities if there arises any situation that may hamper academic activities.
A five-member committee led by UGC member Professor Biswajit Chanda prepared the draft and submitted it to the education ministry. The committee was formed by the ministry following a recommendation from the parliamentary standing committee on the ministry.
“The new amendments aim to bring more transparency to running non-government universities,” Biswajit Chanda told The Daily Star on Thursday.
Explaining the reasons for amending the existing act, the draft says, “It is a matter of concern that the trend of corruption, nepotism, and academic, financial and administrative irregularities at private universities has increased alarmingly in recent times.”
It says empowering universities as well as the UGC, and enforcing laws strictly is necessary to establish good governance at private universities.
The Secondary and Higher Education Division of the education ministry is likely to hold an inter-ministerial meeting on Tuesday to finalise the draft, said Abu Yousuf Miah, additional secretary of the ministry.
Currently, there are 112 private universities in the country. The first private university was established in 1992 through a law, which was amended in 2010 to meet a growing demand for higher education.
ACADEMICS AND OBSERVERS
According to the draft, there will be no change in the trustee board of a private university without UGC recommendation and government approval. If needed, the UGC or the government can appoint observers at the universities.
Academics at the trustee board will be able to play a positive role in enriching academic atmosphere and research of the university, said Biswajit.
“Appointment of observers will take place only when the university administration faces a crisis period, or is marked by a lack of order, or on the brink of closure. On many occasions, the authorities appoint observers in banking and other sectors,” he added.
UGC and education ministry officials say many universities have virtually turned into family businesses. “If a third of trustee members are academics, there will be a balance at the board. It will also reduce the chance of corruption,” an UGC official said, wishing not to be named.
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