The government in Bangladesh has made a big recommendation about the “7 College”. These colleges are currently connected to Dhaka University (DU).
The Education Ministry has suggested that the “7 College” should move away from Dhaka University campus activities. A new system is being planned. This system will be managed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and a principal from one of the “7 College”. Officials from Dhaka University will also be part of this new system.
The Ministry wants Dhaka University to quickly finalize this plan. They want DU’s Syndicate and Academic Council to approve it soon.
Dhaka University has already started working on this. The university’s Deans Committee recently met. They have formed a committee to look at the UGC recommendations. This committee has three members.
A member who was at the meeting said that the new committee will review what the UGC has suggested. The head of this committee is Professor Dr. Siddiqur Rahman Khan. He is the Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Dhaka University. This committee is expected to give a report within this week. A meeting of this committee is planned for Wednesday, March 12.
Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed is the main coordinator for the “7 College” and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University. He recently said that Dhaka University has decided to end the affiliation with the “7 College”. However, he mentioned that this will take time. Dhaka University has started the process and is talking with the government.
The UGC recommendations suggest a new structure called a ‘supervisory body’. A member of the UGC will be in charge of this body. A principal from one of the “7 College” will be the director. For administration, an official from Dhaka University’s Registrar’s office will be involved. For exams, an official from DU’s Exam Controller’s office will be responsible. For money matters, a representative from DU’s accounts section will be in charge. The online admission process will be handled by the “7 College” admission committee. The government says this structure is a temporary arrangement for managing education and administration.
The recommendation also says that this decision is made because of administrative problems and difficulties faced by the students of “7 College”. Dhaka University will continue to responsibly manage the current education system for students already enrolled at DU. The UGC has made these recommendations as a temporary solution for the education and administration of the undergraduate and postgraduate students of the affiliated “7 College”.
According to the recommendations, a temporary combined structure will be formed. This will include representatives from Dhaka University’s Exam Controller’s office, Admission office, Registrar’s office, and Accounts department. This structure will manage all educational activities of the “7 College” from the 2024-25 academic year for undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
It is mentioned that this temporary structure will be responsible for the “7 College” until they are brought under a fully recognized university or similar institution. The operations of this structure will be from an office outside the Dhaka University campus. This office could be in the college from which the director is chosen. All financial transactions under this structure will be managed through a separate bank account under Dhaka University.
The UGC also said that this proposed system needs to be urgently approved by Dhaka University’s Academic Council and Syndicate. Dhaka University’s Exam Controller’s office, Admission office, Registrar’s office, and Accounts department will provide necessary help to this proposed structure as directed by Dhaka University.
The UGC recommends that each of the “7 College” should have a help desk under the control of their principal. This help desk will be for exchanging information about admissions, exams and other activities. Once appointed, the director of the temporary structure will create an operation manual with staffing proposals. This manual will be submitted to Dhaka University for Syndicate approval. The UGC will oversee the combined structure and provide advice when needed.