।। Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed।।
The university is the highest seat of knowledge, where research is required. Teaching in the university is secondary; but research is the key to knowledge creativity and innovation. Development and prosperity can be understood by looking at the activities of the universities of our country. On the basis of this concept, the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman enacted the universities autonomy by 1973 ordinance. The purpose of this autonomy will be found out if the university teachers ask their own conscience on the use and abuse of this ordinance. University teachers-students will practice free will, new direction of education and research in line of knowledge, old things to be studied fresh and explore new things. Through giving away that creative knowledge and changed concept to the learners, the wellbeing and advancement of the country will be made more viable.
It is very interesting to note that the number of universities is increasing day by day. The objective behind may be the noble intention of the government to reach education to the doors of the common people or decentralization of education. It is true that education is the most important tool through which we can transform the population of our country into useful human resource to bring overall development of Bangladesh. If we fail to give them true education or quality education, they would become a great liability forcing the country to face mounting pressure of unemployment.
As matters stand today, a great majority of our graduates for want of quality education do not get job while few of them get optimum service, but others do low-paid services. Because of technical know-how and special knowledge and experience many foreign nationals are taking away huge income from our country. It is not only a matter of great loss for the country but also a matter of shame. Quality education is still a far cry because there is no cohesion and uniformity between the syllabus designed by the public and private universities. In the public universities, there is the provision for double examiners whereas in the private universities there is one examiner system of examining the answer scripts. As a result, there is no check and balance in remarking scheme. Acquiring knowledge can be formal, informal and non-formal.
It is true that communication and cooperation between universities and industries in Bangladesh is not promising. The problem of improving quality of the higher education for the university with the industry needs the joint research. In this regard, the industry will inform the university about various problems. The university teachers-students will solve it by research. In exchange of it, the university teachers will get money for research from industry sectors. The industry will be able to increase the technical excellence and diversification of products by solving its problems. The universities will be financially more independent of the state fiscal budget and would be able to formulate their own budget by reducing their dependence. So each university’s chief executive officer that is the honorable VC will have to take necessary steps for the expansion of research.
It is unfortunately true that most of the research conducted in the universities of the country is of a theoretical nature. The basic and engineering application in most of the research and study cases is not taken into consideration. On the other hand, study is being stopped after the promotion of the teachers in the rank of Professor. However, after becoming a professor in developed countries, the responsibility of research increases more. If a teacher cannot complete or accomplish his research work, he or she may suffer for loss of the job and other facilities. If the university teachers already know that they are safe in their profession without research, then what is the necessity of taking interest and stress in the line of research and study? In this way, higher education will largely fail to achieve the desired results.
History reveals that no nation in the world, primarily arrange a sufficient incentive measures for research. This is fact that the university teachers out of patriotism and responsibility continue their research work by using their domestic technology. In this regard, the government, various ministries and the University Grants Commission give emphasis to the basic application of research in higher education and increase the budget allocation for the importance in this sector. In order to combat the challenges of developing countries facing the fourth industrial revolution, there is no alternative of research and scientific excellence. Each university must have a strategic plan for its research line. In that plan, it is necessary to be published the required number of research papers in local and scopus index journals as per ratio of teachers.
Every university must have their research cell centrally. Under the faculty of the research bureau or centre, there should be organized research plan. Teachers will apply to the bureau for particular research grant and study. The submitted proposals must be verified and recommended in favour of the researchers. The six universities are giving the research allowance with their monthly salary bill. It is not at all justified. If needed training allowance may be given along with the approved research budget. At the end of the year, the experiment results must be highlighted to the nation. As a result, our university’s image will be raised and they will be able to primarily occupy a place of international ranking.
To survive as a self-respecting nation, there is no alternative to research. Moreover, the government requires a skilled population with modern science – technical knowledge for the implementation of all goals, which can be confirmed through research. Before that, if the higher education strategic plans and recommendations are properly implemented, the university research quality and excellence will increase more.
Basically the impact of research is long-term. So, for the researcher’s research independently, it is required to provide the research equipments. Many of the studies lack research environment in our country. However, it is believed that, environment is not required for research. We need the mentality of positive change. Many teachers do not prioritize research. They remain busy only for the evening course classes/part-time employment/ consultancy. However, very few teachers are continuing basic and applied research work in silence.
Research is essential for improving the quality of higher education and creating knowledge. Nobody in the university can avoid the responsibility. We have passed 50 years of country’s independence. Its higher education system and development is quite beautiful, but the quality has not improved that way. It should concern us all. To ensure higher education quality improvement and excellence, university research activities are required to strengthen the inclusive strategic planning, formulation and the implementation. Only then a prosperous Bangladesh will be possible.
The writer is former Deputy Director General, Bangladesh Ansar & VDP.
