CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education. Universities in Bangladesh are mainly categorized into three different types Public (government owned and subsidized), Private (private sector owned universities), and International (operated and funded by international organizations such as the Organization of the Islamic Conference). In Bangladesh until 1992 all university education was public and private higher education was unauthorized. In that year a constitutional amendment allowed private foundations to establish universities provided they be non-profit, adequately endowed and that the standard of teaching and research was no lower than that of public universities. This opened the door, and in 1992 North South University became the first private institution of higher learning in Bangladesh. The government of Bangladesh approved the establishment of North South
University in 1992 under Private University Act 1992. It was formally inaugurated on 10 February 1993.Though

Darul Ihsan University was established in 1989, but the Government of Bangladesh

promulgated it as a private university in 1993.So North South University is the first Public University in our country. After that the number is gradually improved & now until 2009, there are 51 Private Universities (approved by University Grants Commission) in Bangladesh.

1.2 Background of the study:

Before establishment of Private University, maximum students couldnt get the chance of higher education. Some of them went abroad for their higher education, some went for normal B.A course & rest was fallen down from the further education. But after establishing the private Universities in our countries, the situation becomes change. Now about8students are getting the chance to receive the higher education through the Private universities. Private Universities was established as a non-profit organization with the aim of providing the facilities, the standard of teaching and research like Public Universities to some extent, better than Public Universities. But in the middle of some year, some Private Universities was observed with lower quality as a

university & their condition was like coaching centre. The number of that type of Private Universities was improving rapidly along with their poor quality. Though University Grants Commission has taken some steps against them but question arise are all the Private universities working as a non-profit organization? How the students evaluate their institution? In this consequent, we are given this subject for making our research paper.

1.3 Objectives of the study:

The main objective of the study is to evaluate the Private Universities in Bangladesh with special reference to Sylhet region and other objectives are:

to analyze the history Private Universities in Bangladesh; to analyze the present situation of Private Universities in Bangladesh; to analyze the students satisfaction of private Universities in Sylhet region; and to recommend some action plan about the betterment of Private Universities.

1.4 Methodology of the study:

To prepare this seminar paper primary and secondary data both were used. As a part of primary data collection, a survey study was conducted on the officials, teachers, students of the Private Universities. Data was collected through personal interview. Questionnaires were used to assist the interview process. Keeping a close eye on the research, the existing problems and prospects have been identified. Sources of secondary included the statement of Private Universities, different magazines, journals, articles, publications and websites.

1.5 Limitation of the research

1. Large scope but limited time: The scope of this has a large range but time was very limited. If there was more time for the implementation of the study it would be a recognizable work. 2. Secrecy of universities: The authority of the Private Universities maintains the secrecy of their organization due to their internal purpose. As a result they dont show any interest to cooperate with research work by providing official documents and statements. 3. Limitation of money:There was no sufficient money to implement the research properly.

CHAPTER TWO: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

2.1 History of Private University:
The overall development of a society is largely determined by the quality of its education, especially higher education. A well-educated, well-trained population could propel a nation towards rapid economic growth. Despite lack of natural resources, countries such as Japan, Korea, and Singapore have made rapid economic progress. This was because they invested heavily in education and training. On the other hand, countries such as Nigeria or Congo, despite Enormous natural resources are poor and backward because of large-scale illiteracy and lack of a skilled work force. In Bangladesh, education, especially the higher education system, has failed to meet the demands of time. While job opportunities are limited in Bangladesh, there is a serious shortage of suitably qualified candidates for employment. There has been no comprehensive and long-range study to assess the kind of human resource the nation needs, and neither has there been a computation of the number of trained personnel in each category. It is only the World Bank that has carried out a short assessment on the issue. Universities, both public and private, play a vital role in creating a pool of highly educated and trained specialists. In Bangladesh, thousands of students who pass the higher secondary examination cannot get admission to the few public universities due to limited seats. The lucky ones who do get admission become hostage to endemic campus violence, session jams and poor academic atmosphere. In order to alleviate the situation, the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) in 1992 promulgated an ordinance permitting the establishment of private universities. The ordinance will be discussed in this paper later. However this ordinance opened the door, and the first private university that started functioning in Bangladesh is the North South University (NSU). It was established by the North South University Foundation in 1992. The government of
Bangladesh approved the establishment of North South University in 1992 under Private University Act 1992. It was formally inaugurated on 10 February 1993.

In the first academic semester, NSU admitted

137 students in three departments, namely Business Administration, Computer Science and Economics. Later, it added departments of Environmental Studies, English, and Development Studies. Masters programme in Economics was introduced in 1994. MBA programme started in 1997. One more things is that though. Though Darul Ihsan University was established in 1989,

but the Government of Bangladesh promulgated it as a private university in 1993.So North South University is the first Public University in our country. The first private university established outside the capital was the University of Science and Technology, Chittagong (1993). After that the number is gradually improved & now until 2009, there are 51 Private Universities (approved by University Grants Commission) in Bangladesh. The first government approved private university in Sylhet division is the Leading University (2002). Barisal is the only division of Bangladesh without having any private university.

2.2 Scenario of Private Universities in Bangladesh:

In Bangladesh 442,389 students who passed HSC and its Madrassa equivalent examination in 2009 in various grade, only 35,886 i.e. about 8% could get admission in public universities.Thus,a large number of deserving aspirants do not get admitted into the public university system. The educational needs of these residual candidates have to be provided for. Earlier many of these students, especially those from well-to-do families, go abroad for higher studies. If there were alternative opportunities, many of these students would have stayed back and studied in the country. So, inevitably, the private universities of our country have created the opportunity for the remaining majority students to continue their higher studies in Bangladesh. Moreover, the gradual deterioration of academic environment in the public universities principally caused by campus politics provided the great impetus for finding an alternative education system which could help bypass the problems faced by the public universities. Now the total no of UGC approved private universities are 51.

Private Universities in Bangladesh

Institution Total no of Public universities Total no of Private universities Total

No of Institution 29 51 80

percentage 36.25 63.75 100% percentage 35.90 64.10 100%

Institution No of available seats Total no of seats available in 35,886 Public universities Total no of seats available in 64,063 Private universities Total 99949

List of Private Universities in Bangladesh: The list of 51 Private

Universities are given below:

List of Private Universities in Bangladesh

S.I Name of the Universities Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology American International University Bangladesh (AIUB) ASA University Bangladesh Asian University of Bangladesh (AUB) Atish Dipankar University of Science & Technology Bangladesh Islami University Bangladesh University Name of the Universities Bangladesh University of Business and Technology BGC Trust University Bangladesh Brac University City University, Bangladesh Daffodil International University (DIU) Darul Ihsan University Dhaka International University East Delta University East - West University Eastern University Gano Bishwabidyalaya Green University of Bangladesh IBAIS University Independent University, Bangladesh International Islamic University Chittagong International University of Business, Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT) Leading University Manarat International University Metropolitan University, Sylhet North South University Nick Name Established Location

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

AUST AIUB ASAUB AUB ADUST BIU BU Nick Name BUBT BRACU CUB DIU DIU DIntU EWU EU GB GUB IU IUB IIUC IUBAT LU MIU MU NSU

1995 1994 2006 2004 2001 Established 2003 2001 2002 2002 1989 1995 1996 2003 1996 2002 2002 1993 1995 1991 2002 2001 2003 1992

Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Location Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Chittagon g Dhaka Sylhet Dhaka Sylhet Dhaka

S.I

8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27.

28.

S.I

Northern University - Bangladesh Name of the Universities Premier University , Chittagong Presidency University Prime University Primeasia University Royal University of Dhaka Santa Marium University of Creative Technology South East University Southern University, Bangladesh Stamford University State University of Bangladesh Sylhet International University The People's University of Bangladesh The Millenium University The University of Asia Pacific United International University University of Development Alternative University of Information Technology & Sciences University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh University of Science and Technology, Chittagong University of South Asia, Bangladesh Uttara University Name of the Universities Victoria University of Bangladesh World University of Bangladesh

NUB Nick Name PU PU PU PAU RUD SMUCT SEU SUB SU SUB SIU PUB MU UAP UIU UODA UITS ULAB USTC USAB UU Nick Name VUB WUB

2002 Established 2002 2003 2002 2003 2003 2003 2002 2001 2002 2002 2001 1996 2003 1996 2003 2002 2003 2004 1989 2003 2004 Established 2003 2003

Dhaka Location Chittagon g Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Chittagon g Dhaka Dhaka Sylhet Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Chittagon g Dhaka Dhaka Location Dhaka Dhaka

29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49.

S.I

50. 51.

2.3 Some Related Concept:

As we said earlier the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) in 1992 promulgated an ordinance permitting the establishment of private universities, and the ordinance is entitled as the Private University Act, 1992. The Act is given below:

The Private University Act (PUA) : The Private University Act - 1992 came into effect on 9th August 1992. It spells out the rules for establishing a private university in Bangladesh. The Act was amended in 1998 to incorporate new rules. Some of the salient features of the PUA are: a. A university can be established only with the approval of the GOB. The university may be temporarily located in a rented building, but has to shift within five years to its own campus. b. A prior approval for the opening of a faculty or department, academic curriculum, syllabus, quality of education has to be obtained from the UGC. c. There has to be at least two faculties with the required number of specifically qualified teachers as specified and approved by the UGC. d. The university authority needs to maintain a reserve fund of at least five crore takas in a scheduled bank in Bangladesh. e. The University must have a UGC approved comprehensive, balanced academic and teaching curriculum. f. 5% of the total seats for admission have to be kept reserved for meritorious but poor students and these students must be allowed to study free of cost. g. The scale of teachers' remuneration and tuition fees of students has to be clearly mentioned. h. The GOB or the UGC has the right to inspect any university periodically. Every university will have to submit reports, statements or information when asked for by the GOB or the UGC. Let us know something about University Grant Commission (UGC). University Grant Commission (UGC): The Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh established the University Grant Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh in 1973 by a Presidential Order and it came into being retrospectively with effect from 16th December 1972. The functions of UGC encompass the following, among others:

 To determine the needs of the universities; To receive funds from the government and allocate and disburse these funds to the universities for their maintenance and development; To examine and critically appraise the developments plans of the universities; To oversee the implementation of various development projects of the universities; To formulate plants for new universities; To collect, analyze, and interpret statistical data on university matters. In addition to the above, the UGC runs an elaborate program of research, award, and scholarships for higher studies in Bangladesh leading to Ph.D. and grants research fellowships to colleges and universities for staff development in higher education, gives prizes for original research, organizes, seminars, workshops, and supports/sponsors other activities that stimulate research and enhance academic standards.