Dhaka: The report over the draft strategic plan for higher education 2017-2026 has suggested upgrading the University Grants Commission (UGC) as the Higher Education Commission, increasing funds and bringing all university laws under a single umbrella legislation.

Prof Syed Manzoorul Islam on Wednesday placed the report on the ‘Draft Strategic Plan for Higher Education in Bangladesh 2017-2026’ at a day-long workshop held at the UGC auditorium.

The Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP) of the UGC arranged the workshop presided over by UGC chairman Prof Abdul Mannan.

Earlier, the Education Ministry formed six expert committees to formulate the strategic plan for tertiary education and research in the country’s universities.

On the basis of the proposals of the six expert committees, Prof Manzoorul Islam prepared the report for drafting the strategic plan.

The report suggested increasing the allocation for higher education to one percent of GDP from the existing 0.65 per cent by 2018, decentralising National University and Bangladesh Open University, and reforming the Private University Act, 2010.

It also focused on establishing university-industry linkage, strengthening financial management capacity of public universities, establishing a national accreditation council, formation of a national research council, designing of course- curricula in light with needs of employers, elimination of political interference in the university affairs and clear policy guideline and supervision for Islamic Arabic University.

The UGC Chairman in his speech said the 2017-2016 period of the strategic plan will be extended to 2030.

UGC member Prof Mohammad Yousuf Ali Mollah, additional secretary of Education Ministry Mohiuddin Khan, HEQEP director Dr Gauranga Chandra Mohanta and Senior Operations Officer of World Bank Dr Mokhlesur Rahman spoke on the occasion.

UGC members Prof Dil Afroza Begum and Prof Md Akhtar Hossain, additional secretary of Education ministry Md Helal Uddin, conveners of the six expert committees, vice-chancellors, senior professors from public and private universities and high officials from the ministry, UGC and HEQEP were, among others, present at the workshop.