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University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Dr. SMA Faiz has assured that complete transparency and accountability are being maintained in the evaluation of sub-projects under the ongoing Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) project.
He made the remarks during a press conference held at the UGC auditorium on Tuesday, where details were shared regarding the sub-project selection process and the upcoming agreement signing with universities for project implementation, UNB reports.
Prof Faiz said the UGC has taken every necessary initiative to ensure transparency in evaluating the sub-projects.
He said that he has personally monitored each step of the process to ensure fairness and uphold institutional integrity.
Referring to his own professional record, he said, "Before joining the UGC, I have honestly and sincerely fulfilled my duties as the Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University and the Chairman of the Public Service Commission. I will not want the honor earned in my long service life to be destroyed for any reason."
He welcomed constructive criticism from the media and stakeholders in higher education, encouraging active engagement in ensuring accountability.
Addressing concerns of political bias or favoritism in the selection process, Professor Faiz clarified that there is no opportunity for individuals to submit sub-project proposals directly.
All proposals must be submitted through the respective university’s academic committee and with the approval of its vice-chancellor. As such, the UGC does not have the jurisdiction to consider the political affiliations of the applicants.
He emphasised that the evaluation process was conducted by impartial reviewers, consisting of qualified teachers and researchers from universities across the country.
He added that national interest and academic merit were prioritied in the selection of sub-projects.
UGC members Professor Dr. Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan, Professor Dr. Mohammad Anwar Hossain, Professor Dr. Md. Saidur Rahman, Professor Dr. Machuma Habib, and Professor Dr. Mohammad Ayub Islam were also present.
HEAT Project Director Professor Dr. Asaduzzaman highlighted the progress of the project and elaborated on the selection procedure.
Director of the Public Relations and Publications Department Dr. Shamsul Arefin moderated the event, which was also attended by UGC Secretary Dr. Md. Fakhrul Islam, along with department heads and officials involved in the HEAT project.
On Wednesday, August 27, the UGC is scheduled to sign agreements with various universities for the implementation of 151 selected sub-projects under the HEAT project.
The five-year HEAT project, aimed at enhancing the quality of higher education in Bangladesh, is estimated to cost over Tk 4,000 crore.
The government of Bangladesh will cover 50.96 percent of the project cost, while the remaining 49.4 percent will be funded by the World Bank.
The project is designed to address key challenges in higher education by modernizing curriculum to meet market demand, improving digital connectivity across institutions, building teacher training infrastructure, enhancing the capacity of the Bangladesh Research and Education Network (BDREN), supporting the Bangladesh Accreditation Council, and promoting innovation and competitive research in universities across the country.
Prof Faiz reaffirmed that the UGC remains committed to upholding the highest standards of transparency and national interest throughout the project's implementation.