UGC warns against fake foreign university branches in Bangladesh

The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh has identified three fake foreign university branch campuses operating in the country and warned students against enrolling in them.

The universities are America World University (USA), Trinity University (USA), and the Spiritual Institute of New York.

According to the UGC, none of these institutions have received approval from either the government or the commission.

Dr Shamsul Arefin, Director of the Public Relations and Publications Department at the UGC, said the matter came to light after Bangladesh Commerce Bank Limited sought verification of certificates belonging to two students from America World University and Trinity University.

During the verification process, the UGC discovered the operation of these unauthorized branch campuses.

“The list of proposed universities submitted by the ministry to the commission does not include any project under these names,” Dr Arefin said.

The UGC also noted that various media reports have highlighted the presence of unapproved foreign university branches, tutorial centers, and study centers in Bangladesh.

Most of these institutions operate without authorization, offering bachelor’s, master’s, MPH, MBA, MPhil, and PhD degrees, which are entirely illegal under the law.

Students are paying money to obtain certificates from these unauthorized institutions, and many have been defrauded, the UGC said.

The commission has recently sent letters to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Education, and the Anti-Corruption Commission, urging immediate action against these universities.

Dr Shamsul Arefin stressed the need for effective measures to prevent further student exploitation.