Higher Education Governance in Bangladesh : The Public Private Dilemma

Contents: Acknowledgements. 1. Introductory discussions. 2. Theoretical perspective and analytical framework. 3. Higher education in Bangladesh: past and present. 4. Internal and external governance of higher education in Bangladesh. 5. Concluding discussions and beyond. Bibliography. Index.

"Does good governance ensure quality higher education? What are the areas of governance that affect the quality of higher education? What happens when a higher education institution fails to govern its internal and external domains effectively? Does weak governance displace the mission and vision of a higher education institution? What are the factors/forces responsible for the differentiation between public and private universities? How is the relationship between state and higher education institutions? How does the state maintain appropriate balance between autonomy and accountability? How functional are the accountability mechanisms in the state-university (external) and at the institutional (internal) level? Are the faculty members academically free? What role politics play in the governance of universities?

This book aims to address these questions and makes an effort to understand and explore the governance aspects of higher education in Bangladesh against the backdrop of deteriorating quality of education in general and higher education in particular. This study is about higher education governance in Bangladesh and whether and how it affects the quality of education the universities impart. Though there are seventy-six universities in Bangladesh, the study primarily focuses on two universities out of which one is public (University of Dhaka) and the other is a private university (North South University). To answer these questions, a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches has been adopted. A brief discussion of the terms relevant in the study is also made along with the historical evolution and current state of education structure in Bangladesh. The analytical framework formulated in the book helps us understand when the governance practices can be outlined as \'good\' and when as \'weak\' or \'poor\'.

The research question of this study asks, "Why is the quality of higher education deteriorating in Bangladesh?". It has its hypothesis (the weaker the governance practices in the universities, the worse would be the quality of higher education) in analysing the research question. Questionnaire survey along with interview methods and focus group discussions have been employed for gathering data and information from both the universities. The book concludes with a chapter that goes beyond two universities and discusses different aspects of higher education governance, challenges and prospects along with a set of recommendations for public universities, private universities and the University Grants Commission for their improvement." (jacket)