UGC to Meet 24 Vice-Chancellors: Will Cluster Universities Expand?

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has convened a meeting with vice-chancellors to decide on the cluster admission test for the 2025-26 academic year. The session is scheduled for next Monday (November 10) at the UGC building in the capital's Agargaon. In addition to the previous 19 universities, vice-chancellors of five more institutions have been invited. They will be urged to join the cluster system, sources said.

The source said that last year, 19 universities participated in the cluster admission process. The year before, five universities left the cluster. The vice-chancellors of four of those have been asked to attend Monday's meeting. The UGC will appeal to them to rejoin the cluster. After the meeting, it will be known how many universities will participate in the cluster process this time.

It has been learned that a decision on when applications will start will be made this week. The application process for the admission test may begin next week. Earlier, on October 23, the admission test dates were finalized in a meeting held at the conference room of the UGC building in Agargaon, the capital.

As per the decision, the admission tests will be held on March 27, April 3, and April 10 next year. The 'C' unit admission test will be held on March 27. Besides, the 'B' unit on April 3 and the 'A' unit on April 10.

This time, Professor Dr Nakib Md Nasrullah, Vice-Chancellor of Islamic University (IU), is serving as the convener of the cluster admission test committee. And Professor Dr Kazi Rafiqul Islam, Vice-Chancellor of Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU), is the member-secretary.

The 19 universities in the cluster are: Islamic University; Maulana Bhasani Science and Technology University; Patuakhali Science and Technology University; Noakhali Science and Technology University; Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University; Jessore Science and Technology University; Begum Rokeya University; Pabna University of Science and Technology; Gopalganj Science and Technology University; Barishal University; Rangamati Science and Technology University; Rabindra University; Gazipur Digital University; Netrokona University; Jamalpur Science and Technology University; Kishoreganj University; Chandpur Science and Technology University; Sunamganj Science and Technology University; and Pirojpur Science and Technology University.