Uniform Grading and Credit Transfer to Become Mandatory in Private Universities

A proposal has been made to introduce a uniform grading system and mandatory credit transfer in private universities to bring standardization and joint reforms in higher education. According to the proposal, all private universities in the country will have to adopt the same grade point system to eliminate differences in grading standards and credit values across institutions. This will allow students to transfer credits from one institution to another without interruption in their studies.

These proposals have been included in the draft of the Private University Act-2025 (amended). It is learned that the draft will be finalized soon and sent to the Ministry of Education.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) said that for the past few years, variations in grading scales and credit transfer processes in universities have created multiple complications for students. These include credits earned at one institution not being recognized at another during transfers, and discrepancies in grade scales during admissions. To address this, the uniform grading system and credit transfer provisions have been proposed for inclusion in the Private University Act.

UGC member (Private Universities) Professor Dr. Mohammad Anwar Hossain told The Daily Campus, "The amended law draft will be finalized soon and sent to the Ministry of Education. The ministry will then take necessary steps to implement it."

Fine for Law Violations to Rise from Tk 10 Lakh to 50 Lakh

The penalty for violating private university laws is being increased fivefold. The existing law allows a maximum fine of Tk 10 lakh, but the new law proposes raising it to Tk 50 lakh.

The amended draft law also stipulates that if a university is involved in certificate forgery, its educational activities will be suspended for at least two years. The existing law had no such provision.

Acting Vice-Chancellors Cannot Issue Certificates

Acting vice-chancellors of private universities will not be allowed to issue undergraduate or postgraduate pass certificates to students. However, in universities without a vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellors or registrars appointed by the president can issue certificates.

The Private University Act-2010 had no rules for certificate issuance in universities without a vice-chancellor. The amended new provision has been introduced to reduce students' suffering.

The amended law draft specifies that certificates must be signed by the vice-chancellor appointed by the chancellor. Additionally, marksheets and transcripts must clearly mention this. These will be signed by the examination controller. The name of the signer must be specified in the main academic documents.

The Private University Act-2010 mentioned the syndicate's power and responsibility for overseeing and safeguarding certificates and their security symbols. However, it did not specify who would sign the main certificates.

No More Than 5 Family Members on Trustee Boards

New provisions are being added to regulate the formation of trustee boards in private universities. The amended law states that no more than five members from the same family can serve on any university's trustee board.

The draft further states that each trustee board must have a maximum of 15 and a minimum of 9 members. This provision has been included to ensure diversity, transparency, and accountability in board formation, according to the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Sources said that the draft of the Private University Act-2025 (amended) was discussed in detail at the commission's 57th meeting on October 23. The meeting proposed limiting family influence on trustee boards while ensuring balanced leadership.

The draft also proposes various other changes in university establishment, operation, and appointment processes. These include: formation of UGC-led search committees for appointing vice-chancellors, pro-vice-chancellors, and treasurers; mandatory possession of at least 5 acres of land for setting up a university; and compulsory UGC approval for determining tuition fees.

Stakeholders say the objective of the new draft is to ensure accountability in the administration and financial management of private universities. Excessive family members on boards create conflict of interest—this provision is being introduced to prevent that.

At present, there are 116 approved private universities in the country, of which classes are being held in 105. The number of students is over 3.58 lakh. UGC hopes that once the amended law comes into effect, the administrative structure of the universities will be strengthened and the culture of monopolistic control will reduce.