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Published : 27 Aug 2025, 11:28 PM
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has signed agreements with 43 public and private universities to implement 151 selected sub-projects under the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) initiative.
The signing ceremony took place at the Bangladesh–China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka on Wednesday.
UGC Secretary Md Fakhrul Islam signed the contracts on behalf of the commission, while registrars of the universities represented their institutions, according to a UGC media statement.
UGC Chairman SMA Faiz was present at the ceremony. Addressing the event, he said the selection process gave “utmost priority” to national interest and the enhancement of academic quality in higher education.
He called on faculty members and researchers to pursue their goals with integrity and commitment, urging vice-chancellors, deans, and all stakeholders to extend full cooperation in the implementation process.
Presiding over the event, UGC member Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan congratulated the recipients and encouraged them to ensure meaningful execution of the projects to deliver positive social impact.
Reflecting on the journey of the project, he said: “Over the past year, several challenges had to be overcome to get the work under way. The funding for this project comes from public tax revenues and World Bank loans. It is imperative to ensure that this money is spent responsibly.”
According to the UGC, the sub-projects were selected through an open competition. A total of 1,481 proposals were submitted by university teachers and researchers, of which 151 were finalised after a rigorous screening process.
The HEAT project is a five-year programme (2023–2028) aimed at enhancing the standard of higher education across the country.
The project is being implemented by the UGC under the Ministry of Education, with an estimated budget of Tk 40.16 billion.
