Full transparency being ensured in HEAT project evaluation, says UGC

The multi-year project aims to modernise higher education through curriculum reforms, faculty training and research-driven innovation

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has said full transparency and accountability are being maintained in evaluating sub-projects under the HEAT initiative.

Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday at the UGC auditorium, Chairman SMA Faiz outlined the sub-project selection process and contract signing for implementation, according to a commission media statement.

Contracts with universities for the implementation of 151 selected sub-projects will be signed on Wednesday.

The ongoing HEAT project, a five-year initiative designed to modernise higher education in Bangladesh, has a total budget of around Tk 40.17 billion.

Of the total budget, the government will cover 50.96 percent, while the remaining 49.04 percent will be financed by the World Bank.

The project includes curriculum reform based on market needs, capacity-building for teachers, strengthening of digital infrastructure, training academies, research innovation labs, and enhanced roles for agencies like the Bangladesh Accreditation Council and Bangladesh Research and Education Network (BdREN).

Faiz said the UGC had implemented all “necessary measures” to guarantee fairness in project evaluation and that he had personally monitored each stage of the process.

“I served as vice-chancellor of Dhaka University and chaired the Public Service Commission with integrity and dedication before joining the UGC. I would never allow my long-earned reputation to be compromised,” he added.

He also encouraged constructive criticism from the media and stakeholders in higher education.

Clarifying the application process, Faiz noted that proposals were submitted by university teachers through their academic committees with the approval of vice-chancellors. As a result, the UGC had no scope to assess applicants based on political ideology.

“The proposals were evaluated by neutral reviewers and skilled academics from universities,” he said.

He added that national interest was prioritised throughout the sub-project selection process.