Introduction
Higher education in Bangladesh is confronted with certain acute problems. Some of these are: absence of quality assurance system, poor administrative and academic governance, outdated curriculum, absence of modern teaching and learning, lack of strategic planning, fund constraints, low involvement in research activities, failure to use time-befitting assessment system in education and inadequate use of internet and ICT devices. The HEQEP provides fund to lay the foundation of IQAC activities at public or private university for improving the quality of higher education on certain parameters including governance, curriculum design & review, student’s entry and progress, teaching and assessment, staff and facilities, support services, research & extension and process management and continuous improvement.
The Establishment of IQAC at Southern University Bangladesh
Southern University Bangladesh has been working to provide quality higher education to the students as per western higher education model. Its slogan is “Committed to Academic Excellence”, which manifests its seriousness for ensuring quality education.
A contract was officially signed between the Southern University Bangladesh and University Grants Commission (UGC) on the 12th of January 2016 to set up an Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) at the university. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Nurul Mustofa and Founder of the University Professor Sarwar Jahan signed the contract for the establishment of Institutional Quality Assurance Cell at Southern University Bangladesh. IQAC is a Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP) in collaboration with the financial assistance of World Bank.
Continuous Improvement & Key Objectives
Continuous improvement in the entire operations in general and the quality of teaching, assessment and curriculum in particular.
- Ensure the satisfaction of stakeholders connected with higher education, namely students, teachers, administrative staff, parents, would-be employers, funding agencies and society by providing quality higher education of desired standard.
- Review and modify the existing policies and procedures of Southern University Bangladesh for ensuring good governance at all levels.
- Institutionalize the quality assurance culture within the University through the involvement of internal stakeholders.
- Monitor and evaluate Self-Assessment practices through audit, survey and other instruments.