The government has decided to establish a new public university named Dhaka Central University comprising seven existing government colleges in the capital. Initially, the university will operate under four academic schools: Science, Arts and Humanities, Business Studies, and Law and Justice.
Acting Education Secretary Mojibur Rahman announced the development at a press conference at the Secretariat on Monday (August 4).
According to the plan, Begum Badrunnesa, Eden, and Dhaka College will be grouped under the School of Science; Government Bangla College under the School of Arts and Humanities; Government Titumir College under the School of Business Studies; and Kabi Nazrul College along with Shaheed Suhrawardy College under the School of Law and Justice.
Mojibur Rahman said the university will have a Vice-Chancellor and a Proctor. Additionally, 14 Deputy Proctors will be appointed across the seven colleges. While the institutions will be transformed into parts of the university, their higher secondary programmes will continue as usual.
The new university will adopt an interdisciplinary and hybrid education model, with 40 per cent of classes held online and 60 per cent offline. All examinations will be conducted in person. During the first four semesters, students will study non-major courses, followed by discipline-specific major courses in the next four semesters. Subject to conditions, students may switch disciplines in the fifth semester, although campus transfers will not be allowed.
All academic and administrative affairs will be governed by the university’s Academic Council, Senate, and Syndicate. The university is expected to begin operations within this year, utilising the existing infrastructure of the seven colleges.
The acting education secretary assured that the university will maintain the same academic standards as other public universities in the country.