A three-member delegation from the Australian High Commission in Dhaka and the Australian Consulate General in India paid a courtesy call on University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Mamun Ahmed at his office on Tuesday (13 May 2026), expressing interest in strengthening partnerships between higher education institutions of the two countries.
The delegation comprised Trade and Investment Commissioner of the Australian Consulate General in India Vic Singh, Trade and Investment Commissioner of the Australian High Commission in Dhaka Megha Gupta, and Senior Director of Trade and Investment Mostafizur Rahman. UGC Director of International Cooperation Division Jasmyn Parvin was also present at the meeting.
During the meeting, the delegation briefed the UGC Chairman on various initiatives and collaborative activities undertaken over recent years by the UGC and the Government of Australia for the development of higher education in Bangladesh.
They said the Australian High Commission and the University Grants Commission maintain strong and continuous engagement in support of Bangladesh’s higher education sector. As part of this engagement, several roundtable discussions have been organised with the participation of prominent Australian academics.
They also referred to coordination of meetings with senior academic leaders, including the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Newcastle Alek Voninski, and arrangements for visits of a high-level UGC delegation to various Australian universities.
The delegation informed the Chairman about a planned high-level roundtable in Dhaka in June this year aimed at further strengthening strategic cooperation between the higher education sectors of Australia and Bangladesh. They said senior leaders from seven to eight leading Australian universities are expected to participate in the proposed event and sought cooperation from the UGC in selecting appropriate representatives from Bangladeshi higher education institutions.
They also invited the UGC Chairman to attend the Australian International Education Conference (AIEC) scheduled to be held in Australia in October this year, along with representatives from Bangladesh’s higher education sector.
UGC Chairman Mamun Ahmed assured full cooperation from the UGC to further strengthen relations between higher education institutions of the two countries.
He said the UGC is working to upgrade selected higher education institutions in Bangladesh to international standards. He added that there are active plans to develop some existing leading universities to international standards or establish new world-class higher education institutions.
He further said education is now regarded globally as a high-value knowledge-based asset. Bangladesh does not aim to remain only a country that sends students abroad. Rather, it seeks to establish itself as an attractive destination for international students.
The meeting discussed expansion of academic engagement, skills development, strategic partnership and new areas of opportunity in higher education between Australia and Bangladesh. Both sides expressed agreement to further expand and strengthen existing cooperation.
