UGC fixes maximum Tk10, 000 honorarium for attending a syndicate meeting

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has set a maximum honorarium of Tk10, 000 for attending a syndicate meeting of private universities.

The UGC took the decision in an emergency meeting on Monday with its Chairman Professor Dr Kazi Shahidullah in the chair, commission sources said.

The UGC has already sent a directive to the registrars of all private universities across the country on this issue.

In the directive, a person who attends a syndicate meeting will get an honorarium between Tk4,000 and Tk10,000. For Finance Committee meetings, the honorarium will be between

Tk3,550 and Tk8,000; and between Tk3000 and Tk6000 for Academic and Selection Committee meetings.

UGC Chairman Dr Kazi Shahidullah told The Business Standard the commission took the decision to bring transparency and credibility in the overall operations of private universities.

"I hope private universities will follow the UGC's directives," he said.

There are 105 private universities in the country, out of which 96 are functional.

Hailing the UGC's decision, Educationist Professor Dr Syed Manzoorul Islam said, "The fixing of an honorarium by the UGC for attending a meeting is wonderful. It will ensure transparency in the operations of private universities."

"Universities are non-profit institutions. Unfortunately, many universities were established with the aim of doing business in the name of imparting higher education. The new order will definitely reduce such a tendency in running the universities," he said.