Islamabad :- OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) collaborated with Bangladesh to support national efforts aimed at improving the global ranking and academic excellence of Bangladeshi universities.
During his visit to Bangladesh, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General COMSTECH, met with the Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and several distinguished Vice Chancellors. He shared COMSTECH’s expertise in fostering a culture of quality within universities and proposed the organization of a two-day workshop titled “How to Achieve Higher Rankings for Universities”
Two senior Pakistani experts, Muhammad Raza Chohan, Advisor for Human Resource Development (HRD), and Dr. Nasir Shah, Director General for Quality Assurance (QA) at the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan served as resource persons for the training program titled How to Achieve Higher Rankings for Universities: Foundation & Quality Assurance.”
This strategic initiative was undertaken under the leadership and vision of Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, who consistently emphasized the importance of strengthening academic quality and research excellence to enhance the global standing of universities across OIC member states.
The training program was organized in close collaboration with senior representatives of the UGC of Bangladesh, faculty members from leading public and private universities, researchers, ranking and accreditation specialists, and policymakers engaged in higher education reform. The event was hosted in partnership with North South University (NSU), under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Hafizur Rahman, who also served as the OIC-COMSTECH Focal Person for Bangladesh. His efforts successfully brought together key academic and regulatory stakeholders for this national-level engagement.
This specialized program underscored COMSTECH’s commitment to advancing scientific, academic, and institutional standards across OIC countries. By conducting this workshop in Bangladesh, COMSTECH strengthened the foundation for quality assurance and ranking preparedness within Bangladeshi universities.
The workshop enhanced participants’ understanding of international ranking criteria, strengthened internal quality assurance systems, and promoted data-driven decision-making for institutional improvement. Through practical strategies, proven methodologies, and alignment with global standards, COMSTECH equipped Bangladeshi institutions to improve academic performance, research output, and international visibility.
Furthermore, the initiative supported COMSTECH’s broader mission of fostering cooperation, facilitating the exchange of expertise, and promoting innovations that uplift higher education across the region. Mr. Muhammad Raza Chohan and Dr. Nasir Shah shared insights from Pakistan’s successful higher education reforms, offering practical approaches that Bangladeshi universities could adopt to strengthen their reputation and ranking outcomes.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
