Three more universities join cluster admission test system

A total of 35 public universities will hold cluster admission tests for the current 2023-24 academic session, compared to 32 universities in the academic year 2022-23.

The three new universities that will join the system are Kurigram Agriculture University, Sunamganj University of Science and Technology and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman University of Science and Technology in Pirojpur. 

This unanimous decision came in a meeting on the cluster-based entry tests for public universities at the UGC building on Sunday.

Chaired by UGC Chairman (Additional Charge) Prof Dr Muhammad Alamgir, vice chancellors of 32 public universities of agriculture and science and technology clusters were present in the meeting.

The vice chancellors of universities under the engineering cluster were not called to this meeting as the date of the admission test for the cluster has already been announced.

Prof Alamgir said the UGC does not want to impose any decision on any universities; it is working to maintain the independence and identity of universities. 

He also said the characteristics of public universities will not be undermined if they participate in cluster admission tests.

The UGC chairman also suggested the formation of a committee to determine the timing for the admission test of the cluster universities to ensure financial transparency.

Besides, he said that a committee would soon be constituted to create a framework for conducting a single admission test for all universities under the National Testing Authority (NTA).

The vice chancellors said in the meeting that there is no obstacle to organizing cluster admission tests. The President, prime minister and education minister intend to take the admission test under the cluster system. The cluster admission test system is a proven successful method, they added.

Besides, they said that if there is any crisis under the cluster admission test, everyone has to solve it together. 

The vice chancellors also urged the UGC to take initiative to bring all universities under the system.

Source: UNB