DHAKA, July 22, 2026 (BSS) - The University Grants Commission (UGC) has undertaken an initiative to engage Bangladeshi academics and researchers working abroad, as well as international scholars, in the teaching and research activities of the country's universities through a virtual platform as part of its digital transformation efforts.

The initiative is targeted for implementation within the next two years.

UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed disclosed the plan while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion titled "BdREN-Cambridge University Press Collaboration: Pathways Towards Global Knowledge" held at a city hotel today.

He said the primary objective of digital transformation in higher education is to ensure equal access to quality education and research opportunities for students at every university in the country. 

He said the Commission is working to ensure that no university falls behind because of its geographical location. 

Strengthening the digital infrastructure, he added, will make it easier to address the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and expand international collaboration.

He said the programme will be implemented jointly by the UGC, the Bangladesh Research and Education Network (BdREN), and the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) Project. 

Under the initiative, all 180 universities in the country will gradually be brought under an integrated digital ecosystem, he said.

Ahmed said over the next two years, universities will be equipped with high-speed internet, campus-wide free Wi-Fi, smart classrooms, digital libraries, and expanded access to international research databases and electronic resources to reduce learning gaps and ensure equal opportunities in higher education. 

He added that a sustainable institutional framework will be established to continue these services even after the project is completed.

He expressed hope that once implemented, the initiative would enable newer and universities in remote areas to access world-class electronic resources, while faculty members at established universities would be able to strengthen academic collaboration through online platforms.