Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus is set to inaugurate a three-day South Asian regional conference titled "Current State of Higher Education and Future Directions-2026."

The Chief Adviser will formally open the international summit as the Chief Guest today, Tuesday (January 13), at the Hotel Le Méridien in the capital. The conference is scheduled to run until January 15.

Global Participation

The event will host approximately 30 international delegates, including representatives from the United Kingdom, Maldives, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, as well as senior officials from the World Bank.

According to a press release from the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh, the conference is organized under the "Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT)" project.

This initiative is being implemented by the UGC with joint funding from the Government of Bangladesh and the World Bank.

Objectives of the Summit

The conference aims to propel the country’s higher education to new heights and strengthen the network of higher education commissions among SAARC nations.

Professor Dr. S.M.A. Faiz, Chairman of the UGC, will preside over the inaugural ceremony. Education Adviser Professor Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar will attend as the Special Guest.

Other notable speakers include:

• Rehana Parvin: Secretary of Education.
• Jean Pesme: Division Director of the World Bank.
• Professor Dr. Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan: Member of the UGC.

The ceremony will be attended by advisers of the interim government, vice-chancellors from public and private universities, diplomats, and eminent researchers.

Conference Roadmap: 8 Strategic Sessions

The three-day summit will feature eight thematic sessions focusing on the modernization of the academic landscape:

Day	Focus Areas & Session Themes
Day 1	Governance, Quality, and Inclusivity in South Asian Higher Education; Research, Innovation, and Community Engagement.
Day 2	AI Integration, Digital Transformation, and Smart Learning Ecosystems; Industry-Academia Collaboration; Future Path of Networking and Global Cooperation.
Day 3	Gender Issues in Higher Education and the finalization of the "Dhaka Higher Education Declaration."

The conference will conclude on its third day with the signing of the Dhaka Declaration, a strategic roadmap for regional cooperation in the education sector.