The Bangladesh Accreditation Council (BAC) will provide certificates of accreditation to eligible higher educational institutions and academic programmes, with the goal to ensure quality higher education in the country.

Bangladesh’s public and private universities will be able to receive the certificate of accreditation from the BAC after fulfilling 63 criteria fixed by the council, said BAC Chairman Prof Dr Mesbahuddin Ahmed at a press conference on Monday.

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni will inaugurate the accreditation process on Wednesday at a programme in Dhaka, and Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury will also be present there.

Addressing the brief at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), Dr Mesbahuddin said, “A massive change will come into the sector of higher education with the launching of the accreditation process.

“With this move, Bangladeshi universities will be able to show good performance at the global ranking of universities. The BAC has already organised a total of 119 training workshops for stakeholders to encourage them into fulfilling the accreditation requirements.

BAC officials said proper functioning of the BAC will ensure quality and relevance in higher education, and improve competitiveness of graduates in terms of innovative and creative human resources.

This process will facilitate gainful employment, and contribute to the socioeconomic development of Bangladesh.

Accreditation certificates will enhance recognition and acceptability of graduates nationally and globally, while boosting people’s confidence in the country’s higher education process.

It will also support the internationalisation of higher education, and international students towards Bangladesh, BAC officials said.

The BAC started its journey after the passing of Bangladesh Accreditation Council Act-2017.