Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Dhaka University (DU) Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique has emphasized the need for more public-private partnership (PPP) in the higher education sector to upgrade quality in line with the global standard.
The DU VC was speaking at the 46th convocation of the university held at its central playground on Saturday.
In recent years, not only prices of educational materials are increased considerably but also those of infrastructural materials are being hiked significantly, Professor Siddique said, adding that considering the existing expenditures of higher education, the government should give more attention to the sector as most of the learners come from middle or lower middle income class.
President M Zillur Rahman, also Chancellor of the university, presided over the convocation while Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), delivered his speech as a convocation speaker.
During the convocation, the university conferred Doctor of Laws degree (Honoris Causa) on Pascal Lamy, a French political adviser, businessman and former European Commissioner for Trade.
Around 20,000 graduates, researchers, teachers and delegates participated in the convocation, the largest ever in the country, he said.
Of the participants, some 16,826 are graduates, M Phil and PhD researchers including 8,640 male and 8,187 female while the remaining 3,000 are teachers and delegates, he added.
Some 58 top meritorious students of the university were awarded with 62 gold medals in recognition of their outstanding academic results.
 
BBN/SSR/AD-01April 12-7:30 am (BST)