UGC chairman urges merit-based evaluation of research proposals

University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof Mamun Ahmed has urged evaluators to assess research proposals solely on their relevance and quality, without considering any influence, pressure or intervention.

He made the call while addressing a discussion titled “Introduction to the Evaluation Criteria for Sub-projects” at the National Science and Technology Complex on Wednesday. The event was organised under the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) Project and attended by evaluators of its research sub-projects.

Prof Mamun said proposal submitters sometimes tried to contact evaluators after learning that they had been assigned to assess their projects.

He said such attempts were particularly noticeable when evaluators were informed of their assignments only two or three days before the evaluation began.

“To ensure neutrality and transparency in selecting research projects, evaluators were selected through multiple stages. Their specific assignments were also kept confidential until the evaluation process began, reducing the scope for possible influence or unwanted communication,: he noted.

“Evaluate project proposals solely on their relevance--nothing more, nothing less,” the UGC chairman told the evaluators, stressing that merit, quality, relevance and potential outcomes of the projects should be given priority.

He said the UGC had taken various initiatives to make the research proposal evaluation process more merit-based and credible. Any incident of influence, pressure or intervention in the process would be taken seriously, he added.

The UGC wants to establish a transparent, impartial and merit-based research system at universities with the cooperation of evaluators, Prof Mamun said.

Describing research as one of the key foundations of higher education, he said research management and research practices must be made credible.

“It is essential to ensure that allocated research funds are being spent properly and that research findings are being used for the welfare of the country, society and people,” he said.

The UGC and the government were jointly working to build an effective and sustainable research ecosystem in the country, he said, adding that alongside improving research quality, emphasis should be placed on making research findings visible and usable.

The chairman said the progress of sub-projects being implemented under the HEAT Project was being closely monitored. Strict action would be taken if any sub-project showed delays, irregularities or serious problems, he added.

He urged researchers to complete project activities within the stipulated timeframe and make their research findings visible.

“Research is the lifeblood of universities. Priority should be given to research on issues that benefit the people of the country,” Prof Mamun said.

He also called for making the outcomes of research conducted under the HEAT Project visible so that people could develop a positive perception of research and the benefits of government investment in the sector could be clearly demonstrated.

UGC member Prof Md Aslam Hossain and HEAT Project Director Dr Asaduzzaman also spoke at the meeting. Officials from the UGC and the HEAT Project were present.