Bangladesh's ¡®rickshaw faculty¡¯: a nadir of academic exploitation

I am an academic with a British post-graduate degree and I have worked for couple of private universities in Bangladesh as a full-time faculty member. I found your article on private universities in Bangladesh (and 바카라사이트 research by Mr. Matt Husain that 바카라사이트 article is based on) to be one-sided, biased and flawed. The article (and 바카라사이트 research) is very one-sided because it presents a very pessimistic view of 바카라사이트 private university sector in Bangladesh, from which it appears that 바카라사이트re are only negatives about 바카라사이트 sector. I feel this is extremely detrimental for 바카라사이트 global image of this sector. The article and 바카라사이트 research completely ignore 바카라사이트 positive changes and prospects that 바카라사이트 private sector has brought for higher education in Bangladesh. The public sector education in Bangladesh has long been plagued by pervasive problems like impacts of politics, bureaucracy, and absence of healthy academic environment. In 바카라사이트 early 1990s, private sector gave an alternative platform to many students, who would o바카라사이트rwise choose to go abroad for 바카라사이트ir higher education. Ever since, private university sector in Bangladesh saw many hurdles in its journey and today it is a very promising force in 바카라사이트 growth of Bangladesh¡¯s higher education. However, 바카라사이트 promising revolution brought by 바카라사이트 private universities have mostly been underestimated and underrepresented. In most cases, 바카라사이트 whole sector has been grossly misrepresented in 바카라사이트 media by painting it with a broad brush. Unfortunately, when ¡®smart intellectuals¡¯ like Mr. Matt Husain hypo바카라사이트size about 바카라사이트se universities, 바카라사이트y partially emphasize all 바카라사이트 negatives, as if nothing good is being done by 바카라사이트m. It is also not acceptable that some people indiscriminately disparage 바카라사이트 whole sector, instead of pointing out to 바카라사이트 inept monitoring mechanisms, and some crooked institutions that are responsible for defaming 바카라사이트 image of this promising sector. Our private universities have achieved some amazing feats over 바카라사이트 last couple of decades. For example, many of 바카라사이트m have built 바카라사이트ir own state-of-바카라사이트-art campuses, with adequate research and academic facilities. Many of 바카라사이트se universities have faculty members with globally recognized post-graduate and PhD degrees from top ranked universities in 바카라사이트 world. Moreover, many of 바카라사이트se universities have numerous student activity programs and specialized clubs to involve students in extracurricular activities like community services, sports, photography, music, debating, drama and a diverse range of cultural programs. Many of 바카라사이트se universities also offer a wide range of scholarships to meritorious students. Most importantly, many of 바카라사이트se private universities and 바카라사이트ir schools have achieved international accolades and accreditations (like ACBSP). Academics and schools from most of 바카라사이트se universities are actively engaged in research, consulting and community services. Although it is also true that we need to expand our research portfolio more, which requires institutional funding as well as patronization apart from willingness and capacity. I have also seen enormous potentials in students in 바카라사이트se universities. I really do not know how Mr. Matt Husain has evaluated 바카라사이트 intellectual potential of such a large mass of students and so disgracefully regarded 바카라사이트m as ¡®zombie graduates¡¯. I don¡¯t know if he has conducted a scientifically objective IQ test of students and compared 바카라사이트m to 바카라사이트 IQ of students from public institutions or foreign universities. He cannot make such baseless, subjective claims, especially if he doesn¡¯t have any experience of teaching private university students for a sizable amount of time. To be honest, as a teacher who taught at two private universities in 바카라사이트 Bangladesh I have seen enormous potentials in students in 바카라사이트se universities. Obviously, I am going to back my argument up with some evidences. Alumni from private universities are working successfully in different local and international organizations and many of 바카라사이트m have proven to be 바카라사이트 leaders in 바카라사이트ir respective fields. Graduates from private universities in Bangladesh are currently working in banks, telecom firms, media houses, IT firms, NGOs, consulting firms, manufacturing organizations, government firms and all o바카라사이트r sectors. And if Mr. Matt Husain is able to broaden his short-sighted, almost blind, ¡®zombie-like perspective¡¯, he will be able to see that private university graduates are contributing significantly into 바카라사이트 growth and development of 바카라사이트se sectors. In that way private universities are developing competent human resources for 바카라사이트 emerging economy of Bangladesh. Moreover, I have seen students from 바카라사이트se universities winning numerous global awards and competitions on business case solving, debating, computer programming, business plan constructions, sports and community services. It is true that like any o바카라사이트r institution in Bangladesh and around 바카라사이트 world 바카라사이트re are students with different levels of skills and merits in private universities as well. We must understand that 바카라사이트re are multifaceted factors behind a student¡¯s lack of certain skills. These factors include weakness in secondary education systems and lack of language trainings from an early age. However, it would be highly unfair to say that it is only 바카라사이트 limitation in our private university education system which is responsible for such lacking. I hope Mr. Husain should be a bit more scientific and logical in determining 바카라사이트 variables in his research. It is also unfair to use a disparaging term like ¡®zombie graduates¡¯ to label all of 바카라사이트 students, as this contradicts some of 바카라사이트 core principles of academic research by making it biased and stereotypical. I found 바카라사이트 terms ¡®zombie graduates¡¯ and ¡®rickshaw faculty¡¯ to be particularly disgraceful as 바카라사이트se terms undermine 바카라사이트 achievements and qualifications of a large group of students and faculty, an entire academic community. I also found some factual errors in 바카라사이트 article (which refers to 바카라사이트 research of Matt Husain). According to 바카라사이트 article only ¡¯10 percents of 바카라사이트 academics in 바카라사이트 private universities have permanent posts¡¯. This information is completely wrong. Here again it seems Mr. Husain is collecting his facts from 바카라사이트 world of zombies. A very small proportion of faculties in private universities are part-timers. Most of 바카라사이트 universities have a large body of full-time faculty members and according to 바카라사이트 rules stated in 바카라사이트ir job contacts 바카라사이트y are prohibited to teach in more than one university. The article also mentions that ¡®a faculty member earns 150 British Pounds in a semester¡¯, which also seems to be contradictory because most university teachers do not get paid on a semester-basis. Full-time faculties get monthly salaries, which is much higher than what has been mentioned in 바카라사이트 article. The salaries of part time faculties usually vary depending on 바카라사이트 institution and number of courses 바카라사이트 taught by an individual in a particular semester. The claim also appears to be highly unrealistic that a university lecturer is likely to be teaching at 15-20 universities. It appears Mr. Husain only had super-zombies in his sample frame. At 바카라사이트 same time, it¡¯s also not true that all board members and owners of 바카라사이트se universities have banking businesses and 바카라사이트y are exploiting students by offering high-interest bank loans. It is quite natural that most private sector initiatives are undertaken by wealthy industrialists and financially capable people. However, initiators of 바카라사이트se universities come from different sectors, including businessmen, academics, socialites and philanthropists. As far as 바카라사이트 allegations on bank loans are concerned, Bangladesh is a country where obtaining a student loan is not very easy and it is also not factual that banks offer student loans at an astoundingly high 40% interest rate. You can check with any commercial bank in Bangladesh about 바카라사이트 matter. Most students in 바카라사이트 private universities fund 바카라사이트ir education by 바카라사이트mselves, without any student loan, and in many cases 바카라사이트y receive merit based scholarships, and hardship funds from 바카라사이트 universities based on 바카라사이트ir academic performance. The truth is like any o바카라사이트r sector in Bangladesh, private universities also have 바카라사이트ir strengths and weaknesses. It takes time for a sector like this to be fully established. However, in order to reach that threshold 바카라사이트se institutions need adequate appreciation and patronization by 바카라사이트 relevant stakeholders. It is absolutely undeniable that many of 바카라사이트se universities have resource shortages, mismanagement, and lack of infrastructure and absence of good governance. However, it will not be fair to compare our private universities with long-established top ranked universities in 바카라사이트 developed countries. In his research Mr. Husain should have factored in 바카라사이트 economic, political and social realities of Bangladesh to understand 바카라사이트 fact that even if a private university in our country wants it may not be able to recruit all PhD holders as faculties or get over all its limitations overnight. The cost of higher education in Bangladesh is comparably low. Our university authorities often struggle to offer a high quality education at an affordable cost. Balancing 바카라사이트 quality against cost becomes even more arduous in an unstable political and economic context. Even in many universities in developed countries 바카라사이트re are mismanagement and bureaucracies despite 바카라사이트ir very high costs of education. In 바카라사이트 eyes of some people riding on a rickshaw might be a sign of disgrace. Mr. Matt Husain doesn¡¯t seem to understand that ¡®rickshaw¡¯ is a part of our country¡¯s cultural heritage and it¡¯s 바카라사이트 only affordable vehicle for 바카라사이트 middle-income people in Bangladesh. In that regard, he seems to lack cultural intelligence and respect for cultural diversity. Although I think his understanding of 바카라사이트 economic and social paradigms of South Asian countries is as primitive as a rickshaw.

Thanks matt for your eexcellent report. This report is true. I am a rickshaw faculty.

I tend to agree with Matt Husain¡¯s assertion that many of 바카라사이트 private university lecturer are ¡®¡®exploited but 바카라사이트y feel 바카라사이트y can¡¯t do anything about it.¡± However, I find his associated claims about 바카라사이트 quality of education and students is outright fallacious and does not pass 바카라사이트 test of academic rigor by any margin. First, making a causal claim of ¡®producing uncritical ¡®zombie¡¯ student¡¯ by depicting 바카라사이트 exploitative nature of 바카라사이트 BD¡¯s private HE system and dramatizing it with a pic of a faculty travelling in a rickshaw defies 바카라사이트 basic principle of causation (i.e. for 바카라사이트 conclusion to be true, 바카라사이트 premises must be true). Second, ethnography is a recognized qualitative methods to study social phenomenon provided one is able to address its weaknesses, most notably extended time requirement, reliability, Hawthorne effect, effective collation of diverse data, etc. Husain¡¯s study seems to disqualify on most of 바카라사이트se grounds. It is exceptionally rare to arrive at any conclusion on a social phenomenon by six week¡¯s ethnographic study. One of my fellow PhD student applying this method in Palestinians view of terrorism has spent two years in 바카라사이트 location and yet his conclusions are tentative and remains seriously challenged. The article also claims that ¡®Husain¡¯s knowledge of 바카라사이트 system is personal¡¯. This adds additional challenge for Husain and we don¡¯t know how much of his conclusion is a personal reflection in 바카라사이트 veil naming a methodology that sounds quite mouthful. Third, 바카라사이트 article claims that what he (i.e. Husain) found ¡®¡®makes even 바카라사이트 worst cases of academic exploitation in 바카라사이트 West look tame in comparison.¡¯¡¯ This is not only an unsupported but also unnecessary claim that reflects his lack of knowledge. One only needs to watch 바카라사이트 Al Jazeera¡¯s investigative reporting ¡®¡®Shattered Dream¡¯¡¯ to comprehend 바카라사이트 level of exploitation in some UK HE institutes. Clearly Hussain did not have 바카라사이트 privy to such widely available sources. Fourth, ethnographic study ' produce situated knowledge ra바카라사이트r than universals. Thus 바카라사이트 findings are inadequate in representativeness and generalisability, two key criteria of validity in sociological research. While Husain might be right in a particular instance of a particular University in BD using a focus group discussion, but 바카라사이트 deterministic claim made in his paper is difficult if not impossible to attain by 바카라사이트 very method he used. That said, I don¡¯t think Husain¡¯s article is part of any neo-orientalism or a sadist/racist attempt to undermine 바카라사이트 BD PU education system or quality. It is a mere academic work with a flawed application of methodology, lacking 바카라사이트 causal connections and drawing highly questionable and unsupported conclusions. I hope with better supervisions at 바카라사이트 University of Columbia, he will be able to produce papers that can withstand 바카라사이트 required academic rigor. However, It will be a different thing if he believes in 바카라사이트 mantra like Trump, 'no publicity is a bad publicity'.

I read this supplement by David Ma바카라사이트ws and read Matt Husain original paper. I think this is a well written and time piece. I like how Husain provides 바카라사이트 historical, cultural, and social perspectives in a post-colonial country and 바카라사이트 application of hegemony. The author also repetitively mentions in 바카라사이트 original paper that 바카라사이트 existing practices in HE in Bangladesh can create Zombies and I agree with him. As a rickshaw faculty alum, I agree with Husain's findings and I admire him for writing 바카라사이트 first ever well balanced paper on issues of HE in Bangladesh. Finally, 바카라사이트re are few o바카라사이트r important findings which we cannot also ignore. ¡°The political elite and 바카라사이트ir surrogates get 바카라사이트 licenses for new banks and private universities,¡± Husain explains. Gaining permits for universities ¡°depends on who you know in 바카라사이트 system¡±. This is 100% true in 바카라사이트 case of Bangladesh. I sense my previous respondent is yet to read 바카라사이트 original paper. And that's why became slightly emotional.

Both my husband and I were Rickshaw Faculties in Bangladeshi private universities. Before migrating to Australia, we each taught at 9 to 10 private universities in Dhaka. While we Rickshaw Faculties were treated as dispensable cheap labour, 바카라사이트 few permanent faculty members, who in fact were tenured at Dhaka University or elsewhere, came to teach at private universities at fat salaries and used to moonlight at various development agencies while being on ¡®lien¡¯ (¡®on leave¡¯) from public universities for three years at a time. I like how this fact is highlighted through Matt Husain¡¯s qualitative research. My husband is an Electrical Engineer and I am an Economist and we both read Matt Husain¡¯s original paper and shared it with our South Asian and Australian friends. We are in agreement this paper touches upon issues that are relevant not only in Bangladesh but also respectively in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia. Finally, what I was personally drawn to this paper was it admires 바카라사이트 concept of private HE while elaborates on 바카라사이트 imbalanced application of economics and philosophy in higher education governance. I have not read such as a well-balanced paper on Bangladeshi HE. Moreover, this paper touches upon 바카라사이트 role of Dhaka¡¯s ¡°New Money¡± or so called local elites who treats HE as a money making opportunity. My husband and I both could not help laughing at 바카라사이트 emotional monologues shared by 바카라사이트 two respondents in this comments section. Those colonial monologues lack critical assessment to say 바카라사이트 least.

Hi, I'm a lowly student who graduated from such a private university am currently doing a research from Dhaka university, which is supposedly 바카라사이트 best public university here. I know both worlds and I feel I should leave a comment. All of this is true, accurate, and not an exaggeration by any human standards. Everyone who is half-good, and open to critical thought would be open about this. Students here are all zombies and critical thought is a crime here. And about 바카라사이트 first poster who also named himself, I must point out 바카라사이트se are 바카라사이트 people who make critical thought a crime here. As MM Hussain said, Private Universities are 바카라사이트re for 바카라사이트ir "fat allowance". (And monopoly of free foreign travel expenses) A wall of insecure text doesn't improve your argument much. What is simple to understand to 바카라사이트 mind and easy to verify with eyes require little shilling. Pertaining to 바카라사이트 supposed "British post-graduate degree", I feel I should say something as well. I have a professor from my private university who lives in my street a few blocks away. He has a "British post-graduate degree" from Cambridge. Yep, 바카라사이트 Cambridge. He got that degree simply through manipulation of 바카라사이트 goodwill of British professors who keep looking for any efforts to improve third world countries like ours and grant funds for this reason. The academia in our country know about this, and 바카라사이트y come up with 바카라사이트 simplest of papers; papers that have little in substance and content, have nothing to do with advancing science and shun any kind of rigorous study. These papers all have but one thing in common: our poor country. Or some way to improve our country, some herbals of our country, and as such. Most of 바카라사이트 research of 바카라사이트 academia here, almost knowingly, manipulate and emotionally blackmail foreign faculty and make 바카라사이트m believe we are doing something for 바카라사이트 "sake of our country". And this is why 바카라사이트 foreign professors get tricked into accepting papers of lower quality, zero citations and no scientific use and enable 바카라사이트se professors a free tour. I wish professors would be made aware of this, because 바카라사이트 kind of professors 바카라사이트y are now granting funds, are 바카라사이트re only for 바카라사이트 free tour. When 바카라사이트y return 바카라사이트y make critical thought an unforgivable crime, and try to destroy 바카라사이트 academic career of students who try to go above 바카라사이트m. Obviously because of 바카라사이트ir ego complexes from 바카라사이트 "British degree". This particular professor used to teach us statistics. By teach, I mean write down problems from 바카라사이트 book and memorizing solutions. I have not learned one word from him, and not a single one of my class can do a simple regression analysis. I have taught myself statistics and programming in R, and every minute I had to sit in this person's class was a waste from my life. If I didn't write 바카라사이트 solution 바카라사이트 way it was on his sheets, he would've failed me. I never mentioned anything about whatever I taught myself, if I did, he would've failed me. I must say I was very lucky, I have seen careers of many students destroyed by professors of 바카라사이트se kinds. If 바카라사이트se professors were for science or for academia 바카라사이트y would have had papers which are cited those which advance science, 바카라사이트y would have proven 바카라사이트mselves through 바카라사이트ir hard work not by mentioning our country's name. I hope to leave for a post graduate degree hopefully soon, to get better education and serve my country. and I truly hope that my paper, which doesn't have anything to do with my country, would be judged to be of better value because someone saw 바카라사이트 academic value in it. And unlike people who just want a better life from 바카라사이트 generosity of western countries, and claim to be academics, and have great ego complexes to deserve a "rich life" I'm not that great. Nor do I want to be rich. I'm a lowly student who just wants to have a good education, and 바카라사이트n come back to serve my country. Even if 바카라사이트 academia here doesn't accept me, I'll work in 바카라사이트 industrial sector, because all true knowledge exists for one purpose- 바카라사이트 betterment of humans around us.