Armed Forces’ Role in the Higher Education Governance: Quest for Enhancing Human Resources Development in Bangladesh

Abstract

The Bangladesh Armed Forces frequently participate in nation-building initiatives, such as infrastructure development, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance. They strive to introduce innovative technology, medicine, and logistics for wider applications and contribute to advancements in various sectors. They have expanded beyond their traditional defence roles to actively engage in education, establishing public and private universities, medical colleges and affiliated educational and training institutions. This study examines the role of the Bangladesh Armed Forces in higher education governance and its contribution to the national human resources development. It employs a qualitative research approach based on secondary data to explore the Armed Forces' capacity in higher education governance. The study finds how the Armed Forces governed higher education institutions are contributing to enhancing access to quality education, fostering leadership and professional development of the graduates, and stressing their impact on technological, medical, business, and strategic fields. Bangladesh Armed Forces play a pivotal role in promoting innovation, discipline, and academic excellence by ensuring efficiency in the governance of higher education institutions. The study also highlights the Armed Forces' capability to achieve their educational objectives, which align with the national demand for quality human resources and contribute significantly to national development. As an exploratory study, the research provides a foundation for further investigation, with future research recommended to adopt empirical and quantitative approaches to validate and expand upon the findings presented.