Bridging Quality, Equity, and Relevance Deficits in Bangladesh's Higher Education for SDG 4.3 and 4.4 by 2030
Bangladesh's rapid economic growth and demographic dividend have coincided with an expansion of its higher education sector. While enrollment has increased in recent years, emerging systemic pressures raise concerns about quality, equity, and labor market relevance. This study addresses a gap in the existing literature: although enrollment growth is well documented, few studies systematically link higher education quality, equity, and relevance to measurable SDG 4 targets, specifically SDG 4.3 (equal access to affordable tertiary and technical education) and SDG 4.4 (skills for decent work). Empirical policy analysis identifying specific gaps in curriculum, accreditation, regional access, and gender parity in STEM remains limited. The research asks: what concrete, measurable deficiencies prevent Bangladesh's higher education system from meeting SDG 4.3 and 4.4 by 2030, and what targeted rectifications are required? To answer this, the study adopts a mixed-methods design combining quantitative and qualitative policy analysis with comparative case studies. Data sources include national education reports from the University Grants Commission (UGC) Bangladesh, BANBEIS, the Bangladesh Accreditation Council (BAC), UNESCO, the World Bank, and policy documents from Vietnam and Malaysia. Thematic analysis examines quality assurance, equity indicators, and labor market alignment. A structured questionnaire will be administered to students and faculty at American International University of Bangladesh (AIUB) and Bangladesh University of Business and Technologies (BUBT), with a sample exceeding 800 respondents. The study period runs from 1 October 2026 to 28 February 2027. Expected outcomes include a validated framework of targeted rectification measures for Bangladesh's higher education sector, actionable policy recommendations, a timeline for 2030 SDG milestones, and a monitoring matrix linking specific interventions to SDG 4.3 and 4.4 indicators.
