1 BANGLADESH HIGHER EDUCATION QUALITY ENHANCEMENT PROJECT (HEQEP) (Cr. No. 4544-BD, Cr. No. 5332-BD) 17 th Implementation Support Review: July 10-19, 2018 AIDE MEMOIRE I. INTRODUCTION 1. A World Bank team 1 carried out the 17 th implementation support review from July 10-19, 2018. The objectives of the mission were to: (i) assess project achievements against project objectives (outputs and outcomes); (ii) agree on an implementation plan for remaining project duration and (iii) agree on next steps for preparation of the project completion and final evaluation. This Aide Memoire records the findings and recommendations and reflects conclusions drawn from the meetings with the officials of the Secondary and Higher Education Division of Ministry of Education (SHED/MoE), University Grants Commission (UGC), Economic Relations Division (ERD), Bangladesh Research and Education Network (BdREN) Trust, HEQEP Unit, universities and other stakeholders (Annex 4). This Aide Memoire was discussed at a pre-wrap-up meeting on July 18, 2018 chaired by Prof. Abdul Mannan, Chairperson UGC and at a wrap-up meeting on July 19, 2018 chaired by Mr. Sohorab Hossain, Secretary, SHED/MoE. The Mission expresses its appreciation for the kind cooperation of the officials and representatives of various concerned agencies. As agreed with the Government of Bangladesh during the wrap-up meeting, this Aide- Memoire will be publicly disclosed. II. KEY PROJECT DATA Key Project Data Board Approval 03/17/2009 Original Ln./Cr. Amt SDR 54.4 m Effectiveness 05/13/2009 Revised Ln./Cr. Amt SDR 81.5 m Original Closing Date 12/31/2013 Amount Disbursed (%) (as of 18/07/2018) 93% Revised Closing Date 12/31/2018 Summary Ratings** Last Now Credit amount SDR 135.9 m PDO S S MTR Date 07/31/2016 IP S S Ratings: HS=Highly Satisfactory; S=Satisfactory; MS = Moderately Satisfactory; MU= Moderately Unsatisfactory; U=Unsatisfactory; HU=Highly Unsatisfactory; NA=Not Applicable; NR=Not Rated. ** Ratings are subject to change upon the Bank management review. III. ACHIEVEMENT OF DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES 2. The main objective of the Project is to improve the quality and relevance of the teaching and research environment in higher education institutions through encouraging both innovation and accountability within 1 The World Bank team comprised Messrs./Mmes: Mokhlesur Rahman (Sr. Operations Officer, Co-Task Team Leader), Shiro Nakata (Sr. Education Economist, Co-Task Team Leader); Tashmina Rahman (Research Analyst); Muhammad Asahabur Rahman (Education Policy and Planning Consultant); Koen Martijn Geven (Education Specialist); Mohammad Reaz Uddin Chowdhury (Sr. FM Specialist); Arafat Istiaque (Procurement Specialist); Nadia Sharmin (Sr. Environmental Specialist); Sabah Moyeen (Sr. Social Development). Mahtab Alam (Dhaka) supported the team on logistics. Sandra Alborta provided remote support from Washington DC. Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized
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** Ratings are subject to change upon the Bank management review.
III. ACHIEVEMENT OF DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES
2. The main objective of the Project is to improve the quality and relevance of the teaching and research
environment in higher education institutions through encouraging both innovation and accountability within
1 The World Bank team comprised Messrs./Mmes: Mokhlesur Rahman (Sr. Operations Officer, Co-Task Team Leader), Shiro Nakata (Sr. Education
Economist, Co-Task Team Leader); Tashmina Rahman (Research Analyst); Muhammad Asahabur Rahman (Education Policy and Planning Consultant); Koen
Martijn Geven (Education Specialist); Mohammad Reaz Uddin Chowdhury (Sr. FM Specialist); Arafat Istiaque (Procurement Specialist); Nadia Sharmin (Sr. Environmental Specialist); Sabah Moyeen (Sr. Social Development). Mahtab Alam (Dhaka) supported the team on logistics. Sandra Alborta provided remote
support from Washington DC.
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universities and by enhancing the technical and institutional capacity of the higher education sector. The progress
towards achievement of PDO is satisfactory.
3. The PDO level indicator: All Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been either achieved or on-track:
(i) KPI 1 - the satisfaction levels of students, faculty and employers stand at 3.8, 4.1 and 3.9 (EOP target: 4.0, 4.0
and 4.2); (ii) KPI 2 – MOE and UGC has institutionalized the competitive funding mechanism for their Research
and Teaching & Learning funds drawing lessons from the Academic Innovation Fund (AIF) mechanism; (iii) KPI
3 – the data traffic volume has continued to increase to 1,116 TB (EOP target:100 TB); (iv) KPI 4 – the number of
completed self-assessment (SA) (EOP target:15). The updated Results Framework is in Annex 1 of this Aide-
Memoire.
4. Overall Implementation Status: The implementation progress is satisfactory. The project has made the
following progress: (i) 439 AIF sub-projects awarded of which 333 (76%) completed; (ii) eight Fabrication Labs
subprojects and another 86 subprojects awarded supplemental grants2 under Round 4; (iii) over 8,000 faculty and
university support staff received training3; (iv) BdREN connectivity has increased to 40 universities; (v) UDL
membership increased to 90 universities and institutions; (vi) 69 universities established IQACs and conducting
800 self-assessment (86% completed); and (vii) fiduciary oversight capacity continues to strengthen. Component-
wise progress is provided in Annex 3.
5. Disbursement: Overall disbursement is 93%. For FY2019, the remaining amount of US$ 14.1 million is
expected to be disbursed.
KEY POINTS DISCUSSED AND AGREED ACTIONS
Component 1 – Promoting Academic Innovation
6. Key issues discussed: (a) adjustment of advance and reconciliation of subproject accounts; (b) compilation
of subproject completion reports; and (c) completion of all the remaining AIF subprojects. It was agreed that the
UGC/HEQEPU would: (i) complete implementation of all the remaining subprojects by September 30, 2018; (ii)
cancel funds for those AIF Round 4 subprojects which do not expend 90% of budget by August 30, 2018; (iii)
publish the consolidated Project Completion Report and the AIF Subproject Directory for the Rounds 3 and 4
by November 30, 2018; and (iv) document the HEQEP achievements and publish it for wide dissemination.
Component 2 – Building Institutional Capacity
7. Improving the Strategic Capacity of UGC: The updated Strategic Plan for Higher Education 2018-2030
was approved by the Honorable Prime Minister on April 16, 2018. It was agreed that MOE/UGC would publish
the Strategic Plan for Higher Education (SPHE) 2018-2030 by August 30, 2018.
8. Higher Education Management and Information System (HEMIS): Web-based HEMIS has been
developed and operational. It was agreed the UGC/HEMIS would publish the UGC annual report 2017 by
November 30, 2018.
9. Intellectual Property (IP) Literacy: The Project has promoted innovation leading to patenting among the
higher education community. The university-industry collaboration has generated sixteen innovations that will be
2 38 new subprojects under Window 1 while another 48 subprojects received supplementary grants under Round 4. 3 These include training on proposal writing and evaluation, project management and monitoring, fiduciary aspects, Intellectual Property,
university-industry collaboration, and quality assurance mechanism
3
patented. One has already been submitted for USA patent and another six are expected to be submitted for national
patent. It was agreed that the IP attorney support will be required until submission of the patents.
Component 3 - Raising the Connectivity Capacity of the Higher Education Sector
10. Bangladesh Research and Education Network (BdREN): Key issues discussed: (a) expansion of BdREN
membership to more institutions; and (b) transitioning the BdREN management to the Trust. It was agreed that
HEQEP would: (i) complete all procurement packages by November 30, 2018; (ii) operationalize campus
network by November 30, 2018; (iii) increase BdREN membership to at least 70 universities by October 31, 2018;
(iv) develop and share a contingency plan for BdREN by October 31, 2018; (v) procurement of additional
requirements for campus network project in 19 universities by September 30, 2018; and (vi) establishing BdREN
point of presence inside Ashuganj power station by September 30, 2018.
11. UGC Digital Library (UDL): Key issues discussed: (a) sustainability of UDL (b) new subscription to e-
journal publishers, and (c) expanding membership to more institutions. It was agreed that UGC would: (i) subscribe
new e-publishers by October 31, 2018; (ii) share a contingency plan for UDL operations by October 31, 2018;
and (iii) increase membership to at least another 30 tertiary and research institutions by November 30, 2018.
Component 4 – Establishment of Quality Assurance Mechanisms
12. Establishment of QA mechanism at the national level: Key issues discussed: (a) delays in the formation
of the Bangladesh Accreditation Council (BAC); and (ii) finalization of the National Qualification Framework
(NQF). It was agreed that: (i) MOE would activate the Council by appointing the key positions by September 30,
2018; and (ii) the draft NQF will be finalized by BAC by November 30, 2018.
13. Establishment of QA mechanism at the institutional level: The inclusion of IQACs in the organograms of
universities was discussed. It was agreed that UGC would by November 30, 2018: (i) create budget line for IQAC
at all public universities; (ii) re-appropriate the IQAC subprojects’ budget for ensuring complete utilization; and
(iii) IQACs will prepare a university level synthesis report and action plan based on the self-assessments.
Component 5 - Project Management, Communication, Monitoring and Evaluation
Project Management and Communication: The project management performance has been satisfactory. It was
agreed that UGC/HEQEPU would by November 30, 2018: (i) complete the remaining project work including
compilation of all subproject completion reports; (ii) organize an international workshop to showcase and
communicate the successes of HEQEP; (iii) organize a workshop on increasing BdREN and UDL membership
and sustainability of BdREN, UDL and QA; (iv) ensure utilization of all project funds; and (v) prepare draft
Project Completion Report in association with Implementation Monitoring Evaluation (IMED) of the Ministry
of Planning. In addition, it was agreed that HEQEP would share a plan of action for utilizing the remaining
project funds by July 31, 2018.
14. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E): The M&E performance has been satisfactory. Key issues discussed:
(i) timely completion of the university tracer study and impact assessment; (ii) documentation of project results and
outcomes and (iii) support to HEQEP Implementation Completion Review. It was agreed that the project will: (i)
sign an agreement with Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) for undertaking Impact Assessment
study by July 31, 2018; (ii) prepare draft project completion report as per the IMED format by December 10,
2018; (iii) prepare the 17th Semi-Annual Report with further improved quality and share with World Bank by
November 30, 2018; and (iv) supervise and ensure quality of all on-going studies.
REVISED PROJECT RESULT MATRIX (UPDATED AS OF JUNE 30, 2018)
Project Development Objective (PDO): The development objective of the project is to improve the quality and relevance of the teaching and research environment in higher education institutions
through encouraging both innovation and accountability within universities and by enhancing the technical and institutional capacity of the higher education sector
6. Routine Monitoring of AIF W-4 and Round-4 Sub-projects, CN & QA Sub-projects including Environment Monitoring
Conduct field visits to sub-projects to assess the progress and identify challenges
Continuous Continuous process
7. Update Result
Framework
Updating of Result Framework November 30, 2018
For Next WB Mission
8. Identify and Prepare Environmental Status Report for W-4 and Round-4 Sub-projects
Share the draft Environmental Screening Report of Window 4
July 31, 2018
Visit to Environment
sensitive subproject:
ongoing
9. Social Issue Prepare a report on citizen Engagement and include in the progress report
Nov 30, 2018
For the Next WB
Mission
10. Citizen Engagement Updating Citizen Engagement Nov 30, 2018
For the Next WB
Mission 11. Organize Workshops A couple of Workshops for
preparing/sharing reports/findings November 30, 2018
12. Final Round Satisfaction Survey (FRSS)
Submission of Final Report of Round Satisfaction Survey
August. 30, 2018
-
13. HEQEP Final Impact Study
Submission of Draft Report November 30, 2018
14. Monthly Progress Review Meetings on HEQEP
Conduct monthly progress review meeting with all Units
On-going PD chairs the meeting
15.
Project
Completion
Report
Prepare draft project completion report as per the IMED format
Dec 10, 2018
HEQEPU M&E and
IMED with support
from all units
16 World Bank
Implementation
Completion and
Results (ICR)
report
Provide data and information to support ICR preparation of the World Bank
Dec 31, 2018
UGC/HEQEPU/M&E
25
Annex 3: Component-wise Progress of Project Activities
Component 1 – Promoting Academic Innovation
1. Out of 439 subprojects, 78 percent have been completed (Table 1). Key progress include:
(i) utilized 100% of total allocated fund to 135 Round 3 subprojects and 91 % of total AIF allocations
under all rounds as of June 2018; (ii) (iii) draft consolidated report on PCRs for Round 2 prepared; (iv)
around 308 students have enrolled in postgraduate research programs (PhD: 98; MPhil: 21 and Master’s:
189) (v) 17 innovations under the AIF and university-industry collaboration have been selected for patents,
out of which one has been submitted for US patent and the remaining are being processed for national
patent; (vi) published the third number of Academic Innovation Series booklet; and (vii) 274 publications.
Table 1: Status of AIF Subprojects Implementation up to June 2018
AIF Rounds
Date of
Contract
Signing
No. of Sub-Projects
Implemented/Ongoing
Univ
(Pub+Priv)
No. of
Sub-
Projects
completed
Total
Contract
Amount
(Million)
% of
contract
amount
utilized
Round 1 Dec. 29,
2010 89 25+2 89
US$23
BDT1888 100
Round 2 Apr10,
2012 105 25+2 105
US$24
BDT1889 100
Campus
network
subprojects 4
Sep 16,
2012 4 4+0 4
US$1.40
BDT112 100
AIF Round 1 &
2
Round 3
(includes one
TTO)
Jun 14,
2014 135 28+9 135
US$30
BDT2375 100
Round 3
Window -4
Phase 1
subprojects5
Jun 25,
2015 5 5 Ongoing
US$3.8
BDT304 77
Round 3
Phase 2
Window 4
Subprojects6
March 8,
2016 5 5 Ongoing
US$4,3
BDT343 75
All Window 4
Round 3
TTO
July 26,
2016 2 2 Ongoing
US$0.5
BDT40 34
Round 3
Fab Lab7
Dec 29,
2016 8 7+1 Ongoing
US$1.6
BDT130 72
Total Round 3
Round 4
Window 1 May 1,
2017 38 17+1 Ongoing
US$7.2
BDT576.2 37
4 Dhaka University, Chittagong University, Khulna University and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Agricultural University 5 Dhaka University, Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology, Shahjalal University of Science & Technology and Bangladesh Agricultural University 6 Chittagong University, Dhaka University, Khulna University, Rajshahi University, Shahjala University of Science & Technology University 7 Bangladesh Agricultural University, Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology, Dhaka University, Dhaka University of Science & Technology, Independent University Bangladesh, Khulna University of Engineering & Technology, Rajshahi University of Engineering &
Technology and Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University
26
AIF Rounds
Date of
Contract
Signing
No. of Sub-Projects
Implemented/Ongoing
Univ
(Pub+Priv)
No. of
Sub-
Projects
completed
Total
Contract
Amount
(Million)
% of
contract
amount
utilized
Supplementary
Funding
May 1,
2017 48 19 Ongoing
US$4.0
BDT321.5 55
All Rounds
Total - 439 - 333
US$ 100
BDT8000 91
Component 2 – Building Institutional Capacity
2. Improving the Strategic Capacity of UGC. A draft of the Strategic Plan for Higher Education
(SPHE) 2018-2030 has been approved by the government and its publication is expected by July 2018
3. Higher Education Management and Information System (HEMIS): Web-based HEMIS is
operational at the UGC, and periodic data entry has been completed by 107 universities (37 public and 70
private). Key progress include: (i) the UGC Annual Report 2017 using HEMIS data prepared for
publication; and (ii) an initial system analysis report for National Admission and Result Verification System
submitted prepared.
4. Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of Universities. A total of around 8,000 university
faculty and staff participated in various in-country and overseas trainings and workshops as part of their
capacity development, while another 300 were trained since the last mission. Training workshops organized