In the next academic year 2023-2024, Dhaka University (DU) will complete three decades of 4-year undergraduate (honors) course by admitting new students. From the 1993-94 session, four-year honors courses were introduced instead of three-year honors in various departments of this centenary university when Professor Dr Emajuddin Ahmad was the in charge of the VC of the university.
Since its inception in 1921, the university has been running a three-year honors course and a one-year master’s course. In 2009, on the occasion of Dhaka University Alumni Association’s grand reunion, Professor Dr. Emajuddin Ahmad wrote that this was a revolutionary step and the process was not so easy. He the political scientist was in charge of VC of the university from November 1, 1992 to August 31, 1996.
In that publication, Professor Dr. reminisced about the Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University. Emajuddin Ahmad wrote, In July 1996, the new curriculum was about to succeed. Only one academic session left. I am talking about one session because, from the 1993-94 session, a new chapter started in the academic activities of Dhaka University. A three-year honors course and a one-year Masters course start at Dhaka University from birth. This was a revolutionary step. Degrees of Dhaka University were respected everywhere. It was recognized in all the universities of the world.
He wrote, ‘Thousands of questions have arisen in this regard since the eighties of the last century. These three-year honors and one-year Masters degrees are no longer recognized in first-class universities in developed countries. After passing MA from Dhaka University, I had to study MA again in another university. In neighboring India, the degree of Dhaka University started to be questioned. In this context, four-year honors courses were introduced instead of three-year honors in various departments of Dhaka University.’
Professor Dr. Emajuddin Ahmad also wrote, ‘During this period five new departments such as Computer Science, Anthropology, Linguistics, Clinical Psychology and Music were launched in Dhaka University to widen the academic field of students.’
‘Furthermore, the Department of Pharmacy was converted into a Faculty to cover its diverse areas of intensive practice. During this period, the university’s curriculum was brought under the Bachelor’s degree by ending the preliminary chapters of Masters in various departments. For this purpose the Institute of Fine Arts, Education and Research and Statistical Research has newly launched the Graduate Honors Programme.’
