Introduction

Bangladesh with its poverty stricken economy coupled with large population base has no choice but to transform its people to skilled human resources through education, in general and higher education, in particular.

As the cost of providing higher education has risen to a very high level, it is no longer possible for government to provide higher education to all. Due to budget constraints new universities cannot be established at government initiative. So the government of Bangladesh looked for private participation in this sector as a way out on the account of increased demand for higher education in the country and allowed private universities (PUs) to operate since 1992.

However, the operations of PUs for last 13 years has been observed to produce mixed results. PUs could bring about some positive changes in the Higher education of the country in terms of increased capacity for higher education, politics-free environment and responsiveness. On the other hand, there are also serious allegations concerning high cost and poor quality of education in most PUs. The situation became so grave that a high power investigation team formed by the government had to put eight PUs in its black list and recommended for the cancellation of their license to operate as “University” in the country.

Against this backdrop, the government opted for more stringent rules for the regulation of the PUs and accordingly preparing for the amendment of the existing Private University Act 1992. This move of the government has received mixed reactions. Some experts view this as badly required for assurance of the quality in PUs. Again others, specially the sponsors and University management consider the move suicidal and against the very concept of privatization of higher education in the country. So keeping the assurance of the...

• Advantage: Class Size

• Private universities generally have a significantly smaller class size than public universities. According to CampusGrotto, it is quite common for a public university to have classes with over 200 students, making it difficult for students to directly communicate with their professor. In contrast, private universities may even have specialized classes with less than 10 students. The smaller class size allows professors to tailor their curriculum to students on a more individualized basis.

Advantage: Faculty Accessibility

• The faculty workload in a private university is considerably less spread. Professors are more available for individual faculty meetings to give assistance to students. This also applies outside of classroom academics; professors may work directly with students for outside research projects, job and networking opportunities and even mentorship programs. Students often take advantage of this and establish networks with many of their professors. Some professors have deep connections in their respective fields and are excellent referrals in launching careers. • Sponsored Links o ISLI - MSc Supply Chain Study Global Supply Chain at ISLI. Dowload the application form Now ! www.bem.edu/supply_chain

Disadvantage: Non-Standard Entry/Transfer Issues

• This is a particular problem for students at public universities wanting to transfer into a private university. Many private university curricula are not held standard by the state; a private university's transfer requirements may not necessarily apply to another public or private university. Additionally, some private universities require entry-level courses to be taken in their college; these universities do not accept transfer units of English, math or science, regardless if these courses' equivalent were already taken. Students looking to apply to multiple private universities must contact each one to make arrangements on a case-by-case basis; some have more flexible requirements than others.

Disadvantage: Cost

• Private universities are generally more expensive than public, sometimes significantly so. According to CampusGrotto, the average tuition among many private colleges was $40,000 per year as of 2007. However, some private schools are making efforts toward providing more financial aid to prospective college students. Smaller private universities in particular are typically looking to create inclusive student bodies by helping students from diverse backgrounds gain admission. Additionally, private universities are usually more flexible with payment plans; parents and students can work with financial aid advisors to work on loan consolidation and long-term payment schedules.

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Advantages & Disadvantages of Private Universities

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Audrey Farley
Audrey Farley began writing professionally in 2007. She has been featured in various issues of "The Mountain Echo" and "The Messenger." Farley has a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Richmond and a Master of Arts in English literature from Virginia Commonwealth University. She teaches English composition at a community college.
By Audrey Farley, eHow Contributor
[pic]Private universities have become more diverse in recent years.

The process of applying to college can be stressful for parents and students alike. Sometimes, the first decision to be made is whether the applicant should attend a private or public institution. Private and public universities offer different resources and opportunities, and there are advantages and disadvantages for each.

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Pro: Size

o Private universities tend to be smaller than public state universities. This is often perceived as an advantage to students who want to attend school on a campus that is small and easy to navigate. Smaller universities also tend to offer smaller class sizes, enabling students to receive more attention from professors and to have a more significant role in the classroom.

Con: Cost

o Private universities typically cost a lot more to attend than public universities. This is both because private schools receive less financial assistance from the state and because the students that attend private schools may not qualify for scholarships and grants that are received by students at public universities. Tuition and room and board fees at private universities sometimes double or triple these costs at public schools. o Sponsored Links ▪ Sharda University India Admissions Open for B.Tech 2012. Join Sharda University Today! www.Sharda.ac.in/BTech_In_India

Con: Admissions

o Private schools tend to be more selective with admissions. Highly competitive private schools only offer admission to students at the top of their graduating class that also boast high test scores and a wide array of extracurricular activities. These criteria disqualify many applicants from the start. On the other hand, the caliber of private universities may be perceived as an advantage to prospective students seeking a competitive learning environment.

Pro: Reputation

o Private universities tend to have a reputation for being elite. This can be advantageous to graduates seeking admission to graduate school or employment in the professional world. Graduate schools and potential employers tend to value the education of private universities, perhaps due to private schools' competitive admissions process.

Con: Fewer Sports and Extracurricular Activities

o Because private universities are often smaller, they may not offer all of the sports, clubs and extracurricular activities that bigger, public institutions do. Further, although smaller, private schools often have athletic teams in more popular sports, such as football and basketball, they have fewer NCAA teams. For big sports fans, this is a disadvantage, since the school's teams may not attract the huge crowds and national attention

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The Advantages & Disadvantages of Studying at a Private University

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Daisy Peasblossom Fernchild
Daisy Peasblossom Fernchild has been writing for over 50 years. Her first online publication was a poem entitled "Safe," coming in 2008. Her articles specialize in animals, handcrafts and sustainable living. Fernchild has a Bachelor of Science in education and a Master of Arts in library science.
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By Daisy Peasblossom Fernchild, eHow Contributor
[pic]Some private schools are long established and are quite prestigious.

Private colleges and universities come in a broad variety of sizes, backgrounds, affiliations and prestige. In some instances, the distinction between public and private institutions of higher learning may be blurred, in others it is quite clear-cut. In choosing between attending a private college or university or attending a public college or university there are a number of factors to be considered: cost, class-size, personal background, educational goals and living arrangements.

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Cost

o Budget is a foremost factor in choice of institute of higher learning for most students. As a general rule, public colleges and universities receive state or federal funding and can therefore charge less tuition per credit hour. However, students attending private institutions may still receive grants and student loans with which to fund their education. Many private colleges and institutions also offer scholarships, work/study arrangements and internally funded grants.

Ethnicity

o Public colleges, since they are funded by federal and state money, must not differentiate between applicants on basis of their ethnic, religious or social backgrounds. Private colleges may be founded specifically to support a particular religion or creed. This limitation can be an advantage or a disadvantage, depending upon personal point of view. o Sponsored Links ▪ Cornell Courses Online Cornell offers interactive online learning for hotel professionals www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/execed

Educational Focus

o Private colleges may focus upon a particular area of interest, such as teaching, medical training, or religious ministry. Although most will still include basic education requirements such as English, Mathematics, sciences and foreign languages, the curriculum may be more restricted than that offered by public colleges. This does, however, help focus class choices for career-minded students who need to fast-track their educations.

Entrance Requirements

o Entrance requirements for private colleges may be different from the requirements for public colleges; universities may have more stringent requirements than local colleges. Returning students who made educational errors in their younger days or students with limited educational access during high school may be more readily accepted by a private school than by a large public school.

Academic Excellence

o Private colleges come in a broad range of academic excellence, as do public colleges. Private colleges, while needing to meet accreditation standards, may be judged differently from public schools. A quick and easy way to check the standing of a private college is to ask the local public college or university if they will accept transfer credits from the school you are considering. If you think you may need to attend a public university later on, the answer needs to be "yes."

Class Size

o Although some private colleges and universities are quite large, as a general rule, a private college will offer smaller class size and more personal attention as an incentive to attract students. This can be a real benefit for students who are first generation college students or who have areas in their academic background that need remediation. On the other hand, a large university may have a bigger staff, offer more variety in teaching styles, and have more resources with which to accommodate special needs.

Prestige

o Depending upon the student's career choice, sometimes the reputation of the school will affect future employability. Some private schools are quite prestigious, and many offer internships or entrepreneurial opportunities as part of their training process. Others are garden-variety training centers, which also have their place in the world of education.

Housing

o Most public four-year colleges and universities offer campus housing, whereas community colleges, private trade schools and some private colleges may not. This is a consideration that needs to be factored into the cost of your education. Typically, dormitory housing on private campuses is more expensive than that offered by public institutions.

Summary

o The choice to attend a private institute of higher learning or a public one rests on a number of things: personal background, career choice, availability, housing needs, age, educational background and financial status. Choosing a college that is a personal fit is an important decision; changing schools later may result in loss of credits or having to retake classes. Read all the literature from your prospective schools carefully, and use other sources of information to check their educational credibility.

Read more: The Advantages & Disadvantages of Studying at a Private University | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_7902431_advantages-disadvantages-studying-private-university.html#ixzz0g1MYVIGC