The World Bank Report No: ISR9558 Implementation Status & Results Bangladesh Bangladesh - Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (P106216) Public Disclosure Copy Operation Name: Bangladesh - Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project Project Stage: Implementation Seq.No: 9 Status: ARCHIVED Archive Date: 31-May-2013 (P106216) Country: Bangladesh Approval FY: 2009 Product Line: IBRD/IDA Region: SOUTH ASIA Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Implementing Agency(ies): Key Dates Board Approval Date 17-Mar-2009 Original Closing Date 31-Dec-2013 Planned Mid Term Review Date 31-Jul-2011 Last Archived ISR Date 23-Sep-2012 Effectiveness Date 13-May-2009 Revised Closing Date 31-Oct-2015 Actual Mid Term Review Date 08-Jan-2012 Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) 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 universities and by enhancing the technical and institutional capacity of the higher education sector. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project? Yes No Component(s) Component Name Component Cost Promoting Academic Innovation 42.40 Building Institutional Capacity 3.58 Raising the Connectivity Capacity of the Higher Education Sector 33.23 Project Management 1.79 Public Disclosure Copy Overall Ratings Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Moderately Satisfactory Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Moderately Satisfactory Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating Moderate Implementation Status Overview This ISR is prepared mainly based on the findings of implementation support mission conducted in March- April 2013. The progress towards achieving the PDO is rated as Satisfactory based on the strong evidence of project progress against project outcome and intermediate results indicators, inter Page 1 of 4 The World Bank Report No: ISR9558 alia: (i) growing support for the AIF from the academic community as seen in increased participation of public and private universities (27 universities under the first round and 29 under the second round); (ii) UGC has initiated a process for institutionalizing the competitive funding mechanism as scheduled; (iii) increased access to BdREN with 12 percent of students and 18 percent of faculty members having access (compared to 0% at baseline); (iv) targets of the KPIs related to BdREN are likely to be achieved by the end of December 2013; and (v) Digital Library has been established and fully operational in 34 universities. Public Disclosure Copy The overall implementation progress is rated Satisfactory. The project has completed almost four years of implementation. The pace of project implementation has been accelerated in a coordinated fashion at central and field levels since the last mission in July 2012. HEQEPU is fully staffed and trained. Implementation of 196 AIF sub-projects has been significantly fast-tracked. Competitive funding mechanism has been institutionalized by MoE/UGC. As part of capacity building, about 1,500 academics and 120 officials undertook various types of in-country and overseas training. Digital Library has been established and operational in 34 universities. The current disbursement is 65% and it is expected that it would exceed 90% by June 2013 subject to disbursement of around US$21 million for BdREN equipment (G25). Locations Country First Administrative Division Location Planned Actual Bangladesh Rajshahi Division Rajshahi Division ✔ Bangladesh Dhaka Division Dhaka Division ✔ Bangladesh Chittagong Chittagong ✔ Bangladesh Khulna Division Khulna Division ✔ Bangladesh Borishal Borishal ✔ Bangladesh Sylhet Division Sylhet Division ✔ Bangladesh Rangpur Division Rangpur Division ✔ Results Project Development Objective Indicators Indicator Name Core Unit of Measure Baseline Current End Target Increased level of satisfaction of students and Text Value Students: 3.3 10 % increase over baseline faculty staff regarding the quality of teaching Faculty: 2.9 Students: 3.6 and research environment, and of employers Employer: 3.04 Faculty: 3.2 Public Disclosure Copy regarding the relevance of teaching and (5 point scale) Employer: 3.3 research programs [%] (5 point scale) Date 01-Oct-2011 01-Apr-2013 31-Oct-2015 Comments These are the results of pilot/ The indicator will be updated baseline survey (completed in based on the follow up October 2011). Satisfaction Survey which will be completed by June 2013 Number of universities (public and private) Number Value 0.00 6.00 60.00 connected to BdREN Date 31-Mar-2009 01-Apr-2013 31-Oct-2015 Page 2 of 4 The World Bank Report No: ISR9558 Comments It is likely that target (60) will be met by June 2014 based on the implementation plan Public Disclosure Copy All research and teaching and learning fund Text Value Funding is not competitive In progress Revamped competitive under UGC is distributed using an identified set funding mechanism of rules based on transparency and implemented competition. Date 31-Mar-2009 01-Apr-2013 31-Oct-2015 Comments Draft rules are expected to be completed in June 2013 Intermediate Results Indicators Indicator Name Core Unit of Measure Baseline Current End Target Percentage of fund utilization by teaching and Percentage Value 0.00 58.00 100.00 learning sub-projects (Window 1) Date 31-Mar-2009 Comments It is likely that it will exceed the target (70) by Dec 2013 Number of analytical studies carried out for Number Value 0.00 1.00 2.00 updating Higher Education Strategy Date 31-Mar-2009 01-Apr-2013 31-Oct-2015 Comments Report on Admission System in the Public Universities has been completed Number of online journal title subscriptions Number Value 0.00 22.00 50.00 (‘000) through the UGC Digital Library Date 01-Apr-2013 31-Oct-2015 Comments Completion of baseline survey, follow-up Number Value 0.00 1.00 3.00 survey at mid-term and end-line survey Date 01-Apr-2013 31-Oct-2015 Comments Follow-up survey is scheduled to be completed by June 2013 Public Disclosure Copy Data on Financial Performance (as of 16-May-2013) Financial Agreement(s) Key Dates Project Ln/Cr/Tf Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Original Closing Date Revised Closing Date P106216 IDA-45440 Effective 17-Mar-2009 05-Apr-2009 13-May-2009 31-Dec-2013 31-Oct-2015 Disbursements (in Millions) Project Ln/Cr/Tf Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P106216 IDA-45440 Effective XDR 54.40 54.40 0.00 37.83 16.57 70.00 Page 3 of 4 The World Bank Report No: ISR9558 Disbursement Graph Public Disclosure Copy Key Decisions Regarding Implementation Restructuring and closing date extension: To improve the likelihood of fully achieving project objectives and to enhance the sustainability of reforms introduced under the project, the Credit closing date was extended for 22 months from December 31, 2013 to October 31, 2015 and the Project was restructured with: (i) revision of the Project Outcome and Intermediate indicators; (ii) simplification of project design and streamlining components and dropping some activities; and (iii) reallocation among the components. The Amendment to the Financing Agreement was countersigned by GOB on March 13, 2013 and updated the system data accordingly. Additional Financing: The GoB sent a formal request for additional financing to the Bank on April 10, 2013 to: (a) fill the funding gap of US$15.0 million to effectively complete the agreed project activities; and (b) to support expansion of project interventions in order to scale up project impact and development effectiveness. The funding gap was caused mainly by a significant cost escalation of BdREN equipment and inadequate allocation for Digital Library and campus network which team has reviewed and verified. Proposed expansion of project interventions include: (i) strengthening of BdREN to ensure effective implementation, management and sustainability; (ii) Third round of AIF to respond to the demand from the higher education community; (iii) strengthening of institutional capacity of higher education sector through supporting the policy formation proposed under the original project; and (iv) establishment of Bangladesh National Quality Assurance and Accreditation Council and Quality Assurance Cell at universities. Public Disclosure Copy Restructuring History Level two Approved on 21-Jan-2013 Related Projects P145749-Additional Financing - BD Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project Page 4 of 4