Third-language education will be introduced at 50 universities across Bangladesh by December to expand students’ employment and higher education opportunities at home and abroad, University Grants Commission (UGC) member Prof Abdullah-Al-Mamun said.

He made the remarks at the launch of the Confucius Institute at Chittagong University, jointly established with China’s Yunnan Minzu University, at Bashundhara International Convention City in Dhaka today (26 September).

Prof Mamun said the 2026 election manifesto emphasised expanding third-language education, including Mandarin, Japanese, German, Korean and Arabic, to widen students’ educational and employment opportunities.

Language centres will be established at universities across all divisional regions, with the Confucius Institute among the key partners, he said.

“An additional language can expand students’ academic and professional opportunities while enabling them to communicate internationally,” he said.

Prof Mamun said the UGC would work with relevant foreign embassies to secure language experts and teaching materials.

He said China’s embassy would play an important role in expanding Mandarin education.

Third-language skills could also create opportunities for student exchanges, scholarships, joint academic programmes, research fellowships and international employment, he said.

The UGC is also working to introduce joint and dual-degree programmes with foreign universities, including institutions in China, as part of efforts to internationalise Bangladesh’s higher education, Prof Mamun said.

He said the Confucius Institute could serve as a platform for language learning, academic exchanges, research collaboration and scholarships.