ABSTRACT
This introductory chapter situates the study both in terms of its geopolitical context and its relevance to the contemporary realities of higher education policies in Bangladesh and globally. It outlines the scope of the study by providing the historical context of higher education in Bangladesh and how neoliberal ideologies have played out a part in the metamorphosis of higher education reform in more recent times. There is particular emphasis in this part of the discussion on the 1990s which saw massive shifts in understanding the purpose of higher education both by the government, the civil society and the business community. The chapter also outlines the methodological choices made for the study, including the sourcing of materials and the aggregate profiles of the people who were interviewed as part of this study.
