Academic Policy

RTM Al-Kabir Technical University (RTM-AKTU) is committed to offer high quality education through a systematic approach for success in academic progression, employment and professional life. RTM-AKTU intends to be a skill based, market-driven and industry-focused 21st century global university. This will be accomplished through the use of a contemporary academic curriculum in combination with workplace internships and hands-on training opportunities.

Admission of Students

Admission Committee

The Central Admission Committee conducts the admission for both Undergraduate & Graduate (Masters) programs of the University.

Admission Procedures

• Collect and complete an admission form, accompanied by previous academic results (copies of certificates and/or marks sheets) and recent photographs.
• Submit admission form and required document to the admission officer (original copies of the marks sheets and certificates must be shown).
• Qualify in the admission tests. Qualifying marks in the admission test is 40%.
• Payments of fees at the designated bank account or bKash number.
• Original copies of the marks sheets and certificates must be submitted during admission.
• Obtaining the Student Identification (ID) number.

Transfer of Credits

Transfer of credits from educational institutions having equivalent curriculum, grading system, and grading standard may be allowed provided that the student will earn more than half of the total credits of a particular program from RTM-AKTU. The university will consider applications of credit transfer on a case-by-case basis. Transfer of credit will be considered only after student enrolls in the program having fulfilled all admission requirements as applicable to regular students of the RTM-AKTU.

Orientation of new students

Orientation program is organized for new students. Guardians may also attend the program. The orientation program acquaints the students with University policies and the educational opportunities, facilities and services available at the University.

Fess and Course Waivers

The eligible students and the credit transferring students must apply for fees/course waiver to the Head of the concerned Department/Institute. The application should be accompanied by all academic and other requisite documents.

Medium of Instruction

English is the medium of instruction and of examination. Since many students come from the Bangla medium, the University offers remedial courses to increase their proficiency in English.

Academic Calendar

Number and duration of Semesters

The University offers two semesters in an academic year. The beginning and end of each semester are as follows:

1. Spring Semester : January to June
2. Summer Semester : July to December

All academic semesters are run as per the academic calendar published by the Registrar’s office.

Course Pattern

All undergraduate and Master programs are covered through a set of theoretical, practical and seminar/research project work related courses.

Major and Non-Major Courses

The courses include General Education (GED) courses, Core courses and Major/Specialization courses. Under GED, different multidisciplinary courses, including Bangladesh Studies, English, ICT, Research Methodology will be offered. The respective department/Institute will design the noncore or non-major courses for other disciplines of the University.

Course Curriculum

All the courses must be designed as per the curriculum approved by the University Grands Commission (UGC). A Curriculum Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving the course plan prepared by the course teachers.

Course Plan

The contents with a short description of the courses will be prepared by the course teachers and submit to the Head of the Department for reviewing and preservation. The course teachers also supply a copy of the detailed course plan to the students. The plan must include the Learning Outcomes and provide the information about the number of lectures mentioning date and time, number and type of assignments, and date of Mid Semester Examination, Semester Final Examination, and Textbooks.

Other important information of the course plan are:

Assignment of Credits

• Theoretical: One hour lecture per week per semester will be considered as one credit.
• Practical Classes: Two class’s hour of a practical class will be considered as one credit.
• Seminar, Research Projects, Fieldwork etc.: Assigned by the respective Department/ Institute.

Course Load

The number of courses per semester varies for different programs. However, the students must achieve the minimum number of credits to attain the degree. Each week there will be assignments, exams, etc. The number of courses per semester will be determined by the relevant department.

Registration of Courses

Official admission to a specific program at RTM-AKTU requires semester-wise registration for courses. The course registration process consists of three steps:

• The selection of courses with the assistance of an advisor.
• The submission of the course registration form.
• The payment of tuition and other fees for the approved program.

Without completing registration, no student can attend the classes. Registration dates for each semester will be announced in advance by the Office of the Registrar.

Graduation Criteria

Total credits

A student must complete all the credits for graduation prescribed by the curriculum committee for the session s/he is registered.

Total Years

If a student fails to complete the required number of courses within the scheduled timeframe, s/he may get 2 (two) extra semesters in addition to required semesters to complete his/her degree; however, this must be approved by the concerned Department/Institute.

Course Repetition
If a student has to repeat a course and that course is not offered any more, s/he may take an equivalent course(s) determined by the Department/ Institute.

Examination System

The students are evaluated continuously throughout the semester by class attendance, assignments, presentation, tutorial examinations, viva voce, quiz test, case study, mid semester and semester final examination. For laboratory work, a student is assessed through observation of his/her work, viva-voce during laboratory works, written reports, etc. and s/he is assigned a grade as per the instruction of the respective committee.

Distribution of Marks

The marks distribution of a given course is as follows:

Class attendance

Minimum 60% of the total classes must be attended by a student to be eligible to sit for the semester final examination. The teacher concerned is responsible to decide the process in which missed assignments and examinations may be made-up.

Semester Final Examination

In general, the duration of mid semester examination should be minimum one hour and the duration should be minimum one and half an hour for semester final examination. This rule is applicable to a 3-credit course. For smaller or larger courses, the duration may be adjusted. In addition, for practical courses, the respective course teacher and the examination committee will decide the duration of the examinations.

Internship

For fulfilling degree requirements, students should be interned in organizations ideally for sixteen to eighteen weeks allowing two more weeks for writing reports and final submission. The students may take support from the Center for Research, Training and Management (CRTM) for data analysis and report writing.

Grading Policy

Letter Grade and Grade Point

Letter Grade and corresponding Grade-Point will be awarded as follows:

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Student’s grade-point average is a numerical value obtaining by dividing the sum of grade points earned in different courses by the total credits attempted.

Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)

Students’ cumulative grade point average is calculated by the weighted average of previous CGPA and current GPA.

Fail Grade (‘F’ Grade)

If a student obtains an ‘F’ grade, his/her grade will not be counted for GPA and s/he has to repeat the course in the next semester. If the same course is not available, then the Department/Institute of the discipline will assign an equivalent course.

Incomplete Grade (‘I’ Grade)

The grade of Incomplete (I) may be used in special circumstances. The grade Incomplete (I) may be given only at the end of a semester to a student who has completed all other requirements except the final examination. Students can retake final examination of Incomplete course (I) as per university rule.

Withdrawal (W) Policy (‘W’ Grade)

A Student can withdraw course(s) by a written application to the Head of the Department/Institute within the stipulated time mentioned in the academic calendar of a particular semester (e.g. between the fourth and seven weeks). If a student drops a course before that time, no entry is made on the academic record.

Improvement of Grade

A student will be allowed to improve grade obtained below the grade “B” (maximum for two courses) by retaking the course(s) only. Previous grades will remain valid if the student fails to improve the grade in the improvement exam. Students who wish to retake a course for grade improvement must complete the reregistration process for the course again as per University rules.

Distinction

Students for four-year B.A, B.Sc. and B.S.S and BBA Honours degree will be awarded the degree with distinction if his/her overall GPA is 3.75 or above and s/he does not have any ‘F’ grade in any course.

Honours

Students for four years Bachelor of Engineering degree will be awarded the degree with Honours if his/her overall GPA is 3.75 or above and he/she does not have any ‘F’ grade in any course.

Academic Standing and Probation

A student whose cumulative GPA is equal to or greater than 2.00 is in good academic standing. Students with a GPA of less than 2.00 are placed on probation. Students on probation are allowed a maximum of two semesters to raise their GPA to 2.00. Students who fail to achieve a GPA of 2.00 within two semesters are dismissed from the University.

Readmission

Students who are in good academic standing, but do not register for two consecutive semesters without notice must submit an application for readmission. When such students have attended other educational institutions during their absence from RTM-AKTU they must submit official transcripts along with their application. A fee is assessed for students who apply for readmission.

Policies on Drop-out of Courses

A student may drop from a semester by applying within the date mentioned in the Academic Calendar, or within 7 working days of starting of the semester classes. A student can drop from a semester only two times during the entire undergraduate program, and only once for graduate program. In the case of semester drop out, a student will be considered as a fresh student for the semester.

Change of Department and Program

Students willing to change the Department/Institute and program should apply through proper channel. Students will have to pay fees for the changing department as per University rule.

Academic Rules

• Student must clear up all dues of the university before obtaining admit card for semester final examination.
• If a student fails to sit for the mid semester examination for unavoidable reason(s), s/he will get opportunity to sit for the missed examination on payment.
• If a student drops/ remains absent in any course in the semester final examination on medical or any unavoidable grounds, s/he has to sit for make-up examination. The make-up exam will be notified by the Controller of Examination/Registrar office within one month after the end of the scheduled exam.
• Students will be allowed for retaking final examination of Incomplete course (I) or for improvement as per university rule.
• Students will be allowed to improve grade obtained below B (maximum for two courses) by retaking the course(s) only. When a course is repeated, the previous grade will be automatically cancelled.
• In case of make-up examination, retaking exam for incomplete course or for improvement, students have to pay fees as per university rule.
• Students will be allowed to perform internship / preparing thesis or project report after completion of allotted courses of a program.

Academic Misconduct
For any short of academic misconduct by any student like unfair means in examination, or misbehavior with teachers or any personnel of the university, students must be sanctioned appropriate punishment as finally decided by the Disciplinary Committee of the University.

Types

RTM-AKTU defiles academic misconduct as follows:

• Cheating in the examinations by adopting any means.
• Helping other students to cheat in the examinations.
• Reproducing the task of others as one’s own task (plagiarism).
• Fabrication of the falsification of any information with the intent to deceive.
• Forgery, alternation, or abuse of any university documents, records, and ID cards.

Paneities

The penalties will be imposed on a student subject to the decisions of the Disciplinary Committee. The following penalties and sanctions may be imposed on a student for the Academic Misconducts:

• Warning in the form of verbal or written notice.
• Cancellations of facilities (e.g. waiver, scholarships, etc.).
• Cancellation of examinations, assignments, etc.
• Expulsion for one of more semesters.
• Expulsion from the University forever.

Conduct of Students

RTM-AKTU strives to maintain a healthy academic atmosphere in its campus. The students should be fully aware of and strictly follow the students’ code of conduct determined by the university authority. Copies of the RTM-AKTU Code of Conduct are available in the library. Copies may also be purchased from the Registrar Office. However, when the students stay in the campus, they must comply with the following conduct:

• Students must always display their ID cards while in the University Campus: Classes, Libraries, Laboratories and Canteens.
• All students must switch off their cell phone and other communication devices inside the classroom and laboratory.
• The university does not prescribe dress code for students, but they are expected to be decently dressed.

Responsibility of Students to Know and Comply

Students are individually responsible to read and know regulations contained in the RTM-AKTU Code of Conduct and Academic Policy. Failure to read and comply will not exempt students from liability.

Right to Change Rules

RTM-AKTU reserves the right to make changes in programs, courses, regulation, degree requirements, fee or any other information or statements mentioned in the Policy. Such regulations shall go into force whenever the proper authorities may determine.