Assessing the quality of undergraduate business education in Bangladesh using higher-order thinking skills

Undergraduate business education in Bangladesh faces criticism for its limited emphasis on Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS), such as problem-solving, analytical reasoning and creativity. This study assesses the quality of undergraduate business education in Bangladeshi universities by analysing the integration of HOTS into examination question papers using Bloom's Taxonomy. A content analysis of 309 examination papers from the 2023 academic year, sampled from 10 public and private Bangladeshi universities, reveals a stark imbalance: approximately 88% of marks are allocated to Lower-Order Thinking Skills (LOTS), while only 12% are allocated to HOTS. This disparity undermines students' preparedness for the 21st-century business environment, where innovative and strategic thinking skills are essential. The study recommends curriculum reforms to integrate HOTS into learning objectives, promote project-based learning and align teaching with industry needs, ensuring graduates can tackle real-world challenges and enhance Bangladesh's global competitiveness in the era of the 4.0 Industrial Revolution.