Government Pressurized to Create Enabling Environment for Students

Specialists have emphasized that the state should offer an “enabling environment” for higher education institutions to generate capable graduates during a webinar, highlighting the need for more quality research-based education at graduate and post-graduate levels.

Both Vice-Chancellors and Directors of various public-sector university programs agreed that Pakistani universities are reportedly adding to the unemployed youth instead of focusing on empowering our youngsters through proper education. The experts communicated this at the webinar, which was called the "Crisis of Graduate Education Pakistan & State of Universities," organized by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE).

Dr. Nadeem ul Haque, Vice-Chancellor (VC) PIDE, emphasised the importance of hosting seminars, webinars, and consultative sessions both on and off campus for university students as well as students from other institutions to pool resources. He went on to say that the bulk of Pakistani universities only produce graduates with no substantial skills. According to him, over 31% of Pakistani grads are unemployed, which is great cause for concern.

As per Dr. Haque, the government has never asked any university to carry out research on projects under development, and that all analysts and researchers are unfortunately contracted from outside the institutions.

According to the VP, introducing scientific knowledge to our nation requires a shift in mindset towards science. He noted that the country could use a holistic approach to learning, indicating that scientific culture may deliver innovation, which must be fostered. We want technology without cultural transformation, he remarked. He suggested that we must learn to generate ideas rather than simply imitating them.

He proposed cultivating a dynamic culture of interchange, building exchange networks, and forming associations where academics could meet to discuss ideas. The Dr. then advised that we should train skilled data analysts and create our own policies.

Professor Jonathan, who took part in the debate, stated that he had remained involved with the PIDE throughout the 1980s and that he was now teaching in America, where Pakistani students at all levels are performing exceptionally well.

Vice-Chancellor Allama Iqbal Open (AIOU) Dr Ziaul Qayyum, while agreeing to the point that Pakistan was not producing good graduates said that some 23 years ago, a total of 53 universities were operating in Pakistan which now has reached 200. He said that during these 23 years the country did not focus on facility development but increased the number of universities.

Because the country has no idea how many engineers and doctors it will require in the next 20 years, the authorities must focus on research to address future issues.

Professor Hasan Shah, former VC of GC University in Lahore, stated that the state of research in Pakistani universities was not up to international standards 25 years ago, but that the situation has improved now, but that there are still some serious challenges in research on various subjects and matters. He believes that there is a lot of space to improve the situation. Professor Naeem, the VC of Gilgit-Baltistan University in Skardu, stated that creating basic graduates who lack specific abilities just adds to unemployment. He believes that universities should also focus on youth skill development so that they can contribute to society's progress.

He went on to say that instead of presenting outmoded theories to the students, higher education institutions should focus on modern education.