Purpose of universities nowadays is to produce graduates with certain skills and knowledge, who know how to grab jobs
SUKKUR: Since the creation of Pakistan, universities did not meet the two purposes for which they are established in any country. Universities are established to serve the community and educate humanity. Not a single university of the country was able to meet both purposes. After the Higher Education Commission (HEC) introduced a ranking criterion, there has been a sudden, expectedly high level of research activity in different institutions. Universities have been engaged in research, but that research only seems to be for the purpose of increasing the ranking of the university. In foreign countries, universities serve the community and propagate humanism. If any problem emerges in a developed country, the people, the media and governments first look to the academia. They first want to listen to what researchers have to say.
Whether the problem is related to economics, sociology, politics, technology, medicine or mathematics, researches and academics are the ones who are supposed to analyse, suggest policy options and educate the people about the challenges of the modern era. But in our country, the people look to government functionaries to rescue them. This is strange, but true. In doing so, we miss out on the wisdom that academics may have to offer us. Universities are research centres; they are supposed to provide the panacea for the various ills of society. For instance, if Pakistan doesn’t produce wheat as per international standards, agricultural universities of the country may explain the reason behind it. Universities should be involved in research, employing the skills and faculties of talented people in the institution and support the government’s efforts.
If, in my country, targeted killings and suicide bombings have increased, have the universities analysed the reasons and suggested measures to alleviate the situation? The answer is a big, fat ‘no’. This is the case in all walks of life. Universities themselves have become victim of different mafias.
The purpose of universities nowadays is to produce graduates with certain skills and knowledge, who know how to grab jobs and status, but are less concerned with human rights and society at large. They don’t know about the large-scale violation of human rights, and how this state of affairs will create problems in society. They should know that tomorrow, they can be victims too. Whose responsibility is this? Surely, this is the responsibility of teachers, who are called nation-builders. The student of today is the manager, worker and researcher of tomorrow. If one is not properly guided about human rights, or other important aspects of inquiry, then how will that person behave better in the workplace, or for that matter, in all walks of life?
Abdul Ghani Soomro
Published in The Express Tribune, February 13th, 2015.
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