Hamid Zaman has bemoaned the pathetic culture, and consequently woeful outcomes of scientific research in Pakistan
LAHORE: In his typical laments from Boston, Dr Hamid Zaman (Science in an ailing ecosystem, ET Nov 7th) has bemoaned the pathetic culture, and consequently woeful outcomes of scientific research in Pakistan.
While he has spoken of misguided and dysfunctional pressures on faculty and the indifferent, if not inimical students, he seems to have missed the one vital link that may engender a culture of serious research in Pakistani universities, whether it be in sciences, humanities, or engineering. Like any institution in any context, the governance of universities is the first and foremost pillar that helps build a research culture.
Dr Zaman need only take a look at the governance structures and individuals at that level of any university in Pakistan with one or two possible exceptions. Hardly anyone of any merit in research or any intellectual mettle sits at this august level; instead governance structures are afflicted with administrator types whose academic credentials probably go as far as some vocabulary at best.
With their academic ignorance, such individuals seek and are served by university leaders with pitiable interest in driving or recognising serious research. The problem has worsened as universities have added disciplines such as social sciences and humanities which require a much deeper human ethos in addition to intellectual prowess.
The enabling environment rests on discussion, debate and dissent, much hated by university administrators whose only goal is to seek repeated terms as vice-chancellors and rectors. If he ever witnessed the level of debate and discussion at university syndicates and boards, or read the minutes of these meetings, Dr Zaman would be appalled. The motivation at such levels has been addressed in multiple fora repeatedly and with his typical brutal honesty by the eminent scholar Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy but is anyone listening or does anyone care?
The resulting faculty and student performance as far as serious research goes should thus hardly surprise anyone.
Professor Wasif M Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, November 9th, 2017.
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