Major problem: Containing the cultural clash in universities

Educationists speak about the dilemma and the intricacies of dealing with it

KARACHI: Culture is a highly problematic word, which inhibits us from thinking about things, claimed Dr Nauman Naqvi, dean of the school of arts, humanities and social sciences at Habib University on the second day of the School of Tomorrow Conference, held at the Beach Luxury hotel.

The session, 'Clash of Cultures in Higher Education in Pakistan', moderated by senior executive producer at Geo News, Marium Chaudhry, hosted a distinguished panel, comprising Institute of Business Administration (IBA) dean Dr Ishrat Hussain, vice chancellor of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (Lums) Dr Sohail Naqvi, Dr Nauman and founder of Beaconhouse School System Nasreen Mahmud Kasuri.

Dr Nauman discussed what culture means, claiming that Pakistan "inherited an apartheid state culture from the colonists" which needs to be addressed by higher education institutions. Dr Hussain advised to reduce the divide between university students by introducing education subsidies. He explained that IBA charges high fees from those that can afford it in order to fund merit scholarships for students from under-privileged backgrounds.



"Universities aren't going to be devoid of the pressures faced by the country," according to Dr Sohail. By instilling core values of respect and tolerance, universities can combat issues of radicalism amongst their student body. "Don't push it under the carpet, let's make it a point of debate," he urged.

Hate speech and incitement to violence needs to be stopped, which is why they have a speech policy at Lums, he explained. "You can trump the trump card of religion through religion," said Dr Sohail triumphantly, adding that they do not believe in "condemning people unheard" and encourage debates on a variety of topics within a certain framework.

Adding to this, Kasuri said when students go to university, they are free of all restrictions and start experimenting with all sorts of things, sometimes including fundamentalism. You cannot really discipline them in university, she claimed.



Religion and culture have merged together in Pakistan to form nationalism, said Dr Nauman. The education system needs to break away from this nationalist identity, he said. We need to decolonise our imaginations and higher education, said Dr Nauman, adding that "Islam has become our nationalist identity, [but it] has nothing to do with Islam anymore."

"We are obsessed with current problems, instead of thinking of how to position ourselves in the school of tomorrow," claimed Dr Hussain. He explained that Pakistanis should not divide themselves into different identities and should instead use these different beliefs to build a strong "knowledge economy" so it does not get left behind.

"The greatest strength of this country lies in its people," said Dr Sohail, adding that the only solution is in knowledge.