Public service university

The fundamental tenets of social justice, equality and dignity are embraced by many champions of the just cause. While the news may be overwhelmingly negative, there are these brave souls, who represent all sectors of society, bridge the gender divide and reflect the diversity of ethnicity that makes the fabric of the nation richer and stronger. Some of them, unfortunately, pay a heavy price for standing up, sometimes in the court of law and often in the court of public opinion. But it has become increasingly clear that in the current society, where discussion of justice, dignity, equality for all citizens is rife with bullying and incitement of violence, institutions have to step in and play a role to create a just, fair and pluralistic society. Universities, in the current climate, should not only be there to provide a platform for discussion, but also a structured framework for rigorous research to carefully and rigorously analyse challenges. If there is one thing that is missing from the current discourse on our challenges, especially the ones in shouting matches and ill-informed talk shows, it is rigorous research and data. Universities have a responsibility to change that.

Good universities, across the globe, evolve to meet the local (and subsequently regional and global challenges). This is why global rankings of educational institutions are highly misleading as they fail to measure the impact on the local environment, which in the end, counts for far more than the total number of publications. The ability of an educational institution of research and learning to engage local stakeholders, and develop in-depth analyses of what ails society in its immediate vicinity has always been a hallmark of its distinction and long-term impact. The problem of urban poverty in Pakistan, for example, may have similarities with other urban areas, but is also unique in many of its facets. The issues of social justice, discrimination, intolerance and social mobility are also multidimensional and require institutional support and institutional leadership to investigate in a rigorous manner. Increasingly, urban and domestic violence are being studied with intellectual frameworks developed not just in schools of sociology and law, but also in schools of medicine and public health. Similarly, the issue of access to clean water is not just an issue of urban planning, but very much an issue that requires rigorous engineering approaches, mathematical modelling, innovations in material design as well as socioeconomic and legal analysis, and resource management.

Individuals at many of our institutions have, and will continue to, develop rigorous intellectual frameworks to study our myriad of challenges. However, the institutional support and commitment demonstrated by focusing on specific social problems of our time and by bringing in scholars from other disciplines will create intellectual richness, diversity of ideas and new tools of research and analysis. It will also help frame arguments that appeal to stakeholders across various disciplines and walks of life. The argument is not for everyone at the university to work on issues of social justice, or even immediate societal need, for that would be antithetical to the very foundation of research. However, the university itself should commit that as part of its mission, it will provide its researchers incentives to rigorously look at the problems of highest social need and relevance. Those who are interested, with these structures and incentives, will come themselves. Our universities, beyond teaching students, have also failed to convince the general public that they are relevant for an improved and mature society. Improving social condition through research and societal engagement will make the university relevant for a better Pakistan.

Research, done with rigour and honesty, can call out bigots, misleading opinion-makers and others who resort to hyperbole over substance. Everyone is entitled to opinions — but some opinions, particularly on round-the-clock TV shows, can fracture society and be outright dangerous for a healthy, decent and tolerant Pakistan.

Wouldn’t it be nice, that once in a while, the opinions are also based on facts?

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21^st, 2016.

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