Building linkages: Academia should connect with communities

Two-day international moot on social reformation through education kicks off at AIOU

ISLAMABAD: The entire concept of education should be revisited so that it could help bring about societal reformation.

This was suggested by scholars at the second International conference on ‘Rethinking education for social change’ at the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) on Friday. The conference is aimed at initiating dialogue among researchers and stake-holders to bring about a reformation in the society based on knowledge.

Addressing the two-day conference, AIOU’s Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Shahid Siddiqui called for reviewing educational concepts so that they can be used in reforming the society. Education, he asserted, should help resolve socio-economic problems of the people.

He hoped that the conference would enable the participants to rethink the impact of education, ensuring a positive change in the society.

University of Toronto Dean Professor Glen Jones shared his ideas and experience in developing academia-community relationship for achieving the ultimate goal of education.

He appreciated AIOU for adopting an innovative approach towards academic research, and linking it with the welfare of society.

Prof Jones also spoke in detail about the role of higher education in a community’s upbringing. Academia, he said, should find ways and means to engage the community in educational pursuits in a healthy manner for a better future.

Rector Virtual University Professor Dr Naveed Malik supported the idea of promoting extensive interaction between the academia and the community for developing a welfare society. Universities, he added, should become a part of community-development activities.

During its working sessions, participants would deliberate upon various aspects of community-university linkages and educational practices.

The participants would present papers in the form of presentations, round-table discussions, and poster presentations.

A large number of educationists and researchers participated in the conference including from USA, Canada, China, Indonesia and Hong Kong.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2017.