Need for globally competitive, future-ready universities

Pakistan's future depends on the quality of its higher education system. The need is not for just more universities, but for better ones - future-ready, globally competitive institutions that integrate artificial intelligence (AI), foster inclusion, align with future job markets, and empower students to lead and innovate.

While some bright spots exist - LUMS in Lahore, NUST in Islamabad, and Habib University in Karachi - our ambitions must go further. We must dare to build universities that don't merely keep pace with the world, but help shape it. It's time to stop asking whether Pakistan can build world-class universities. The real question is: can we afford not to?

Our young population is bursting with potential. Let us give them the institutions they deserve - innovative, inclusive, intelligent. Let us imagine, plan, and build such institutions - not in twenty years, but now.

With a population exceeding 250 million, Pakistan ranks as the fifth most populous nation in the world. But it is not just the size of our population that matters - it is its youthfulness. Two-thirds of our people are under 30, placing Pakistan among the top three countries globally with the largest college-age population. This extraordinary demographic could be our greatest national asset - or our most tragic missed opportunity. Yet we see signs of the latter. Despite having over 240 higher education institutions, only 3 million students are enrolled - just 11 per cent of the eligible youth. Meanwhile, in 2022 alone, over 760,000 Pakistanis emigrated in search of better education and employment prospects abroad.

To retain our brightest minds and prepare them for an increasingly complex and technologically advanced world, we must rethink what it means to be a university in the 21st century. Our institutions must go beyond issuing degrees - they must become engines of innovation, and global relevance. This demands a radical shift in how we teach, learn, and assess.

A future-ready university begins with a firm commitment to student-centred learning. The outdated model of one-size-fits-all lectures must give way to personalised, flexible, and engaging approaches that cater to diverse learning styles. Instead of producing passive learners, we must foster curiosity, problem solving, and critical thinking skills.

Equally important is a deep commitment to equity and inclusion. Access to quality education must not be limited by gender, geography, ability, or economic background. A truly competitive university ensures that students from all walks of life can thrive - by offering need-based financial aid, ensuring physical and digital accessibility, and cultivating a campus culture grounded in respect and diversity.

No conversation about the future of education is complete without addressing AI. Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way the world works - and the way it learns. In the university of tomorrow, AI will not be a supplementary tool - it will be a central force in teaching, learning, and assessment. AI-driven platforms can personalise learning paths, offer real-time feedback, automate assessments, and provide early warnings when students struggle. For faculty, this means more time to mentor and innovate. For students, it means more relevant, efficient, and engaging learning experiences. But AI is not just a tool - it is also a subject. Our graduates must be AI-literate, ethically grounded, and equipped to navigate the implications of this technology in whatever field they pursue.

To be globally competitive, our universities must align curricula with the evolving demands of the job market. Employers today seek more than academic knowledge - they want graduates who can apply their skills in real-world settings. This calls for stronger partnerships with industry, the integration of internships and cooperative learning, and a shift towards competency-based education. Creativity, collaboration, emotional intelligence, and entrepreneurship must be woven into every programme, preparing students not just for jobs, but for future leadership.

Equally vital is the physical and digital infrastructure of the campus. A smart university is digitally connected, environmentally sustainable, and designed to support both in-person and remote learning. High-speed internet, smart classrooms, hybrid teaching platforms, and virtual collaboration spaces must become standard. But smart infrastructure also means safe, welcoming, and inclusive spaces that encourage students to explore, create, and belong.

None of this is possible without empowered and future-ready faculty. Our educators are not just conveyors of knowledge - they are catalysts for transformation. Universities must invest in continuous faculty development, encouraging the adoption of inclusive pedagogies, interdisciplinary research, and digital teaching tools. The metrics of academic success must evolve too - rewarding not only research productivity, but also teaching innovation, mentorship, and societal impact.

If Pakistan is to realise its full potential, we must stop thinking of universities as factories for producing graduates. They must become the incubators of bold ideas, courageous leadership, and inclusive progress. We must design institutions that help shape not just the futures of individual students, but the future of Pakistan as a whole.

The stakes are too high to delay. In this pivotal moment of our national journey, we must commit to building the kinds of universities that our youth - and our country - deserve. Let us be ambitious, bold, and uncompromising in our vision. The clock is ticking, and the future will not wait. The time to act is not tomorrow. It is today.