Besides funding and security issues, universities should also strive for globally-cited research publications and quality enhancement — which is key to a university’s progress. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The recently released QS World University Rankings were an eye opener as all four universities representing Pakistan on the global scale lost substantial ground. The country’s most highly ranked varsity, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), was able to retain its place in the top 500 universities of the world, but it was downgraded to the 481-490 bracket from its previous place in the 400-451 bracket.
The varsity has termed the dismal security situation and lack of finances for research as major factors for the decline. “The Higher Education Commission has invested immensely in higher education in recent years but instead of solely focusing on infrastructure, it should prioritise consistency and sustainability of the projects as well,” said a senior professor of NUST. Besides funding and security issues, universities should also strive for globally-cited research publications and quality enhancement — which is key to a university’s progress.
New session begins
Last week, newcomers entered universities in the twin cities where they were familiarised with curricular and extra-curricular activities and campus rules.
Air University, Bahria University, NUST and Comsats held orientation day ceremonies in the past fortnight for freshmen students along with their parents. All heads of departments and senior faculty members met students to talk to them about the university atmosphere and future career prospects.
“The collective goal of students and faculty members should be creativity and innovation,” said senior dean of Air University, Dr Zafarullah Qureshi on the varsity’s 12th orientation ceremony.
Students of bigger universities such as International Islamic University and National University of Modern Languages (Numl), have been roaming in and around the capital to look for affordable accommodation as hostels have a limited number of bunks. A roof over a student’s head is one of the biggest issues of incoming graduates in the capital. Around this time, rates for paying guests and rooms in private hostels skyrocket with the influx of students from across the country.
Interestingly, this season Numl, run by the army, will hold its convocation after a gap of almost nine years, but only for batches who graduated after 2011. The university administration has cited security problems and other managerial issues for the constant postponement of convocations.
Despite the beginning of a new semester, Allama Iqbal Open University has yet to overcome protest-mania. Dozens of workers march inside the varsity premises daily for implementation of their demands which the varsity management has termed ‘illegal and unjustified’. Students roam around campus looking for assistance while concerned university officials are either busy chalking out the next protest strategy or are participating in a rally. A couple of weeks ago, 40 varsity officials were issued show-cause notices for protesting inside the campus.
Only two universities of the twin cities, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST) and Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, are still in vacation mode as the summer break ends later this month and the academic session starts in October.
The odd timing of the summer vacation worries graduates as they are unable to get admission in higher degree programmes as the examination results are announced late. “This year, many of our friends failed to get internships in several companies as the dates to apply clashed with the announcement of our results” said Fawad Khan, a BS Engineering student at FUUAST.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 19th, 2013.
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