AcademiaMag 01 April

ISSUE. 01 | ApR 2019

Death of

International

students

Book reading

turn away from

DR SHAUKAT MAHMOOD

Australia DESTINATION NIDA TAHSEEN

Getting Them Early fASI ZAKA

DR Ishrat Hussain

The Man Who Turned IBA Around

Chinoy’s secret of

success

Shafqat Mehmood Govt focusing on quality education

Understanding

Banuri’s vision for change

Editor-in-Chief IBRAHIM HASAN MURAD Managing Editor EMANUEL SARFRAZ Editor M. AZAM MEHMOOD BUTT Editor Reporting ARSALAN HAIDER Content Editor KHADIJHA TARIQ Feature Editor AISHA SAEED Head Digital RANA HAMMAD ANWAR Internation Correspondent rahib raza Correspondent AMMAR SHEIKH Contributors FASI ZAKA DR SHAUKAT MEHMOOD ARSHAD YOUSAFZAI (KHI) AAMIR ADNAN (QUETTA) RIAZ UL HAQ (ISB) RANA FAWAD (USA) MUHAMMAD ABUBAKAR (UK) NIDA TEHSEEN (AUSTRALIA) FAIZAN ALI WARRAICH (LHR) Design & Developed ZEESHAN ARIF Marketing Manager SULMAN AHMED +92 300 441 6792 62-B Revenue Employees Cooperative Housing Society Johar Town, Lahore, Pakistan.

For online order log on to: +92 307 444 77 05 info@academiamag.com www.academiamag.com Find us on FB :academiamag Twitter : academiamag Insta: theacademiamag

Editorin-Chief’s Note Dear Readers It gives me immense pleasure to present to you the first print addition of Academia Magazine, which is Pakistan’s premier education magazine. We have been serving through online for one-and-a-half-year .Our website and social media sites have been top resource for credible news,views,reviews,insights and guidance on issues and challenges in education sector.

The Academia is a non-partisan, non-affiliated and non-political magazine that caters to everyone in the education sector including students, academics, policy makers and intelligentsia on the whole. We in Academia believe that they was dire need for publication that would not tilt towards any particular school of thought, political point of view or monetary gain. The team Academia which includes highly professional and seasoned journalists have worked hard to present this edition, which would not just be an ordinary magazine but would prove to be part of your reference library This edition’s content includes interviews, features, analysis, guidance and advice featuring some of leading people in the education sector. In this edition we are in conversation with Federal Education Minister ShafqatMehmood and Punjab Minster for Higher Education Raja YasirHumayun. The Chairman HEC Tariq Banuri in his talk with Academia Magazine explains how he intends to change the higher education sector.Noted analysts FasiZaka, DrShoukatMehmood and Adnan AAmir now write for us.EducationistsNidaTehseen from Australia and RanaFawadfrom USA are also contributing. We are alsoin conversation with Oscar winner SharmeenObaidChinoy about how Pakistani institutions can improve to provide quality education.

We have done special feature on learning of Chinese and Russian languages learning becoming the new trend in Pakistan.

I hope you broaden your vision, learn new things and enjoy after reading this magazine

ACA DE MIA

WHAT’S INSIDE ANALYSIS

16

Fasi Zaka’s take on Finnish education model and what Pakistan could learn from it.

INTERVIEW

24

Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood explains his vision to bring change.

feature

40

Why Pakistani students are now learning Chinese & Russians languages?

washinton talk

46

Analysis of the situation in USA wherein foriegn students enrolment has gone down

50 RENDEZVOUS

54

In conversation with Punjab Minister Raja Yasir Humyun

| CAMPUS NEWS |

Campus News LAHORE: Johns Hopkins University delegation visits UVAS)

LAHORE: University of Lahore wins Men’s Ski Championship

LAHORE: UMT Career Fair organised by Office of Career Services

ISLAMABAD: 13th Convocation of Riphah International University MAR 4 Academia 2019

KARACHI: Degree Show at Ziauddin College on Media Sciences

ISLAMABAD; Vice Chancellors raises different issues in meeting with Chairman HEC

LAHORE;LUMS Signs MOU with State Bank of Pakistan

SARGODHA: Students holding placard during walk on occasion of International Women’s Day

| CAMPUS NEWS |

KARACHI: MoU Signing Ceremony between Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University and Pakistan Stock Exchange

RAWALPINDI: Seminar on Autism a different ability at National University of Medical Sciences

ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister’s National Laptop Scheme Phase-III distribution ceremony

RAWALPINDI: Breast cancer awareness campaign at National University of Medical Sciences

LAHORE: UVAS holds International Fisheries &Aquaculture Conference & Expo 2019

LAHORE: Actor Noorul Hassan visiting LGU

LAHORE: Lahore Garrison University signed MoU with HEC EduTV Collaboration Academia 5 MAR 2019

| CAMPUS NEWS |

KARACHI: The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) has launched its first Kidney Transplant programme in Karachi. An awareness event was organized by AKUH, attended by the media, different nephrologists, dialysis centre managers of Karachi, general physicians and endocrinologists of AKUH, as well as recently treated patients of the kidney transplant centre.

ISLAMABAD: German Ambassador HE Martin Kobler in a group photo during his visit to Air University.

ISLAMABAD: Vice Chancellor of Air University AVM (r) Faaiz Amir presenting souvenir to German Ambassador HE Martin Kobler.

LAHORE: Chitral Police gives tribute at Ex-headmaster of Aitchison College Geoffrer Langland’s funral

Sports Day at Baqai Cadet College MAR 6 Academia 2019

| CAMPUS NEWS |

KARACHI: Launching of Comparative Liberal Studies (CLS) program Habib University

ISLAMABAD: Seminar on From Martyrdom to Independence jointly organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Pakistan and IQRA University

KARACHI: Convocation of Jinnah Sindh Medical University

KHATMANDU: Director Quality Enhancement Cell of Karakoram International University Prof Dr Syed MoazamNizami in a group photo during the Upper Indus Basin Network meeting.

KARACHI: 3rd Batch of Diploma in Family Managed Business Program presented their mock Business plans.

MIRPUR: Vice Chancellor Karakoram International University Prof DrAtaullah Shah leading a HEC technical delegation on visit to different development projects.

MAR 8 Academia 2019

LAHORE: Seminar on Leadership in Health Care at KEMU

| CAMPUS NEWS |

LAHORE: Students of PYP Nursery to 4, Kingston College visited California Pizza, in line with the theme ‘How the World Works. They got valuable insight into the materials and process invloved in baking a pizza.

International workshop on One Dimensional (1D) Nano Structures 2

LAHORE: Team SSRG Wins KICS Annual Cricket Tournament in UET.

LAHORE: 3rd International business conference and exhibition

LAHORE: pu vc visits uet 2

LAHORE: The mou signing between SBE UMT and SOS village

LAHORE: DG UMT meets Dr Cambadia Academia 9 MAR 2019

| CAMPUS NEWS |

LAHORE: SDSB Alumni Reunion at LUMS

LAHORE: Ajoka Theatre play at SDSB in LUMS

LAHORE: LGS Paragon debates makes it to the final of Eurasian Schools Debating championship 2019.

LAHORE: Dr. Tariq Banuri, Chairman HEC addresses at launch of Imagine Cup 2019 Lahore Garrison University

LAHORE: Japanese Deputy Chief of Mission visited GCU

LAHORE: Launching of Minhaj Halal Certification Bureau in Minhaj University

LAHORE: 2nd world Islamic economics and finance conference 2019 in Minhaj University MAR 10 Academia 2019

| CAMPUS NEWS |

LAHORE: Federal Minister of Education Shafqat Mahmood was the chief guest at 14th convocation of the National College of Arts. The degrees of 601 candidates passing out from 2013 to 2016 were given at a ceremony attended by top educationists of Pakistan.

LAHORE: Federal Minister of Education Shafqat Mahmood was the chief guest at 14th convocation of the National College of Arts. The degrees of 601 candidates passing out from 2013 to 2016 were given at a ceremony attended by top educationists of Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD: 27th convocation of NED University

Launching ceremony of c02 smart executive club

LAHORE;UVAS celebrates International Women’s Day

LAHORE: Governor Punjab Chaudhry Sarwar at 16th UMT convocation Academia 11 MAR 2019

| CAMPUS NEWS |

LAHORE: University of Engineering and Technology organized UET Tech Week 2019

SUKKUR: Sukkur IBA University entered into an agreement with SEPCO for supplying excess electricity to the power utility through its on-grid solar system.

ISLAMABAD: HEC Signs MoU with Shenzhen University, China

Reimaging Muslim Women seminar by Dr. Naila Sahar

ISLAMABAD: The SZABMC Convocation

Lahore: Reimaging Muslim Women seminar by Dr. Naila Sahar at UCP MAR 12 Academia 2019

LAHORE: Workshop on Movie Critique by Mr. Faiz Rasool at UCP

Lahore: Group photo taken after Final Year Project Exhibition at UCP

| CAMPUS NEWS |

LAHORE: PU organzies 82nd Convocation

LAHORE: President UMT-ILM Trust Ibrahim Hassan Murad presenting soveniur to H.E. Emir Özbay, Consul General of Republic of Turkey

SARGODHA: A delegation of Chinese diplomats inaugurates PakChina friendship exhibition at Sargodha University

LAHORE: UVAS Organizes Spring Festival

Lahore: hec agricultural Council team visited UMT

SARGODHA: Media students training session on production

LAHORE: Scottish Celtic band Reely Jiggered visited Pakistan for Burns Night – the annual celebration of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. The band visited the Sanjan Nagar Public Education Trust Higher Secondary school (SNPET)

Academia 13 MAR 2019

| CAMPUS NEWS |

LAHORE: Convocation of Shalamar Medical and Dental College

KARACHI: Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology held 18th Hajj Balloting for the employees to perform Hajj at University’s expenses and 4 employees were declared successful for Hajj pilgrimage.

KARACHI: Job Fair at Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology

KARACHI: Mr. Ali Nawaz Memon, noted intellectual, who has also served in the World Bank for some time spoke at an interaction session with the faculty of Sindh Madressatul Islam Universityon the subject of “Opportunities and Challenges for People of Pakistan” at the Senate Hall of the university.

SUKKUR: SIBACOM-2019 at IBA University

SUKKUR: Significance of the technology has become more and more with the increasing competition between men and machines. Students participanting in SIBACOM-2019. This is the flagship event of Sukkur IBA University MAR 14 Academia 2019

| Analysis |

Fasi Zaka

Getting Them Early

P

akistani Twitter is a hotbed of contentious discussion mired by unfortunate invective. But despite this unwelcoming description, it’s an extraordinarily useful place in the most meaningful, but unexpected of ways.

I had always used the word factoid

MAR 16 Academia 2019

incorrectly, assuming meant a tidbit of information – until someone called me out on it. Factoid actually means unreliable information that has been repeated so often that it is assumed to be true.

A factoid I have often used without much thought to its accuracy is that Finnish students start school at seven years of age.

Which is true, but its misleading. This fact suggests that allowing children

Fasi Zaka is a Pakistani columnist, political commentator, television anchor and radio talk show host. He is popular amidst the masses for his satirical views and lighthearted columns and shows on pertinent political and national matters of interest.

He currently hosts a radio show for FM91. time to be children, unburdened by school will still allow them to become the engines of a world beating education system that regularly outdoes many countries bigger, richer and more developed than they are.

But, 97% of Finnish children receive some form of pre-school or daycare between the ages of 3-6. There is a stronger consensus in the past few decades that, despite debates about the merit of burdening children with schoolwork in later years, getting to children earlier through some form of schooling is enormously beneficial to children as they get older and more advanced into the education system.

Peter Savelyev, a Vanderbuilt professor, conducted a study into the The HighScope Perry Preschool Project which tracked the outcomes from a randomized trial of African American children who went to preschool and those that didn’t. The results were remarkable, and had a significant effect on some of the debilitating disadvantages poverty

| Analysis |

can have on a child growing up.

While IQ enhancement was not significant, two socializing factors were significant enough to carry forward into adulthood. The first that the pupils became more academic oriented, and second that they were less likely to turn to crime.

Other studies have shown that educational attainment in middle school, higher attendance and getting qualifications and degrees post high-school all improved in those who attended pre-school compared to those that didn’t.

These are very significant results.

Pre-school is often derided for being nothing more than institutionalized and supervised child’s play. What is stark about many of these results is that they are strongest for the children from the most disadvantaged of backgrounds.

Running pre-school under the same ethos as regular school runs counter to its purpose. Children are taught to be socialized and learn crucial interpersonal skills that not all families and settings can deliver. Play is central to this process because it teaches cooperation, and perhaps more critically, that learning and school is a place where they can have fun. With structured interventions of learning - the preparation for the future is significant.

Of course, one can be skeptical applying this in the case of Pakistan – surely, since we cant even educate

Other studies have shown that educational attainment in middle school, higher attendance and getting qualifications and degrees post highschool all improved in those who attended pre-school compared to those that didn’t all our children how will we manage making pre-school a possibility. It a valid exercise in cynicism.

The truth though, is that we do have money to spend. Its less than we would like, but just look at this statistic, in 2016 Balochistan was spending 20% of its budget on education. It’s a similar case around the country. Pakistan is committing enormous spends to education (conventional wisdom says we aren’t) – but we are just receiving poor results for our money.

The challenge is not just to fund education more, but also to ensure what we already spend yields

children who have learned at school, not just attended it. Most of the studies on early childhood education look at centers where there is a high level of professional competence, having early childhood education delivered by the state will do no nothing unless it is of a high quality (indeed, if the atmosphere is not child friendly it adds to their stress, impacting development).

The good news is that both Punjab and KP have, in the previous term of government, already begun with creating early childhood centers. How good they are is still open to question because they are few and new. In a piece by Baela Raza Jamil which analyzed some of the existing early childhood education centers in the Punjab, she and her team found significant variations in the ages of children within a session – children so young have significant differences in cognitive ability within just one-year age variances. Multiage teaching doesn’t work well at this level.

But the demand for state led education provision needs to now include not just education for all – but the provision of early childhood education for young children to address inequality, one of the primary political drivers of the resurgence of interest in education.

The future will come from letting children play, in preschool.

Academia 17 MAR 2019

| INTERVIEW |

Muhammad Azam Mahmood

DR Ishrat Hussain

The Man Who Turned IBA Around

F

or a major portion of your work-life, you were associated with the banking sector.

We would like to know what motivated you to move to the education spectrum.

Who motivated you for this 180 degree transition?

I always wanted to make a valuable contribution to the society and wanted to work in a field that I was most passionate about, after my retirement.

I think no country in the world can make progress unless and until they pay attention to the higher education because this helps in producing leaders for every particular field in the country.

If you have poor and weak leaders than you cannot make much head break.

Therefore I chose IBA, as it was a premier institution and had a good track record and I felt that I could make some humble and modest efforts in order to transform it not only into a national but a global institution which could be helpful for the country and its people. It was the passion towards the field of education that motivated me in this journey.

You joined IBA well over 15 years back.

What were the conditions at that point of time? Also, can you recall that one issue you considered the most pertinent and worked for its resolution?

There were numerous issues at that point of time, but still, the institute was enjoying the status of a very reputable institution. The primary problem was that not even a single classroom, laboratory or hostel room was constructed since 1965, a time when US Aid left the country. The enrollment at

MAR 18 Academia 2019

| INTERVIEW |

I think no country in the world can make progress unless and until they pay attention to the higher education because this helps in producing leaders for every particular field in the country. that point escalated from two hundred students to two thousand students.

Even the faculty members did not have a lab where they could sit and research, or prepare their lessons or even engage with students during the office hours. Provision of these facilities is the major pillar of an academic institution. I was aware that I could not attract top-notch faculty members to IBA until I provide them with the physical infrastructure and facilities so that they can feel comfortable.

Even the students were living in very bad conditions and the laboratories were outdated, classrooms were not of the way that you could bring in the modern delivery mechanisms of methodological tools. For instance, there were was no IT in the whole campus. In the present times, you need different technological innovations and hence my strategy had four aspects or dimensions; firstly I wanted to invest in the physical infrastructure so that we could overcome the difficulties but also plan developments that could satisfy the future needs. Hence I worked and secured 5 billion rupees for the private sector and completed 30 projects of academic block, offices and these initiatives were just not to satisfy the present needs but also the future needs. The building has been constructed on modern lines and hence you can accommodate new students easily. Also, we have 130 offices for 100 teachers in order to accommodate any new hiring’s.

The second aspect of my strategy was

faculty development and we started hiring Ph.D. Faculty members, as we had only a few PHD’S back then. At the present time, you cannot just hire MBA’S to teach your students as they are much smarter than the teacher these days. You need to bring teachers who have made some name or contributions and hence we started hiring faculty members with PHD’S and today with the grace of Almighty we have 64 Ph.D.’s and almost 20 amongst them are enrolled under the Ph.D. split programmes for women teachers or they are doing their study abroad and the time when they come back at least 85 percent of them will be holding Ph.D. degrees and that is the hallmark of a global institution. The third aspect was a technological up gradation.

We wanted to have enterprise resource planning and campus planning solutions. Now teachers give assignments to students electronically, the registrations are done electronically and the tests are also completed and submitted electronically. The fourth aspect was to bring new programs because Karachi needed education in the field of Social sciences, Accounting, Finance, Mathematics and Economics, as they were lacking. IBA was just a business school with some Computer Science faculty members. There was a need for new disciplines and hence our graduate and undergraduate program in the fields of Social science, Accounting, Finance and Mathematics were introduced and today we have 4000 students in these departments.

These were the four strategic objectives that I achieved by the grace of Allah Almighty in five years’ time frame. I later decided that it is now the right time to let others come because an institution should not depend on one individual and that is why I decided to retire.

You said IBA had no faculty upgradation mechanisms since the 1960s. Why do you think that happened? Do you think it was because of the administrative structure?

I don’t want to second-guess their (past administrators) performance and would like to salute the efforts of the previous administration. When I joined IBA I found solutions to the problems instead of cracking out what happened in the past. I was looking only at the period where I had the opportunity to place things rightly. So I don’t care about the problems they were facing and what their considerations were back then.

In the past, obsolete administrative mechanisms were in place that often disregarded students. Do you find it to be the case now?

Students now have 29 societies including music society, debating society, HR club, and sports club. They have a sports complex that provides a complete range of outdoor as well as indoor activities. Students are now not only engaged in their studies but are also very active in extracurricular activities. Leadership skills are not Academia 19 MAR 2019

| INTERVIEW |

When I joined IBA I found solutions to the problems instead of cracking out what happened in the past. classroom taught and are exercised by students, where they elect their own office bearers. They themselves plan, organize, manage, raise as well as utilize funds. Now the role or part of students is very powerful and the things that were imposed on them are all gone now. The only thing that they are obligated to follow is to come on time. I believe that time management and punctuality will help them in their future life as well. Now students are much more empowered.

Great changes were introduced by you during your tenure. Do you think IBA has now become the great business school of choice if you compare it with other business schools?

LUMS AND IBA are not much different. However LUMS graduates are capturing most of the jobs.

Unfortunately, in this country that encompasses more than 200 million people, we should have 10 IBAS and 10 LUMS, but that is not the case.

IBA alumni are one of the most well place alumni? How this aspect helped you in your journey?

I organized the alumni and maintained a database, as a majority of students did not update their addresses nor informed about any changes. They were not communicating and hence I established an alumni department. We crafted unions, compiled databases, conducted elections with the BOG in which 70 to 80 students were elected and now this process is completed electronically and hence everybody MAR 20 Academia 2019

can participate. Now alumni functions are organized at the IBA campus and chapters of Dubai, Canada, UK, Lahore, and Islamabad also organize events and activities. Greater techniques were initiated during my tenure as the alumni were scattered and were connected through their Facebook roots and class roots and hence were not attached to the institution and its Alma mater. This was the major gap that I filled in.

senior members and this is the gap which should have been filled. We couldn’t find faculty members with high caliber and the qualifications that were needed. This is the gap due to which the faculty members are not very engaged in research, case studies, and advisory services to the community, organizations or businesses due to which they are not very well known.

This is something that I would like to change.

How do you manage to convince people for donation and funding?

I must not lie about it that people have never given funds to a public sector institute. They helped me because they trusted me for the good utilization of their money and for building an institute of eminence. I used to convince the donors by saying that I will produce human resource who will serve you. After all these graduates will come and work with you for 20 years or 25 years and hence it is your obligation to help me in building this institution. I didn’t have much difficulty, as everybody cooperated with me. I succeeded in getting money, scholarships, national talent hunt programmes, and even alumni funds.

What do you think are some of the essential ingredients of a great business school?

Remain dynamic and adaptable to the needs of employers, the country as well as the community. We have a center of excellence for journalism, the center of excellence for Islamic finance, the center of excellence for executive education, for bringing people from the industry to have short courses. We also have a center of entrepreneurial development. There was no such center in IBA and hence we had to adapt ourselves according to the demands or needs of the society, economy and the business community.

If you are given the opportunity to travel 10 years back what things you will do differently this time around?

Are there any things that you believe you should not have done?

I think younger faculty needed more mentoring and coaching back then. Unfortunately, we didn’t have

Names of any business school you believe are in the emerging category in the sector. Any names on the top of your mind?

Numerous schools and institutes are doing a great job. Institute of Management Sciences, Peshawar, IBA Sukkur, IBM Karachi, NUST Business School, Islamabad, Lahore School of Economics are prominent in the sector.

| ANALYSIS |

Rural

AMMAR SHEIKH

Pakistan faces an enormous challenge of getting its close to 23 million out-ofschool children back into schools, however, the lack of attention to education and related facilities in rural Pakistan presents a mammoth challenge.

A

s per the preliminary data of the 6th Population and Housing Census of Pakistan, a total of 132.18 million people live in rural parts of the country of the total 207.77 million population of Pakistan. Rural areas of the country account for more than 63 percent of the total population.

While Pakistan’s literacy rate MAR 22 Academia 2019

Pakistan’s untold education crises

dropped to 58 percent from 60 percent from the previous year, over 22.84 million children are still out of school in the country, with 5.06 million of these being primary-age children. As per estimates about half of the out-ofschool children reside in rural parts of Pakistan.

According to the Pakistan Education Statistics 2016-17 – the most recent detailed survey of education in the country – the major challenge to achieving the goal of education remains in the rural parts of the country.

The detailed survey shows that a total of 150,129 primary schools exist in the country, of which 129,351 or 86.15% are in rural parts of the country. Out these primary schools, 121,674 or more than 81% are government-run schools.

Interestingly, 108,306 or 89% of these public schools are found in the rural areas. With such a large number of population residing in the rural areas and such a significant number of public school infrastructure available in country’s rural jurisdiction, the quality of education there should be impressive.

But it’s not. And the reason may have to do something with the actual facilities in these public schools. Many of the schools in rural areas lack basic

facilities such as a building, boundary walls, electricity, water and toilets.

The survey shows that a total of 8,469 primary schools did not have a school building, 93%, or 7,889, of which were in rural parts of the country. Of these public schools sans buildings, 89 were reported to be in Punjab and 86 among these in the rural areas of the province. Sindh had 4,810 schools without a building, of which 4,608 were in rural areas. Balochistan had 1,815 schools not having a building, with 1,500 in rural areas.

In Azad Jammu & Kashmir, there were 1,156 schools without a building, again 1,096 of them being in rural settings. Similarly, Gilgit Baltistan had 36 such schools, while FATA, considered a rural area in entirety, had 563 schools without a building.

With regards to the availability of

| ANALYSIS |

According to the Pakistan Education Statistics 2016-17 – the most recent detailed survey of education in the country – the major challenge to achieving the goal of education remains in the rural parts of the country

electricity in primary schools, a total of 42,892 were reported to not have power. Again, 93% of these schools without electricity were reported to be in rural parts of Pakistan. Of these, Punjab had 3,148 rural schools without electricity, Sindh had 20,868 rural public schools without power, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 2,664, Balochistan 7,947, Azad Jammu & Kashmir 2,861, Gilgit Baltistan had 445 rural schools sans power and FATA had 2,142 schools that remained without electricity.

Drinking water, a basic necessity, is also not available at many of the schools in Pakistan, especially in the rural parts of the country. A total of 29,673 schools were reported to not have the facility. Of these, 27,599 or 74 percent were situated in the country’s rural areas. Punjab had 212 rural schools that did not have drinking water for students and staff; Sindh had 16,139 such schools in rural areas, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had 2,268, Balochistan had 4,060, Azad Jammu & Kashmir 2,414, Gilgit Baltistan 376 and FATA had 2,125 that did not have the facility of drinking water.

Lack of toilets is also seen as a major hurdle to retaining children

in schools, but the situation in this regard also remains abysmal.

According to the survey, a total of 29,360 primary schools in the country are without a toilet, and 27,181 or 93 percent among these are in the rural areas. Punjab was reported to have 326 such schools in rural areas, Sindh 13,994, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa 796, Balochistan 7,180, Azad Jammu & Kashmir 2,136 schools, Gilgit Baltistan had 423 and FATA had 2,320 schools without the availability of a toilet.

Security, another major concern for parents, especially girls, is also reported to be missing in many primary schools as a large number of schools remain without a boundary wall. A total of 28,703 primary schools were reported to be without a boundary wall and 26,781 or 93 percent of the total were in rural parts of the country. In Punjab, 1,064 public primary schools in rural parts of the province had a boundary wall missing; Sindh had 14,969 such schools, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 783, Balochistan 6,032 schools, Azad Jammu & Kashmir 2,396 schools, Gilgit Baltistan had 428 and FATA had 1,104 schools that did not have a boundary wall.

Academia 23 MAR 2019

| INTERVIEW |

Khadijha Tariq

Govt focusing on quality education

Shafqat Mehmood

S

Khadijha Tariq talks to Federal Minister Shafqat Mehmood about the positive change that the government intends to bring in education sector

hafqat Mehmood is a prominent political figure and currently holds two important portfolios, including the Ministry for Education and Professional Training and Ministry for National History and Literary Heritage, under the PTI led government.

Born on February 19, 1950, Mehmood completed his early education from the Government College University and later got enrolled at the prestigious Harvard University and University of Southern California for graduate studies. He started his career by joining the bureaucracy in 1973 and served in various capacities. After quitting the civil service in 1990, Mehmood started his political career and joined Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). After resigning from this portfolio, he started writing columns for Englishlanguage newspaper, The News International MAR 24 Academia 2019

and was a hard-core critic of Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) and its chief Imran Khan. After the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, he quit PPP and joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in November 2011 and has been affiliated with this party till date.

In an exclusive interview with Academia magazine the minister talked about the most pertinent and pressing issues in education sector. Following are excerpts of the interview: What was expected from PTI was revamping the system of education on a war footing. There has been a delay in announcing the education policy to ensure quality education for all. What are the hurdles and impediments?

Actually, this is not true because we have announced an education policy framework and that framework basically centres around four different aspects which include out-of-school children, single national curriculum, quality

| INTERVIEW |

Our Education policy framework centres around four different aspects that include out-of-school children, single national curriculum, quality and skills development.

But we have added a fifth dimension to it which is literacy and is now the centerpiece of the entire policy

Academia 25 MAR 2019

| INTERVIEW |

and skills development. But we have added a fifth dimension to it which is literacy and is now the centerpiece of the entire policy.

The literacy rate is down to 58 percent so now we are in the midst of formulating a literacy policy in which we will put together all sorts of different mechanisms in order to push up the literacy rate.

One of the things that we are considering is to make social work a compulsory subject. I would like to add that we are just considering it and it is not decided yet. We are proposing to make social work a

create a single national curriculum.

The idea of a single national curriculum does not mean that all the subjects would be taught similarly but there will be some core subjects which would be taught to all children through the same textbook which will have the same content. This is something that we are seriously considering.

After amendments in the constitution, education is now a provincial subject. Does your government intend to make it a federal subject again?

We are not thinking to change

The idea is to work together for the cause of education as one united nation. Education is not a PTI issue or that of any political party, it is a pertinent national issue compulsory subject after class 12 in colleges. Whether it is a medical college or a science college, or it is a government or private institute, we will make social work a mandatory subject. Every boy and girl who is studying would have to take classes of adult learning as a part of the social work course that he or she is supposed to complete. Students would be graded on it and hence it will work as an incentive for these students. So our target is to focus on adult literacy and for that we are planning to introduce social work, opening adult literacy centres and using technologies.

How do you intend to bring uniformity in the education system, as parallel systems are operational including Matriculation, Cambridge and Madrassa system? How does your government plan to handle this and how a uniform curriculum will be enforced under the new education policy?

This is precisely why single national curriculum is one of the major standpoints of our policy. I am planning to hold a meeting with all the stakeholders and we are going to talk about how we can MAR 26 Academia 2019

the constitution right now, but I am working very closely with the provincial governments. I will try that all our ideas should have support from them. The idea is to work together for the cause of education as a united nation.

Education is not a PTI issue or that of any political party, it is a pertinent national issue. I have met Sindh’s chief minister and education minister and I am also in touch with our close allies in other provinces.

Hence the central government will take the lead in order to implement a unified policy nationwide.

| INTERVIEW |

Nearly 190 universities are functioning in Pakistan. Many new disciplines have been introduced. There is a lot of scope to attract foreign students from Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and Far East countries including Myanmar, Indonesia and Cambodia. Is it part of your education policy to attract foreign enrolments in our educational institutes?

Firstly, we have to improve the quality of our university education which is not very high at this point of time.

When I was a student we used to have students coming from many countries to Pakistan for education purposes and our goal is to increase this number again. We can only do that if we have quality universities. We have 34 to 39 public sector universities in Punjab and more universities are being established.

There is no point of having a university if you don’t give quality education which should definitely be the number one priority. Once the quality of education is there, the possibility of attracting foreign students is always there. We are giving some scholarships to Yemenis and Afghans and some of them are paying their own education expenses.

But we need to expand this.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has always emphasized on the importance of introducing reforms in the education sector. Considering the current financial crisis will you be able to increase the education budget?

We are in the process of formulating our plans. We should not just ask for money without any reason. What we need to do is to have the right plan and then ask for money. We are now in the process of finalizing our plans and we will In shaa Allah have money available.

What checks have you placed to ensure that the allocated budget for

At the moment, there are hundreds of PhDs who have no jobs and that’s a real shame and it also means that something is seriously wrong with our planning education is not embezzled or wasted in any way?

We have to employ safeguards, improve accountability, abide by PEPRA rules and if we follow them there will be no corruption.

There is a saturation in the job market.

Thousands of students who graduate are forced to work at underpaid jobs or are jobless after graduation. For instance, hundreds of journalists have lost their jobs while thousands of students are graduating in mass communication. What are the plans of your government to ensure the creation of new jobs, as promised by PTI in its manifesto?

We are focusing on skill-based education which will have a very close link with the market. There is no use of doing a master’s or PhD if you can’t get a job. At the moment, there are hundreds of PhDs who have no jobs and that’s a real shame and it also means that something is seriously wrong with our planning. So we have to match our education with the job market and this is something that we are planning to do.

solutions

cross word & Sudoku Academia 27 MAR 2019

| ANALYSIS |

Adnan Aamir

Education Situation in Balochistan Remains Abysmal

The general elections of 25th July brought Imran Khan into power. The elevation of the PTI government brought with itself hopes of change all over the country. Likewise, in Balochistan, a coalition of PTI and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) formed the government. Jam Kamal, the President of BAP, was sworn in as the chief minister of Balochistan on 19th August. With Jam Kamal in office people of Balochistan hoped for reforms in education department on war footings.

H

owever, the decisions of the new government in the first four months have reduced the hopes of an improved education system in Balochistan in near future.

The first test of the new provincial government of Balochistan was the appointment of the education minister. In the last government, the education minister was the least appropriate person for the job. Abdul Rahim Zairatwal, parliamentary leader of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami MAR 28 Academia 2019

Party (PKMAP), served as education minister from 2015 to 2018. He was allegedly responsible for nepotism, extortion, and abuse of power.

He single-handedly blocked the attempts of education reforms in Balochistan by foreign donors such as World Bank, UNICEF, and European Union. With a tainted legacy in the recent past, the portfolio of education should have been given to an appropriate person.

However, Jam Kamal’s government failed the test.

The new government appointed Muhammad Khan Lehri as the Advisor of CM responsible for education department in

| ANALYSIS |

Balochistan. Lehri is a landlord by profession and belongs to the fertile Naseerabad district of Balochistan.

He is not properly educated and has no capacities to run the education department. He was exposed in the very first education seminar he addressed after his appointment.

He could not speak proper Urdu and fumbled the basic facts of Balochistan. The educators and education reformers in attendance were completely disappointed at the fate of the education department for the next five years. This speech went viral on social media and the government was widely criticized for his appointment.

In addition to having an incapable person to run the department, education in Balochistan has several other problems. The first problem is the inefficient utilization of resources in the education department. Education is the largest department of the province with over 70,000 employees and Rs 50 billion annual budget.

Initially, the education budget was moderate but it skyrocketed after the announcement of education emergency in Balochistan by erstwhile Chief Minister Dr Malik Baloch. Balochistan spent over Rs 200 billion on education in the last five years but the output is not promising. As per data analysis of education spending in Pakistan by this scribe, Balochistan spends the highest amount on the education of per student. Balochistan spends Rs 39,500 per student per year as compared to Punjab Rs 16,000, Sindh Rs 24,000 and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rs 20,500. However, this enormous spending does not reflect in terms of quality of education in the province.

The second major problem is related to the lack of proper accountability mechanism for teachers and education managers. With the increase in the education budget, the funds at the disposal of District Education Officers (DEOs) have increased massively. However, this has also resulted in misappropriations and embezzlements of these funds. It’s

Teachers are paid handsome salaries but some of them do not show up for jobs.

Others who do show up do not teach with required interest and hence the education system suffers

very regular that complaints are made about the corruption of DEOs, who get unpunished due to their arrangement with the education department’s bureaucracy. Teachers are paid handsome salaries but some of them do not show up for jobs. Others who do show up do not teach with required interest and hence the education system suffers.

The failure of government educational institutes has given

rise to private schools. There are many private schools all over the province. Most of them are providing quality education to the students in return for a fee. However, the bureaucracy of the education department did not even spare private schools. In the name of controlling high fees of private schools, a draconian regulatory law was passed in 2015. Titled “Private Educational Institution Registration and Regulation Authority Act 2015,” this law made Balochistan Education Foundation (BEF) the regulatory body for private schools.

BEF is itself a semi-government social development organization and completely incapable of playing a regulatory role. This decision was taken to empower BEF, whose managing director was the cousin of then governor Balochistan. BEF has severely affected the capacity of private schools to deliver quality education. The private school associations have been protesting against this law ever since.

Moreover, the third major problem is the negative role of Teacher Academia 29 MAR 2019

| ANALYSIS |

Balochistan spends 39,500 per student per year as compared to Punjab 16,000, Sindh 24,000 and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 20,500.”

Unions. There are a couple of powerful unions of teachers in Balochistan named Government Teachers Association (GTA). With subscription paying members in form of teachers all over 33 districts of Balochistan, GTA is more organized than any political party in Balochistan. GTA acts as a shield for teachers, education managers and bureaucracy of education department against accountability.

Whenever disciplinary action is taken against any of them, GTA closes schools in protests and the government is compelled to withdraw its decisions. On top of that most of the GTA leaders are also

office bearers of political parties and this further increases their clout and bargaining position. GTA effectively acts as a stumbling block against reforms in the education sector in Balochistan.

In this backdrop, the current government took a bold step. It announced to make education an essential service through legislation.

The proposed Balochistan Essential Education Service Act, 2018,” will bar strikes, boycott of classes or lockout of classrooms by teachers and GTA. This bill also stipulates a year-long conviction or fine of Rs 0.5 million for the teachers who were found involved in strikes and protests.

When this bill was being tabled in Balochistan Assembly, the members of GTA were protesting outside of the assembly. GTA leaders refused to accept this bill and termed it a basic violation of their fundamental rights.

The bill has not been passed so far and it’s highly likely that government has to delay voting on this bill due to the protests by GTA. The final decision on whether to pass the bill or scrap it will be a real test of the nerves of CM Kamal.

There is no single solution for the plethora of education-related problems in Balochistan. However, there are a series of steps, if taken with resolve can bring change. First, the government should appoint a capable minister who has the capacity and will to reform the education. Secondly, the capable minister and the key education officials should be allowed to work for at least three years to bring meaningful change. Lastly, education should be depoliticized and all political parties should refuse any sort of political help from teachers. These actions combined can contribute towards the improvement of the education sector in Balochistan.

Adnan Aamir is a journalist and researcher based in Quetta, Pakistan. He can be reached at email: Adnan.Aamir@Live .com and twitter: @iAdnanAamir.

MAR 30 Academia 2019

Sudoku

CROSSWORS

cross word & Sudoku solution

Academia 31 MAR 2019

| Academia Academia |

MAR 32 Academia 2019

| Academia Academia |

Academia 33 MAR 2019

| COMMENT |

Dr Shaukat Mahmood

Death of

Book reading “We have to think seriously how the growing generations will find time to read. While technology is taking control steadily over individual lives, the reading habit is fast vanishing into thin air. I used to sigh at the city libraries presenting a gloomy picture of gradual decline in voracious readers who used to flock in the evenings.”

H

abit of reading books has been a great help in acquiring information and knowledge.

Unfortunately today our teachers as well as our students have little regard for books though reading habit survives in a different way. Today, in an age when browsing the net, playing with disconsolate handsets and passing non-stop SMS with stupid abbreviations and symbols seem to have become normal chores of students. Even when the students are sitting in the class and the lecturer is delivering his lecture, students are often seen busy in messaging. The internet facility and craze, interactive medium of images through WhatsApp and TV are the MAR 34 Academia 2019

engagements of our youth today.

More than often these engagements are useless pursuits taking majority time of our students.

I have often been to various colleges and universities’ selection boards as a subject expert. A question which I always asked the candidates was, “Which book you have read recently?” Without any exception, the answer was long silence.

There are sufficient reasons that account for this silence and the decline in reading habit.

Students think that reading books consumes more time than referring to computers. Computers seem to be more attractive to them than books. The question of spending money on books is over-ruled by the thought that everything is available in a computer so students prefer to spend money on something else

than spending on books. With every house having a number of TVs and every TV having number of channels, sometime exceeding a hundred, TV and internet are more attractive than sitting in a corner and reading a book. But for a student who is seriously involved in studies sitting in a corner and reading a text-book or a book related to subject has no alternative. Often internet has no response to what we want to know. This applies particularly to the subjects which are of very local nature.

Modern life style of visiting places and other recreations or hobbies occupy most of our time these days.

Change in lifestyle is the reason for the decline in book reading.

Decades back there were a lot of magazines and books kept on the table in houses for the use of parents as well as kids and even guests

| COMMENT |

Today, in an age when browsing the net, playing with disconsolate handsets and passing non-stop SMS with stupid abbreviations and ridiculous symbols seem to have become normal chores of students

books and magazines used to be on the tables in the waiting rooms of doctors, bus stations and railway stations. People had time and there was no otherway to pass time. But today the situation is different. Our students lack the knack to visit book shops and libraries. This has resulted in a considerably decreased number of quality bookshops. There are no really large bookstores in a city like Lahore. Free distribution of laptops by the previous government did not improve our education standards albeit it further marred the interest of our students in books. Students often claim why to carry a burden (of books) unnecessarily when there is a laptop available? Many complain that in this fast life where to find time to read. Everything has become instant and students are losing their patience to spend time in reading, for them computer or laptop is the best and the quick response.

Not many years ago parents used to encourage their children to read books and students used to discuss about what they had read which induced others to read. But today

our students read nothing thus have nothing to share with their classmates. This is a very sad state.

Today many Pakistani parents think that reading books will divert the attention of their children from their serious tasks and goals of achieving high marks in examinations. Only high marks decide the future of their children. They have to work seriously on their text books to get high marks. For them reading books is a waste of time! This attitude has to be defeated.

Our established social fabric has been completely eroded by progenies and posterity of the nouveau riche particularly in the political circles. Ninety nine

percent of them have got their hands on dirty-big money via illegal means. Parents belonging to this category we see in our assemblies.

Once I saw an interior minister who could not recite Sura al-Ikhlas at the beginning of a cabinet meeting.

At another occasion a member of the Senate could not recite Suara al-Fatiha. I also saw a reporter of a TV channel, standing outside assembly building, asking MPAs contents of our national anthem.

Not a single MPA could narrate even two couplets of the national anthem. These are the parents of our misguided youth.

These rich youth join colleges only for the sake of fun, a pastime and not for education. Books to them mean nothing. They are obsessed by the mania of riding heavy motorbikes for one-wheeling. They love to ride their bikes without silencers.

They drive Pajeros, Land Rovers and Land Cruisers at high speed violating all traffic rules. This category of our youth is serving as a bad example for those who really want to study and those who love books. They ridicule the bibliophiles directly or indirectly.

For them liaison of friendship means materialistic give and take – amity ends as soon as the wheeling and dealing is over. Our youth must return to books whether related to their courses of study or not. Even books on scientific, mythological and historical themes can widen outlook and knowledge.

Academia 35 MAR 2019

| HEALTH & NUTRITION |

Food Groups to

boost Brain

E

ating right can make you smart as it gives your brain that specific nutritional support, which helps you to perform better.

Lot of studies have been done on this topic to identify what foods students can use to fuel their body as well as their brain. Everybody knows that an average student is often pressed for time and also sometimes has bad habits like skipping meals or frequently visiting fast food restaurants.

During a latest study done on a group of students in America students were asked to give their opinion on their favoritestudy snacks. Answers were hilarious from glutenfree to low-carb options, and all the way down to syrupy snacks with energy drinks.

So what are the best study snacks or foods students should include in their day to day diet?

Despite what many of us believe it’s not that hard to get started with healthy study snacks. Here are some great food groups and snacks that will definitely make you perform better not only in the classroom but in the athletic field as well.

MAR 36 Academia 2019

Fruits Fruits are on top of our list considering the fact that they are complete healthy study snacks.Fruits are jam-packed with vitamins, which are crucial to increase mental agility.

The healthy glucose you get from natural carbohydrate sources like fruits is best to get energy for both body and brain instead of using other higher-calorie junk foods.

Almost all fruits are antioxidant. Use fruits as a snack to get more fibre and less sugar if you are not able to prepare balanced meal. Believe it or not eating fruits is the only way to make sure that your body is getting the right amount of nutrients it needs to achieve your educational goals. Here are some fruits that you can use to boost your energy instantly.

Apples | Strawberries | Banana | Watermelon | Grapes

Dry Fruits

Rich in proteins, dietary fibre and minerals make dry fruits come second on our list of healthy study snacks. Dry fruits provide students with host of health benefiting properties and promote digestion.

Most dry fruits are rich on neuroprotective compounds that enhance cognitive function& memory. Regular intake of dry

| HEALTH & NUTRITION |

Dairy Whether you are a school, college, university or even a postgraduate student dairy products work as fuel for academic success and for this reason they are ranked third on our list of healthy snacks.

Dairy products are essential to energize the control centre of your body “the brain� that allows you to move, feel and think. The calcium in dairy products is not only significant for getting enough calcium but also helps you to build bone mass which leads to enriched bone health throughout the life cycle.

Probiotics in dairy products enhance the good bacteria in our body which leads to improved memory.

Have a look on these dairy products that can help you to stay active in class.

Milk | Yogurt | Cheese | Cream | Butter

fruits not only substitutes conventional snacking options but also improve your ability to perform specific memory oriented tasks in a better way.

Here are some good dry fruits options you can eat instead of using sugary artificial foods to satisfy your appetite.

Almonds | Cashews | Pistachios | Dates | Walnuts

Academia 37 MAR 2019

| HEALTH & NUTRITION |

SeaFood

If you are feeling forgetful at class the best solution is seafood. Without doubt seafood plays a major role in brain health and for many good reasons gets the fourth position on our list.

Regular intake of seafood encourages good blood flow to the brain that helps you to boost memory and better utilization of brain. So it’s strongly advised to use nutritious seafood instead of eating conventional fast food or bakery snacks. Many studies confirm the good impact of seafood on students as it plays a vital role to increase working remembrance, retain active body functions and reduce depression. Check out these seafoods that will definitely help you to perform better during your academic career.

Fish oil | Fish Meat | Prawns | Edible seaweed | Lobster

Broccoli | Spinach | Tomatoes | Potato | Carrot

Vegetables

MAR 38 Academia 2019

Vegetables can provide those precise nutrients that are vital for health and maintenance of your body andbrain. Instead of candied snacks filled with artificial colours and fats, there is a rainbow of colours to choose from if you start eating vegetables as a study snack. Withuncountable health benefits vegetables are on fifth place on our list of study snacks that can enhance your aptitudeand performance as a student. Many nutrients in vegetables such asdietary fibre, folic acid, vitamin A, potassium and vitamin C permit you to perform better. If you are overweight than you mustinclude vegetables in your day to day dietary habits. Eating vegetables as your study snack can lend a hand as vegetables are naturally low in fat but high on vitamins. Enter these delicious vegetables in your daily diet to get improved intellectual abilities within no time.

| TECH |

HAMMAD ANWAR

5

Best Education Apps For Students 2019

It’s really easy to get lost in notes and ideas while you are studying. Fortunately, the app market has exploded with useful mobile apps for students to help them streamline their academic and personal lives. You can find an app on everything you can imagine nowadays and if you want to make your student life easier these apps can surely lend a hand.

There’s a gigantic array of mobile apps available that students can use for learning, organizing, revising topics, taking study notes, or increasing productivity.

We want to highlight some of the best apps that can grease the wheels of students of all ages.

Evernote:

E

vernote is good app if you want to manage your focus on what matters most to you. It’s an app that not only stores everything from personal moments but also for academic projects. The application auto-syncs your devices, from desktop, smartphone, to tablet and your data always remain available, no matter where you are. It will not only save all your ideas, notes or clipped pages but you can also invite anyone to collaborate on whatever is on your mind. By allowing users to store a note using voice memos, photos, and more Evernote is your Redeemer if you don’t have time for typing. Without doubt Evernote is the platform where you can collect and organize material efficiently and get it back whenever you need it.

MAR 40 Academia 2019

StudyBlue:

T

his app is totally for you if want to connect with your study material in fun way. Studyblue is an online study platform where you can upload class study materials, notes, pictures, saved webpages, create electronic flashcards to study. The app also let it users share the uploaded material with friends to practice. All the information stored on cloud and users can connect with others students who are learning the same subject and test their knowledge. For a modern student’s arsenal, Studyblue is not stand-alone solution but it’s the best app if you want to store your study materials digitally.

| TECH |

Conclusion:

As a student in this digital era world must be at your fingertips with an access to any information from anywhere. The introduction of applications in the education sector have completely transformed learning methods as they allow you to learn at your own pace. Mobile apps are the new smart way to search and segregating the appropriate study material quickly. Find mobile applications that can ease up study problems and facilitate you in learning. Mobile applications are the future of the learning so adapt the trend to keep the ball rolling in this tech-savvy era.

Duolingo:

Chegg Books:

W

A

ant to expand your language skills or want make your breaks and commutes more productive by learning a new language? Duolingo is the best language-learning platform mobile app that can help. The app is loaded with lessons that have variety of speaking, listening, translation, and multiple choice challenges to make you familiar with a foreign language. Duolingo uses gamification techniques that make learning a foreign language fun and addictive at the same time. Another good feature is this app use in lesson grading and you can see your correct and incorrect answers while testing.

re you in need textbooks for the new semester without paying, then download from Chegg Books free app. With this app you can find rentals of textbooks and other study materials according to your need. You can also search for books and order them on economical prices if they’re not available on rent. Rental terms of this website are much more flexible and come along with a Q&A section where you can browse question boards and find answers from subject matter experts. Another interesting feature is you can also make some additional money by renting out your own books to other app users.

Mystudylife:

T

his app is a good choice if you want to say goodbye to your paper planner. Mystudylife is a great tool that will not make your study life easier but also helps you to manage it more efficiently.

The app has a user friendly to do list options with ability to manage week and day rotation timetables as well as traditional weekly schedules.

The app further notifies you about all incomplete tasks and upcoming classes and exams so that you can prepare yourself in advance. All your data will be stored on cloud and you can even work offline and sync when you’re back online.

Academia 41 MAR 2019

| INSIGHT |

Sky Is The Limit

T

he aviation industry has witnessed a formidable growth in the recent years, with more universities offering undergraduate and graduate degree programmes in different arenas of aviation management and sciences.

An increasing number of youngsters in Pakistan are turning to universities offering specialisations and professional training courses in aviation management, avionics, aerospace sciences and air

transport management.

Youngsters with a keen interest in aviation studies are introduced to the aviation milieu through these professional and training courses, allowing them to learn the art of flying with hands-on experience in flight and airport operations.

Since you are reading this, you are quite obviously interested in aviation studies.

So if you happen to be on the lookout for the top university to study aviation sciences, following are the leading universities in Pakistan offering this discipline.

University of Management and Technology, Lahore Institute Of Aviation And Technology, UMT offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of aviation management, aircraft maintenance engineering technology and air transport management.

IAS UMT offers graduate degree programs in aviation sciences in collaboration with the Turkish Aviation Academy, at Istanbul, Turkey and is among the leading universities in Pakistan approved by International air transport association (IATA). The university operates a sub-campus of IAS at the Walton airport under the title of “Walton Aviation Training School� which provides handson experience and training programs toa aspiring pilots in the country. Moreover, in 2013 a flight simulator, with a mock-up of aircraft Cessna-172, and Air Traffic Control (ATC) were bought by the school as training devices.

IAS is authorized by Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) for conducting ground courses for Private Pilot

Air University, Islamabad Air University was established in 2002 by the Pakistan Air Force and is located in the suburbs of MAR 42 Academia 2019

License/Commercial Pilot, ground courses for Private Pilot License/Commercial Pilot License/Instrument Rating/ Airlines Transport Pilot License (PPL/CPL/IR/ATPL), ground courses for Flight Operation Officer/Flight Despatcher and English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) for pilots.

IAS acquired an FAA, EASA&PCAA-approved flight simulator, with motion from USA in 2017 and installed at the Walton Aviation Training School, Walton Airport which provides up to 30hrs of log able flying training for pilots i.e.

PPL/CPL/IR/ATPL.

Islamabad. The university falls in the public sector category and offers undergraduate, graduate and doctorate degrees in the disciplines of avionics engineering, aerospace sciences and strategic studies and aviation management. The university currently ranks among the top ten universities in the category of Engineering and Technology by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) and is accredited by the Pakistan Engineering Council. The varsity is also a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities of the United Kingdom and International Association of Universities.

| INSIGHT |

Superior University, Lahore Superior University was established in 2000 and is one of the leading higher education institutes of the country. The university is chartered with the government of Punjab and holds international affiliations and partnerships with prestigious international universities including the University of Newcastle, Concordia

The University Of Lahore, Lahore The University of Lahore was established in 1999, under the IBADAT Educational Trust. The university is located in the suburbs of Lahore and was granted degree awarding status in 2002. UOL is accredited by the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), Pakistan Bar Council, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC),

University Wisconsin, and the University of Cumbria.

The faculty of engineering and technology, Superior University offers undergraduate degree programs in Avionic engineering and Aviation technology, providing young aspiring pilots with much needed skill-set and experience to excel in the aviation industry.

Pakistan Nursing Council, and Pharmacy Council of Pakistan. Lahore School of Aviation, UOL offers undergraduate degree programs in the disciplines of aviation management and Aircraft Maintenance Technology which are taught by experienced faculty members including senior airline professionals, foreigntrained aviation professors, and retired Pakistan air force instructors.

PAF Karachi Institute of Economics and Technology (KIET), Karachi PAF Karachi Institute of Economics and Technology (KIET) was established in 1997 and ranks among the eight best universities in the Business and IT category by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC). KIET has been granted accreditation by the National Computing Education Accreditation Council (NCEAC) and offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs in aviation management and avionics, assisting youngsters to become first-class pilots or pursue a successful career in non-flight

management or flight operations.

Academia 43 MAR 2019

| WASHINGTON TALK |

Rana Fawad

International

students

turn away from

As recently as 2017, international students’ arrival contributed $42.4 billion to the United States economy. No wonder the country could boast of being the top destination for international students followed by the United Kingdom. The prestigious US educational universities and colleges attract students from all over the globe. However, the latest data shows a worrying trend for these institutions.

The country seems to be losing the magnetism that worked for years.

MAR 46 Academia 2019

F

or the past couple of years enrollment of international students in the US is declining.

Many critics attribute this negative trend to President Donald Trump’s ascension to power. His ‘America First’ rhetoric, his attempt to impose a ‘Muslim ban’ on seven Muslim-majority countries, and his criticism of China. Allegedly President Trump expressed his concern regarding Chinese students as he believed ‘almost every’ one of those Chinese students studying in the US was a spy. Half of the international students in the US come from China and India.

According to US government’s

| WASHINGTON TALK |

Allegedly President Trump expressed his concern regarding Chinese students as he believed ‘almost every’ one of those Chinese students studying in the US was a spy

Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Chinese students comprised 32.5 percent of the total 1.08 million international students in the 2016-17 school year (a total of 350,755 Chinese students were enrolled in US).

Although the US administration claimed that during 2017-18 the number of international students increased by 1.5 percent (1.1 million) than the previous year, the fact is that number declined by 6.6 percent. The problem with the US administration’s claims is the way it counted ‘new’ students. The official claim included new as well as continuing students. In reality, enrollment of ‘new’ students was around 272,000 which is close to 10 percent down from a high point of 301,000 in 2015-16.

International education experts see a new reality emerging out of international politics that might shuffle students’ destinations in the coming years. Writing for Inside Higher Ed’s “World Views” blog, Hans deWit, the director of Boston College’s Center for International Higher Education, and Philip G Altbach, a research professor and founding director of the center, say they “are convinced that we are now in an era of global instability in international higher education and that the certainties and truisms of the past are no longer applicable. What, for example, would be the fallout of China blocking

the study of Chinese nationals in the United States as part of the trade war, or Russia’s doing so in response to American sanctions?

What if Canada would offend the Indian government? All possible, although it looks like the most significant political actions to affect international student flows have been taken by the governments – the US and the UK -- that receive the greatest economic benefits from mobility. The key message from all of this is politics play a crucial and increasingly volatile role in international higher education.”

Preston Cooper of Forbes presents a different perspective. He believes price hike in tuition fee for international students coming to the

United States may also be a culprit.

Students from foreign countries have seen a steady rise in tuition for international students in the US. This trend affects their financial health directly. The US colleges and universities rely on international students for their budgets, but it appears they have started expecting a lot more than those students can afford to pay.

A Pakistani-American PhD scholar, Ans Irfan, at George Washington University points to yet another possible reason: online courses. He thinks many international students can access online courses and graduate without leaving their country of origin.

Academia 47 MAR 2019

| FEATURE |

Arsalan Haider

Learning

Chinese, Russian the new fad

The time has gone when youth were looking for learning only English language as a key to the success in life. The trend of learning Chinese and Russian language is picking up among the youth.

P

akistan’s relations have been cemented further with China and Russia in recent years. The country is working with both China and Russia in many sectors and in the coming years, the engagement is expected to increase and this would create many new job opportunities, especially for interpreters.

With China, the start of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects were the major reason that youngsters started learning the Chinese language.

On the other hand, the strategic relationship between Pakistan and Russia has reached new heights in the last few years. After these strategic partnerships, an interest among the students was observed.

Chinese language is being taught by number of institutes, universities, private and government educational institutions and some private companies. Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority MAR 48 Academia 2019

CPEC is bringing more than 40,000 jobs of Chinese interpreters in the country.

(TEVTA) Punjab has the largest share in teaching Chinese Language among masses against low fee. TEVTA has taught the language free of cost for around one-and-a-half year.

Currently, TEVTA is conducting Chinese Language classes in 10 districts of Punjab. So far, more than 5,000 students have learnt Chinese Language from TEVTA institutes “After the announcement of CPEC projects and later when the work on these projects started, people began to learn Chinese language. They knew it would give them job opportunities.

The students now prefer Chinese over

English and other foreign languages,” Chief Operating Officer TEVTA Punjab Akhtar Abbas Bharwana told Academia Magazine.

“The course currently and in future will help Pakistani youth to avail more and more opportunities in the CPEC projects. This was the basic motive behind starting this course,” Bharwana explained Talking about prospects of Chinese language course, Bharwana said TEVTA has set a target to train Chinese language to 50,000 students across the province. “CPEC is bringing more than 40,000 jobs of Chinese interpreters in the country.This number will increase with the passage of time. TEVTA has prepared a roadmap for coping with job opportunities of Chinese language interpreters,” he said.

The chief operating officer observed that there are many private and public sector organizations that offer Chinese language learning course. “TEVTA’s course is completely different. The Chinese instructors ensure quality of education, he said.

He also informed that after

| FEATURE |

Imtiaz ul Haq, Russian instructor

Chinese language class in progress at TEVTA

completing this course from TEVTA, people are getting jobs of minimum Rs 30,000, which is a good salary for starters. In future these starters will be able to get salaries of more than Rs 50,000, he said.

The Government College University (GCU) is also offering Chinese Language Course and established Center for Excellence in China Studies. Prof Dr Khalid Manzoor Butt who chaired the center before his retirement said GCU is holding two sessions a year for Chinese Language class. “GCU is striving to promote the Chinese and Pakistani languages,

has started Russian language learningcourse.

“A group of 15 students is learning Russian language for three months.

This is the best time for Russia and Pakistan to take mutual friendship to new heights,” the consul said.

“Russia has always supported Pakistan’s stance at international forums like United Nations and on getting membership of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

There is much potential between both countries to bolster bilateral ties in tourism, sports, medicine and engineering, as well as defence,” he said.

Honorary Consul said that recently Pakistan relaxed visa policy for Russian people, especially for traders and businessmen. “Pakistan is looking forward to Free Trade Agreement with Russia to improve the trade ties between both countries,” he said.

Chief Editor of English and Russian news agency DND Agha Iqrar Haroon said Russian language is understood, read and written in the former Soviet Union. “The new concept of EuroAsia has emerged which started from Pakistan and Eastern Europe.

“Azarbaijan, Uzbekestan and Ukraine all are gateways of EuroAsian belt and

Pakistani youth and bureaucrats must learn Russian language to cope with the future challenges. so our youngsters can benefit from the CPEC which is said to be a game changer in the region,” Dr Khalid said.

Honorary Consul of Russian Federation in Lahore Habib Ahmed

Akhtar Abbas Bharwana COO TEVTA

are all are Russian speaking. While coping with this new concept Russian Language has its significance,” he said.

Talking about strategic relationship and cooperation between Pakistan and Russia, he said Pakistani youth and bureaucrats must learn the Russian language to cope with the future challenges.

A student of Russian language Faizan observed that he is learning the Russian language because he wants to pursue and explore opportunities in Russia. “The free of cost Russian language course offered by Russian consulate in Lahore would bridge the ties between both countries to understand each other’s cultures and build relations,” he said.

Academia 49 MAR 2019

| VIEW POINT |

MAR 50 Academia 2019

| VIEW POINT |

RIAZ UL HAQ

Understanding Banuri’s vision for change Riazul Haqsat down with HEC Chairman Dr Tariq Banuri to discuss the challenges and the change we should expect in the higher education sector in the near future

T

he Higher Education Commission (HEC) caters to the needs of and the regulating body that oversees higher education sector in the country. Since its inception in 2002, the commission has so far seen four men in the driving seat, with each facing its own set of challenges and each achieving success of varying forms.

From extensive funding to financial crunches and from absolute hegemony over higher education to continued bickering with federating units (Sindh and Punjab) over jurisdiction, the HEC has come a long way in becoming a federal organizationthat is working to align university education in the country with international standards and practices.

In an exclusive interview with incumbent HEC Chairman Dr Tariq Banuri, The Academia Mag discussed the challenges he has faced during his seven months in office, as well as the new developments in the higher education sector.

Clear-headed, composed and serene, Banuri has spent most of his recent years teaching at University of Utah, apart from being actively involved in Pakistan’s development sector. He applied for the post keeping issues and challenges of higher education sector back Academia 51 MAR 2019

| VIEW POINT |

home in mind and got selected in April 2018 as the fourth chairperson of the HEC after Dr Attaur Rehman, Dr Javed Laghari and Dr Mukhtar Ahmed.

Banuri knows what he is doing and that which needs to be done; and the arrival of new government has only added to his energy and vigor.

The chairperson is mainly focusing on making things right that have been ignored long enough to go wrong. His area of particular interest include the booming and oft unregulated private sector

Oxford and Cambridge overnight, but the first step was to begin meeting the required standards.

Research Shedding light on the research culture in Pakistan, Banauri said HEC had been doling out funds to conduct research for 15 years, but it never questioned what the institutions were up to in those researches. “When I asked them as to what have we achieved so far, the answers were hardly satisfactory.

However, at the same time,there are many institutions in Pakistanthat are involved in good research.”

HEC has made a job portal for unemployed PhDs and besides there will be portal for all the academic jobs in Pakistan very soon. institutions, violations of the law by stakeholders in the sector, improving the quality of research and make the higher education sector competitive in the face of modern demands and challenges.

“One of the urgent problems I had to address (right after my arrival) was that a number of universities had violated the standards set by HEC. None of the standards are difficult or impossible for universities to meet,” Banuri said.

Explaining the issue, he said there were certain measures, for example the number of classrooms a university has. “If it’s a technical subject (we need to ensure that) you should have the laboratories, you have to have to have a library and some space as well. These are minimum measures to meet. And if somebody says they cannot meet these requirements they should not be in the business of education,” the HEC chairman maintained.

Banuri said nobody would get an NOC prior to starting students’enrollment because “nothing should be done in anticipation as education is a serious business”.

He said he did not expect Pakistani institutions to become MAR 52 Academia 2019

The HEC chairman was of the view that there was no yardstick to measure the quality of research in the country at the moment, except that whether it waspublished in local or international research journal(s).

Commenting on the research practice, he said HEC would be changing the funding criteria for research. “We are working on various aspects for improvement, like areas of emerging challenges and channelizing money to research in areas like water, energy and environment. Then we will be looking

to create a system to take the desired results from such research,”Banuri explained.

The HEC chief said he was also focusing on the global trend of going GLOCAL– global perspective for local issues. “HEC wants to create a local research fund so that we can specifically work on the local issues. For example a varsity in Dera Ghazi Khan should help the locals of that area on issues of water usage, agriculture, sewerage floods etc.

An announcement will be made soon about the fund, with the major aim that such backward areas can compete with others with this incentive system.”

“Secondly, a support system would also be established with research centre(s) to guide how to do qualitative research and motivate people for conducting more meaningful research,”Banurisaid.

Autonomy Since assuming the charge, Dr Banuri has been quite vocal about giving autonomy to universities. “It would not be a one-off step but a gradual process – a pathway towards autonomy.I talked to vice chancellors about the way forward. We discussed milestones and then following their performance to give them gradual autonomy in compliance with the set standards.”

“A review and inspection system will follow if a new programme or project is launched in that particular university to keep tabs for next level approval,” he explained.

Banuri added that autonomy would be given to universities already having excellent credentials in public sector and the same would be withdrawn if the performance became poor.

“I think that is a responsible way of moving towards autonomy.

Hopefully within a month or so we will move down this path. Five varsities and other institutions will be given autonomy if they meet all the requirements,” Banuri said.

18th Amendment Amidst the recent concerns being voiced about devolution and 18th Amendment, the role of HEC has

| VIEW POINT |

also come into question. Should it still remain relevant or should provinces be allowed to take leading role in managing higher education?

The chairperson has a clear view on the issue and seems to back HEC’s long-term existence.

“For regularity purposes, capacity building, and financing a federal body is present and that is HEC. It is an equitable way of running a system that is also representative of every province and backward areas.

HEC has a governing body of 18 members and representatives of four provinces. All the decisions are taken in agreement with the federal as well as provincial governments.”

“I have met HEC Sindh chief Dr Asim and Punjab HEC’s former chairman Dr Nizamuddin. We have agreed that issues would be resolved amicably and federal HEC would be strengthened,” Banuri said.

He said provincial governments were completely within their limits if they wanted to do something additional for the higher education in their area. Although he did offer a warning. “The claim that we can live like islands after the 18thAmendment will never be true because it is a matter of our children’s future.”

PhDs HEC has been facing serious challenges in roping in fresh PhD scholars it funds in and outside the country. Currently over 400 scholars abroad have not returned to Pakistan and owe millions of rupees against the amount they availed during their degree programmes.

Banuri has a different view about treating such “absconding scholars” and says instead of hounding them with letters of fines and compliance, the outstanding payments should be converted into loan(s).

“We spent money on you and you owe service to the country, if not then sponsor someone back home instead of paying that amount in one go,” the HEC chairman maintained.

Currently, any scholar who graduates through HEC scholarship has to return to the country and spend five yearsof service in

Pakistan. However, absconding the scholarshave to pay about 25% fine of the amount spent as per the surety bonds signed by him/her and per rules of procedure.

“I want to rationalize it.We do not want to bother them to leave their jobs and return home to serve the

recruitment, including capacity building through workshops and get the issue resolved at the earliest,” Banuri added.

“Punjab Information Technology Board is working on the portal and we will make it functionalhopefully within a month,” he said.

Plagiarism Recently, HEC was rocked by high profile cases of plagiarism involving two of its former chairpersons, executive director and a senior official. Though the validity of accusations is up for debate, it nonetheless made HEC a laughing stock.

Tired of the mudslinging, the chairman wants a new method of investigating high profile cases in the future.He, however, has a different view about the cases of past.

“About 50% of the existing faculty in the country has not been through the system of plagiarism policy which came into being in 2000.

Currently over 400 scholars abroad have not returned to Pakistan and owe fine of millions of rupees. five years, but they have to support someone who can study abroad from Pakistan,”the HEC chairman added.

While some have absconded abroad, others in Pakistan have been criticizing HEC for not ensuring jobs to PhD scholars at public universities.

Under the programme Interim Placement for Fresh PhDs (IPFP), the HEC appoints PhDs in different universities for a year, besides paying their salaries and then eventually the universities hire them permanently; on paper at least.

However, many PhDs have still been protesting after one year that they are not getting employed.

Banuri said HEC had made a job portal for such PhDs. Besides there would a portal for all academic jobs in Pakistan very soon.

“Apart from that, we will remove all obstacles in way of their

The new generation knows this about this epidemic.They know that plagiarism is a crime and work must be done to avoid it.”

He envisions that by 2035, everyone will come from a “whole new system”. “I am not worried about the top management (which is ruling the roost) but the new generation which will be taking charge in future,” he said.

Banuri plans to setup a committee to investigate cases of plagiarism to avoid biased outcomes, as was the case in the past. “The committee will have a proper structure and it will be activated at the university level,”he added.

Chairman Banuri has four years to work on his goals.Only time will tell how he fares in overcoming problems and achieving the feats that he is aiming for.

Academia 53 MAR 2019

| RENDEZVOUS |

Faizan Warraich

Raja Yasir’s strategic initiatives

I

n an exclusive interview with the Academia Magazine Raja Yasir talked about the current situation of the higher education sector in Punjab, different initiatives being taken by government, planning and policy implementation with regard to appointment of vice chancellors in different public-sector universities and issues faced by Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC).

While talking about the most hyped agenda of the PTI government, Raja Yasir was of the view that the main task was to make a blueprint for the next five years.

The minister said his ministry worked on nine key initiatives. “These key strategic initiatives include developing a higher education policy for Punjab, transparency and good governance, setting-up of higher education management, research MAR 54 Academia 2019

Academia magazine in conversation with Punjab Higher Education Minister Raja YasirHamayun discussed the government plan to deal with the issues confronting the education ecosystem.

and learning institutes, modernization and rationalization of the legal framework for higher education sector, college sector reforms, strengthening/establishment of universities, curriculum reform, sports leagues in universities and colleges as well as revamping of the student assistance systems,” Yasir explained.

Yasir said the first thing his ministry wanted to do was to develop a higher education policy. “This policy will be presented in the cabinet very soon after consultation and feedback from all education stakeholders including the academia and other experts,” he said.

Talking about the appointment of vice chancellors in 14 universities across the province, the minister said the new government has reformed the selection criteria’s formulated by the previous government and research committees would be finalized soon, after which the process

of appointment would initiate.

Within two months, VCs of these 14 varsities will be appointed. Interviews for the appointment of principals at different colleges and for heading Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) are also being conducted in a transparent manner,” he said.

Talking about a new initiative, he said the government wanted to set up higher education management, research and learning institutes in different parts of Punjab. “We tried to search for a government building for this purpose but failed to find suitable place. Three institutes will be established soon at Lahore, Murree and Southern Punjab and foreign faculty will teach and train students about research. Also new techniques for learning and training would be incorporated in these institutes. The two years bachelor’s degree programme (private) will be

| RENDEZVOUS |

Only those universities will survive that will ensure high-quality education standards

replaced with the four-year bachelor’s degree programme,” the minister maintained.

“None of our university is in the top 100 universities of the world, so there will be a focus on bringing our varsities in the top 100,” he added.

“There will be a ranked university in each division which will primarily be responsible for colleges affiliation in the respective division. Moreover, subcampuses at the district level will soon be converted into universities and community colleges of each district will be affiliated with the district level universities,” Hamayun said.

While emphasising the need of promoting sports and healthy activities among youth, he said five sports leagues were introduced for both private and public sector universities and colleges.

The minister said this plan was inspired by American universities who encourage youngsters to keep

themselves fit and healthy.

While sharing the problems and issues faced by the Punjab Higher Education Department, he said the Ministry has established a ‘Search committee’ to explore and dig out the most suitable and competent vice chancellors for public sector universities.

“I don’t believe in nepotism and I will not support any appointment violating merit in public universities.

Dr Attur Rehman will lead the search committee and will recommend the best possible choices for public sector universities,” Hamayun said.

“I don’t believe in micromanagement. If I want to transform the Punjab Higher Education Commission than its head PHEC must be competent,” he said.

The minister assured that PTI government will not appoint any incompetent person, as vicechancellors at leading public sector universities or head of departments at institutes affiliated with the Punjab Higher Education Ministry.

He denied that there were any differences between PHEC and HEC. “The HEC will decide the course of action and PHEC will implement it. All matters have been resolved,” he said.

Academia Magazine asked the minister about the appointment of vice chancellors in Punjab’s public sector universities and the criterions that would be followed for filling these vacant seats. The minister said we have inherited the KPK Model, but with some changes, as Punjab has a totally different operational order. “The current model is completely objective in its practices for appointing the VCs. “Luckily, most of the seats of public universities are vacant and I am not in favour of removing people just on the basis of political affiliations. I will not oppose the appointments that are up to the mark,” he added.

He said he was against the mind set to remove people because of personal or political affiliations and wanted high-quality work, along with sheer determination for reforms from the staff and heads of the department.

The minister said he was realistic

in his philosophy and believed that those who support Pakistan Muslim League are also Pakistanis.We will not oppose them just because of their political affiliations. We only demand dedication and work in a timely manner. I don’t believe in working outside of my ambit,” he said.

“In the private sector market forces ensure to take the right set of decisions,” Hamayun was of the view.

“Due to the private sector, the competition has increased after which only those universities will survive that will ensure high-quality education standards,” the minister explained.

“The biggest challenge of higher education ministry is budget. We don’t have money to execute policies.

I believe that inviting private sector would drive money in the ministry.

However, there is another challenge which is transparency, particularly during the initiation of public-private partnership,” he said.

The Academia Magazine asked the minister about his constituency PP 21, where he secured 77,000 votes against his opponent and how he will work for the people of his district. He said that he wants

Government wants to set up higher education management, research and learning institutes in different parts of Punjab.

to establish a top-class university inChakwal. “Even in America the university town is established around cities which were rich in natural beauties. I have this thing in my mind since 2013 that a top rank university in Chakwal can be established which could potentially attract students from all over the province and country,” he said.

Academia 55 MAR 2019

| INTERVIEW |

EMANUEL SARFRAZ

Chinoy’s secret of

success

F

Emanuel Sarfraz talks to celebrated documentary maker and journalist Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy about what motivates her to take up challenging projects.

ilmmaker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy in the last eight years has worked on a lot of out of box ideas and came up with amazing results. She is an activist to the core of her heart. She has won two Academy Awards and six Emmy Awards. Time magazine named her among the 100 most influential people in the world.

In an exclusive interview with Academia Magazine she talks about her projects and how she has managed to highlight issues.

Following are excerpts of the interview: Amna, Kamil and Saadi are now household names for children who have been watching full length animated feature film 3 MAR 58 Academia 2019

Bahadur series. They are your babies who have grown up and matured. How do you feel?

The three characters have delighted the viewers and taken them on adventures. They have shown them how good triumphs over evil and taught them important lessons. The greatest thing for me is when people come to me and say thank you for making 3 Bahadur and thank you for making heroes. The writer Kamran Khan is person who put all of this together.

3 Bahadur series has been very inspiring. Unfortunately it could be screened in only 50 cinemas.

Is there any plan to increase its scope that it may reach target audience, which is young people especially in rural areas and small towns?

For the last two years we have a

| INTERVIEW |

The education that you get in the premier institutions of UK and USA is very hard to find in the institutions of Pakistan. It has to do with the fact that that we do not have research grants for professors

Academia 59 MAR 2019

| INTERVIEW |

mobile cinema that goes from one town to another and to small villages across Pakistan to show our films.

We have perticularly focused on Thar, KPK or remote areas of Balochistan.

Could you explain the structure of your production team for 3 Bahadur‌ The basic structure of the team is that I am the creative director.

Kamran Khan is head of productions.

Salman is our art director. Then we have teams of people for different tasks. We are in partnership with a number of musicians.

Many young people are interested in making short animation films.

What is your advice for those who want to enter this field?

Animation is a difficult industry to get into because there are a lot of barriers. It is machine based and requires a lot of investment in servers.

I would recommend joint teams to first see how the work is done. Only when they fully understand it they should venture on their own.

You have been showcasing real life heroes of Pakistan like the females working in anti-terrorist squad.

How do you find these heroes?

We have a research team that finds these stories. Then we figure out how to engage these people and the best way to tell their story. Pakistan is full of ordinary heroes who need to become extraordinary.

people handling circulation and marketing?

The journalism across the globe is facing crisis. Newspapers are shutting down and TV channels are struggling. Traditional models of revenue have been jeopardized.

Across the world there is rise of right wing governments who do not want to have critical analysis. They would rather imprison or abduct journalists.

It is not easy being a journalist in the world of today.

You have studied in institutions like Stanford in USA. How do you compare the education there with the institutions here considering the fact that in recent years there has been mushroom growth in higher education sector?

I don’t think that quantity is important. It always is the quality. The education that you get in the premier institutions of UK and USA is very hard to find in the

institutions of Pakistan. It has to do with the fact that that we do not have research grants for professors.

We do not have tenures for professors at most universities. With so many universities coming up what really is the question as who are teaching there. Do we have enough PhD qualified professors teaching at that university.

Education and the way they teach is very important. There are some institutions in Pakistan that are doing well but you can count them in your hands. The rest of them do not have enough solid foundation to impart education.

Your stress has been a lot on

As a journalist and activist what is your take on the current state of media industry? This is very important considering there are hundreds of students from different universities who want to enter media as journalists, anchors and

MAR 60 Academia 2019

Animation is a difficult industry to get into because there are a lot of barriers. It is machine based and requires a lot of investment in servers. I would recommend joint teams to first see how the work is done.

| INTERVIEW |

Look at the amount of work I have done in the last 12 months and the credit goes to me and my team. I am lucky that my work gets recognized.

women empowerment. We still have a long way to go but are we moving in the right direction?

We think we are going in the right direction. We take one step forward and steps backward. Young people want change. They are asking for their rights. They are struggling for their rights. There is lot of push and pull factor that is taking place right now. I am hopeful that we will have many wins and less losses in the coming years. That means we have to continue to struggle.

How can we rope in the new net generation in realizing the important issues at hand?

We are a country that has limited resources. Our exports are falling. Our population is increasing. Millions of our young people have to struggle to find jobs. They have to struggle to making a living for themselves. We have to be more creative to survive.

As a journalist what are your views about the content of packages being shown by our TV news channels?

There are some very credible

organizations and journalists in the country. We need provide peoper education and training to new journalists. They have also to be taught journalism ethics. It is not the fault of vast majority of people in news business. They have not been taught.

Establishing linkages with institutions and people of different countries is important for a journalist and filmmaker like you.

How can one build a good network?

I work very hard. I make a lot of films.

I am working on a lot of social justice issues. I am an activist and always am working on some issue. I have a new series called ‘Agahee’. It is creating awareness about domestic violence, interfaith harmony and women rights. Look at the amount of work I have done in the last 12 months and the credit goes to me and my team. I am lucky that my work gets recognized.

What are the projects in pipeline?

We are coming up with another animated film in summer this year.

Then there is another animated film for children. We are coming up with five part international series, which has been filmed in Georgia and Pakistan.

Academia 61 MAR 2019

| SYDNEY CALLING |

NIDA TAHSEEN

Australia DESTINATION

“For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today? And whenever the answer has been ‘NO’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something,” Steve Jobs, Founder of Apple.

S

omewhere deep down in our hearts, we all have a dream.

For most people, it stays alive in its core, but on the surface it starts to die with every passing day.

Whatever the case is, one thing is sure that over a certain period of time and age in our lives, some amount of confusion creeps in and our minds gets clouded. The truth is that our environment influences us all the time subconsciously.

This happens due to continuous conditioning from the society and people around us over a long period of time. We start to forget what we want what really makes us happy.

We start chasing things we do not really want but just because everybody else is chasing some type of goal, our natural behaviour starts to copy majority of people. Since we are not fine-tuned with what we really want and what we are doing, frustration and failure kicks MAR 62 Academia 2019

in. This is exactly where I do not wish to see any international student in Australia.

To uncover the real YOU, you must first be ready to act in complete honesty with yourself. Talk to the person in the mirror and ask these questions: What kind of individual am I?, What are my beliefs and value system?, What motivates me?, What are my strengths?, and What do I really want to learn from Australia?

Once you know what your strengths, character, value system, dreams and exact outcomes are, your journey as an international student in Australia will become quite interesting. But once you have made a decision to come to Australia, it is crucial to have financial considerations because they play a huge role in your daily lifestyle and mental health. You must carry out all the research in figuring out your financial implications in Australia as an international student. Your recurring expenses may include food, rent, telephone, transport,

utility bills and leisure. There is one more cost, which takes up a big part of the budget for most students – the course fee. For your chosen course, the fee can go anywhere from AUD$ 10,000 to AUD$ 90,000 for the whole duration though the cost highly depends on the educational institution you choose.

The truth is that our environment influences us all the time subconsciously and this happens due to the continuous conditioning from society and people around us over a long period of time

| SYDNEY CALLING |

I see thousands of international students making compromises on their priorities, lifestyle, health and unfortunately happiness in pursuit of making money to pay for their studies.

Generally, you are not allowed to work more than 40 hours fortnightly on a student visa unless you are on holidays. Considering this fact, it is extremely hard to pay off your course fee all by yourself. If possible, applying for an educational loan in your home country is a great idea to fund your studies in Australia or apply to universities that offer scholarships to international students. There are few universities that offer scholarship at undergraduate or graduate level. Most of the scholarships are for postgraduate research like Endeavour Awards, Australia Award Scholarships, International Postgraduate Research Scholarships and then scholarships from different universities and their respective departments.

Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Adelaide are the most liveable cities for Pakistani students

Once you know what your strengths, character, value system, dreams and exact outcomes are, your journey as an international student in Australia will become quite interesting

Academia 63 MAR 2019

| SYDNEY CALLING |

because these cities have relatively higher percentage of international students particularly from South Asia. They are multicultural and offers a wide range of cuisines.

But, we have to accept that feeling homesick is perfectly natural and being in Australia or in any western country for the first time can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time. Emotional ups and downs are bound to happen. There are a few actions you can take to stay strong and emotionally stable. Be prepared to face and embrace the change, read stories and research about the people who had moved to Australia in the past and have now established themselves, last but not least, express yourself, share your thoughts with others.

Let me share a few tips that I practice to feel at home in Australia.

I participate and attend community festivals and functions, this is will new connections and friends. Visit as many places as you can and explore the popular destinations and landmarks.

Other than that there are plenty of places with free and discounted entry prices that you can go to including parks, museums, eateries, art galleries, flea markets etc.

MAR 64 Academia 2019

Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Adelaide are the most liveable cities for Pakistani students because these cities have relatively higher percentage of international students particularly from South Asia

Another truth is that when you master the English language or become more fluent in speaking the local language, you start feeling a sense of belonging in your adopted country. So embrace the change, avoid staying indoors all the time, read more books, try different

cuisines, tune into local radio to get acquainted with culture and lifestyle, involve yourself in university clubs, student activities and extracurricular groups at your university, educate yourself beyond curriculum. And finally, don’t give up, your journey has only begun.