By SHABBIR H. KAZMI
Sep 25 - Oct 01, 2000
We at Hamdard University, follow a theme "improvement in
competence to enhance output". Incidentally this is also the aim of
education. Education, followed by experience, helps a person to do the things
efficiently, with minimum wastage of time and other resources. With the
increasing competition and globalization if a business house wishes to survive
and grow it has to acquire an edge over other competitors. Therefore, the
education at any business school must enable the graduates to do the things in a
better manner so as to compare to the acts of an uneducated person using his
hunch.
We at Hamdard believe that getting education is an inherent
right of a child irrespective of his/her financial, social and cultural
background. I would go one step further, higher education policy of the
government or any educational institution should not be biased towards any
particular group or a few elites. Realizing the fact that higher education costs
more, it is necessary to provide an opportunity to in-service people to improve
upon their competence.
The students coming to Hamdard Institute of Management
Sciences (HIMS) can be divided into various groups. These are: 1) whose fees is
paid by parents and they often do not realize its worth. 2) Who work during the
day and then spend part of their hard earned income on getting education in
evening — when most of the people prefer to relax. 3) Our employees who want
to progress and 4) those who do not have money or job but wish to study by
becoming a productive part of Hamdard.
In the absence of any career counselling, our up-coming
generation often suffer a lot due to herd mentality. At one time every one
wished to become a doctor or engineer. Then there was a craze for acquiring MBA
degree. The latest being information technology (IT). It is very unfortunate
that due to over production of any one particular type, very soon the graduates
face unemployment.
I believe, that instead of wasting resources and precious
time and energy of youth, there is a need to undertake the need-analysis and
then produce only the required number of graduates. Saying this much, it is also
necessary to estimate the annual brain drain. Since we cannot stop the
professionals from going abroad and no such effort should be made, we have to
create employment opportunities and pay the talented youngs an attractive salary
so that they build their careers in Pakistan. I also believe, that most of the
youth who leave Pakistan ultimately come back. While they are abroad they also
send some part of their earnings, at least, to Pakistan to support their
families. When they come back finally, they have already accumulated enough
resources for the brought up of their next generation — which their parents
could not ensure due to their own limitations.
The policy planners, business community and academicians must
join their hands in re-engineering of whole education system. The business
schools should not produce professional managers only. They should groom
entrepreneurs. Look at the public sector entities, most of the employees believe
that they are hired to do a specific job in that particular entity. They do not
use their intellectual properties to work harder or work as a team. They also do
not own these corporations and are least bothered whether the entity makes
profit or loss. They also believe that if the unit, where they are employed,
incur losses their income will not be affected and the government is liable to
provide them with another job.
The harsh reality is that with the passage of time, the role
and participation of private sector is being redefined and state-enterprises
will abolish from the scene, ultimately. Multilateral lenders no longer provide
funds at concessional rates. Even the domestic banks and DFIs have become more
choosy. Therefore, in the next phase of industrialization only the best
companies will be able to survive and grow.
Pakistan has a huge population but most the workforce has
hardly any skill to serve in today's job market. We need to invest in developing
this resource. The presence of a large number of foreign investors and constant
increase in their stake is the exhibition of their faith in the economic
potential of the country. Let all of us join our hands to build this country —
our homeland — and ensure a prosperous future for all. Most probably we are
fighting our last war for the survival
