By AMANULLAH BASHAR
Feb 14 - 20, 2000
Prof. Dr. Matin A. Khan, Dean Faculty of Management Sciences of Hamdard
Institute of Management Sciences, Hamdard University, Karachi is one of the senior-most
educationist in Pakistan.
Dr. Matin did his MBA from the famous Wharton School of Finance and
Commerce, Pennsylvania University USA in 1956 and doctrate in Business Administration from
the University of Southern California, USA.
He served as the Professor Emeritus, Institute of Business
Administration (IBA), Director IBA from 1972. He was visiting Professor faculty of
Business Administration at Ahmadu Bellow University, Zaria, Nigeria. He was also Dean of
Faculty of Business Administration and Commerce, University of Karachi, Director
IBA(1972-77) Project Director, Joint Research Project IV on Slum Improvement and Urban
Development—a project of the Planning Commission of Pakistan. During 80s after
retirement, he wrote a book on Research Methodology for Business and Social Problems which
was published by UGC. In 1955 when Dr. Matin was a lecturer in Commerce department of
Karachi University, he published a book by the title " Commerce, its theories and
practices". This book is still available in the market. Currently, he is completing
his book titled "Scientific Research for Management"
Dr.Matin is the first Professor who directed Prof. Dr. Abdul Qadeer
Khan in completing his Ph.d in Business Administration from University of Karachi.
Responding to PAGE on various touchy issues related to quality
of Business Education in Pakistan, Dr. Matin striked at the root causes generally
responsible for decline of quality and standards of Business Education in Pakistan.
PAGE: would you identify the areas where improvement is
needed to produce good business graduates.
Dr. Matin: There is a general trend in Pakistan that much larger
number of students opt for B. Com Degree. These students coming for graduation in Business
and Commerce after doing their intermediate with irrelevant subjects such as Engineering,
Medical and Arts subjects without doing their spadework at Intermediate level. They do not
under go for a two year exercise in Accounting and other subjects of Commerce valued for
business graduates. He recalled that upto 1962 admission to B. Com students were given
only to those who passed I. Com. Later on admissions to B. Com classes were open to
students of Arts and Science as well. This change consequently reduced the value of
Business knowledge which B.Com had before.
He strongly suggested that improving for quality of business education
this practice should come to an end with immediate effect.
PAGE: What immediate steps you would suggest to improve the
modern business techniques among the under and post graduates, MBAs, M. Com of our
business graduates in Pakistan.
Dr. MATIN: " Only I. Com students should be allowed admission
for B.Com degree. Since computer literacy has become a basic requirement for trade and
industry, there is a need to make amendments in the syllabus of B.Com. Computer literacy
and Information Technology which is the demand of the market today should be included in
the syllabus.
PAGE: What about MBAs being produced by different
universities recognised by University Grant Commission and other education institutions in
the private sector which are awarding BBA, MBA Degrees in Pakistan.
DR. MATIN: Recalled that IBA was established sometimes in 1955 and
semester system was introduced for the first time in Pakistan. This semester system proved
a great success in imparting quality education for MBAs. However the semester system was
exploited by different educational institutions. Resultantly value of MBA degree is
rapidly going down in Pakistan. As a result of mushrooming of Business Institutes, some of
them awarding degrees even within 'a year' which turned the business institutes into pure
business or commercial ventures, Dr. Matin said.
Similarly various universities which have not been effectively given
permission by Sindh Government are engaged in awarding MBA degrees. Students produced by
these universities are not well equipped for enhancing the business efficiency in
Pakistan.
Dr. Matin suggested that Sindh government should give special
permission for upcoming schools in business education and Information Technology to ensure
quality of education so that we could produce genuine business, commerce and post
graduates.
Since Business Education is an essential ingredient for business
development of any country, especial care is needed to ensure quality of the education.
Dr. Matin who is currently engaged in study of an exploratory retail
markets developed by the permission of the government and the private sector, pointed out
some interesting features of the retail markets in Pakistan. He said that in recent years
i.e. 15 years or so retailing has acquired good status because of the establishment of a
large number of covered retail markets including air conditioned facilities and they are
merchandizing quality products which is also helping manufacturers in improving the
quality of their products. In the early days, retail markets were established by local
governments in their town planning. However, a large number of retail markets have been
established without any formal approval from local and or provincial governments. As a
result of such retail markets , retail management is not done with good ethical standards
because of which consumers suffer and documentation of retail transaction is becoming
difficult. Dr. Matin said we can overcome the problem of documentation if these retail
markets are properly equipped with computer technology and trained sales people.
Note: Next time we are planning to interview Dr. Matin for improving
Business Management Education which is extremely important for organizing and managing
business organizations, merchants, manufacturers, agents in various fields including
agriculture and mining.
