Article In The Statesman(Pakistan Newspaper), 26TH APRIL, 2020

The Statesman(Pakistan NewsPaper), 26th April, 2020 Sunday  An Article Enhancing the research culture can be a real game changer ~Abu-Saqib Shakeel Ahmad To invest in research is to invest in a better future but it is not an effortless job; it is creative and systematic effort undertaken to amplify the stock of knowledge. The boundary of this knowledge includes awareness of humans, culture and society and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications. Research is concerned with increasing our understanding. Research provides us with the information and awareness needed for problem solving and making decisions. Research in any field satisfies the human quest to seek knowledge, fulfill one’s sense of wonder, sharpen abilities, connect us with others and understanding society. It is not only a tool for building knowledge and for facilitating learning but also provides chances for the nourishment and exercise for the brain. Research is about contributing to a growing pool of knowledge and information. Unfortunately, in Pakistan, the research culture is not so fruitful; here is some discussion about research culture in the context of Pakistan’s public sector universities and some suggestive measures are given to strengthen the research culture in our country. First of all, it is an alarming situation as we have very low participation rate at higher education level; Gross Enrolment Ratio is just 10%. Only 8% of relevant age group of 17-23 years is enrolled in tertiary education according to the National Education Policy 2017 document. Secondly, we have only 27% faculty members of universities possess higher qualification of PhDs. In the same policy document, the objectives are set to increase participation at higher education level from existing 10 % to 30% by the year 2025 along with the enhancement of the ratio of PhD faculty in the universities from existing 27% to 40%.

These are the quantitative measures to be taken. For improving the quality and promoting innovative research, the policy states that a culture of innovative and commercially useful research shall be created and promoted at all public and private higher educational institutes (HEIs) to discover and disseminate new knowledge that is a precursor of developing a vibrant, progressive economy. The policy also highlights that creating and supporting linkages between innovative research being done at HEIs with government policy planners and business and industrial entrepreneurs shall be produced and supported. University collaboration in developing applied research programs shall be increased to help the business and industry to design and produce high value commercial products through the Business Incubation Centers and Offices of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORICs). ORICS will be expanded at various universities level. Rewards will be launched for the scholars who publish research papers, supplementary study materials and text and reference books. Higher Education Commission (HEC) since its inception, has taken revolutionary steps to improve research culture – both quantitatively and qualitatively. It has not only streamlined research at MPhil and PhD level but also at bachelor level. Although a number of steps have been taken, yet more actions are to be taken to be at par to the needs of 21st century, which calls for critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and problem solving at real grounds. Presently, the research methodology adopted at university level has many gray areas and insufficient logistics. These includes lack of e-library access, lack of statistical expertise, low know-how of use of statistical software packages, poor internet facilities besides other factors. Although we have hundreds of latest research publications and articles during an academic year, yet we do not get quality work out of it. We cannot use these findings and recommendations at first hand. These researches are merely theoretical in nature and dumped in the university’s libraries. Neither universities nor government can take any advantage out of these precious intellectual works. All the years’ long effort and resources go in vain. Even the student himself does not take any advantage from his own research except claiming a degree. There is a rare utilization of research literature in most of the cases in our country whether they are scientific, basic in nature or applied type. Internationally, the scenario is different, as we see their researches are done in the required and specialized fields. The need of such researches are identified and set by the government in collaboration with private sector business and industrial fields. Such researches are productive not only for the individuals but also at national as well as international levels. We are missing this proper research culture in the true sense here. Although HEC has taken numerous steps in improving quality, yet it is the time to think over this huge research resource that how to utilize it at this instant and in the years to come; so more and more need identification plans and strategies are necessitated. These need lists can be compiled by involving various stakeholders including governmental organizations, NGOs, donors and HEC itself. These needed areas should be shared with the universities to develop work out plans. HEC can arrange awareness campaigns, trainings, seminars, workshops, and conferences aim at deepening the ideas and knowledge and sharpening the required skills in doing such type of researches. Students can be inspired and motivated through scholarships and incentives to dig out these unexplored areas. Even group of scholars can be assigned the task. These researches can be done in various disciplines offered by the universities. These researches may be in basic and applied fields; evaluation and R & D purposes can served through these researches; also short term action researches can be rewarding for refinement of processes and products. All the businesses, industries, institutes and organizations need these types of researches and they can also contribute in the cause too. This paradigm shift in research culture will revolutionize the whole educational scenario. A true and meaningful educational environment will flourish due to these steps. In a nutshell, these researches will take the country to new heights and will be a real game changer if applied intellectually and wholeheartedly.