A pathway to internationalization …
Reciprocity vital to higher education partnerships
By SAMIULLAH SAMI
The prime objective of internationalization in higher education in Pakistan is achievable only through subject-focused partnership with both Pakistani and the world’s top-ranked universities in compatible and rewarding way on reciprocal basis.
A first step in this direction is a globally acceptable policy, based on a two-way-benefit model, which can be chalked out by the Federal Ministry of Education, the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the Foreign Office and other relevant stakeholders jointly.
Secondly, a special section may also be set up in the HEC to promote ‘Study in Pakistan’ to raise the number of international students in Pakistan to make it a lovely study destination. This section may be the part of already established Global Engagement Directorate.
A dedicated advisory board should be set up for the internationalization of higher education. The Board members should be from the public and private sector universities and representatives of study destination promotion agencies and embassies. It would certainly pave path for better understanding and way-forward to achieve the set targets of internationalization.
The main targets of this section should the steady and sustainable growth of international students, enrolment, developing collaborations between partner universities and facilitating G2G and G2B cooperation and collaboration in addition to facilitate the public and private organizations financially and intellectually, working for the same mission.
Resultantly, massive pouring in of international students would certainly create an environment of competition not only among local universities but also with global counterparts in addition to foreign revenue generation for sustainability and growth of the university sector.
Thirdly, a one-window operation to facilitate foreign and top-ranked universities may be initiated by setting up regional campuses in Pakistan. It would not only save foreign exchange, but create new revenue generation stream for universities in the shape of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country.
Fourthly, since a horizontal expansion of internationalization partnership is the need of the hour, we should approach other countries like the United Kingdom (UK) to create more diversity and options for global competitiveness. We can approach regional and Muslim countries as well for this internationalization. Countries like Australia, Canada, the USA, Germany, China etc. and on one hand, and Malaysia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Iran on the other may be more proactive and result-oriented in their approach.
Looked from a redeeming angle, the British and American universities are very active in developing partnerships with Pakistani universities followed by those in China and Malaysia. There are many successful university partnership programmes including the US-Pakistan University Partnerships Grants Program 2020-23, following success of the University Partnership Initiative 2013-2016, through which American universities in 20 partnerships with Pakistani universities received the U.S. Government’s grant to establish three-year bilateral academic relationships.
This programme is being run through USEFP effectively. American universities may extend their research and academic support in the following emerging subjects through this partnership:
- Quantum Mechanism;
- Artificial Intelligence (AI);
- Data Science;
- Robotics;
- Machine Learning;
- Space Sciences;
- IT and Software Development;
- Communication and Telecom.
In addition to the subject-focus partnership, the global partners may extend their support in the capacity-building and sustainable higher education model.
Following are some of the areas where such partnerships and support is vital.
- Start-ups and entrepreneurships development;
- Establishment of joint business chambers;
- Facilitation in developing a Centre of Excellence;
- Curriculum design and faculty exchange;
- Joint Academic and Cultural Exchanges;
- Market driven joint short and long courses.
Lastly, it is paramount to make this system a success without any bureaucratic hitches or hassles. For this purpose, experienced and professional experts should be deputed in the higher education sector. Precisely, regional universities having good rankings in desirable subjects should be preferred for collaboration and partnership.
In the light of all that it is important to initiate university rankings based on regional, cultural and religious norms of the region in addition to the global parameters. It would create a competitive environment among regional universities with more acceptability among the general public and enable them to stand apart in the global scenario. The provinces should also start provincial rankings on global parameters which would create an internally healthy competition.
It is pertinent to note that majority of the foreign universities are interested in students and faculty exchange partnerships which statistically proved a one-way traffic. However, it is commonly believed by majority of the stakeholders that a lot has already been done in Delivery Partnerships and there is a dire need to focus on the franchise and physical campus presence with a JVs-model approach in Pakistan.
Education Scenario International has initiated collaboration in the ‘Study in Pakistan’ project with the Government of Pakistan (Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training). Under this programme; international partnerships among Pakistani and foreign universities would be developed and a truly-internationally acceptable education eco-system would be promoted to lure overseas students towards universities and professional medical and engineering institutions in Pakistan.
These are workable solutions for internationalization of higher education in Pakistan. The only thing required is the better connectivity among stakeholders and facilitation by the private and public sector authorities, associations and individual institutions.
A word about the ESI MD
Mr Samiullah Sami, a foreign education promotion stalwart and a staunch supporter of ‘Internationalization of Higher Education’ practicably and tangibly, heads Education Scenario International (ESI) Group’s Managing Director. The holder of an MPhil degree from the University of the Punjab, Mr Sami has authored over 3,000 articles on Higher Education, Scholarships, Internationalization, University Rankings and Career Counselling. During the course of over nearly two-and-a-half decades of professional services in the field of international education, he has conducted scores of interviews with renowned academicians like vice chancellors, distinguished diplomats, worthy education ministers and knowledgeable career consultants from more than 15 countries and over 500 top-ranked universities of the world.
Mr Sami is also Editor-in-Chief of ‘Education Scenario’, a monthly English-language magazine published from the Group’s Head Office in Lahore (Pakistan) since 2001. He can be reached at sami@educationscenario.com
