Daily Times

Pakistan’s armchair pundits and commentators are famous for their knee-jerk reaction on issues that require serious analysis and cool heads. Many analysts speak off the top of head or talk according to given scripts on TV screens. Such experts prefer to challenge and attack the weak. The education system and educationists are unfortunately, the weakest in Pakistan.

Following the recent release of university rankings by a British company Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), some Pakistani experts are criticising the Pakistani higher education sector. Newspapers have carried sensational headlines saying Pakistan has fallen to number 124 in the list of 140 countries of the QS University Ranking list.

It is true that QS has ranked Pakistan among the lowest in the area of higher education but if the Pakistani media and so-called experts did a little research about the QS University Rankings system, they wouldn’t be bashing about Pakistani universities and the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC).

QS started ranking universities only about a decade ago. A few years later Times Higher Education (THE) and QS grouped together and issued world-wide university league tables. However, in 2009 THE parted ways saying it was not satisfied with QS’s ranking methodology.

One of our challenges is that we tend to accept Western information and data without questioning, particularly if it comes from the English speaking world. On the surface Pakistanis criticise the West but in reality they seek Western approval and trust Western system, products and services. Many do not try to understand subtle Western propaganda, diplomacy or marketing techniques.

It is very important to understand that higher education is a lucrative business in the West. Like any other business, this sector too does everything to make more profit. Western universities are businesses and thus profit making machines. University rankings are used as PR and marketing tools for promoting a university’s business and prestige.

Interestingly, Western rating and ranking agencies show higher education institutions of developing countries in negative or bad light but Western universities thrive and often survive because of students who come from developing countries. These ‘foreign’ students pay very high fees and it is here top ranking Western universities make profit.

The Pakistani higher education sector has weaknesses such as old-fashioned governance system and academic standards that need improvements. Pakistani universities and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) are working together for improving academic standards. Modernisation of university governance and oversight mechanisms are also the focus of attention.

I have worked in the area of academic quality in Great Britain and Central Asia. Now I am working in the same field in Pakistan. From my own personal experience and observations, I can say that under the HEC guidance Pakistani universities are on the path of positive changes and modernisation. The HEC has adopted a modern approach and it is applying robust methods for improving academic standards.

Few months ago, I was part of an HEC academic review program and was extremely impressed by the HEC team’s professionalism and their determination to implement professional and academic standards at universities.

I work at Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, which is the fastest growing university in Pakistan. I believe in terms of growth and modernisation, Abdul Wali Khan University is ahead of many foreign universities. We have one of the best faculty members in Pakistan. Many of us have obtained our degrees from Western universities. Our leadership is more dynamic than some British universities.

Similarly, a large number of experienced, skilled faculty and administrators work in other Pakistani universities. Hundreds and thousands of Pakistani teachers and administrators have foreign qualifications, many of whom have also worked at foreign universities. They have an excellent understanding of international academic standards. Therefore, ranking the Pakistani higher education sector as one of the lowest is wrong. The problem is with the ranking agency, not Pakistani universities or the HEC.

True, the Pakistan’s higher education system is not flawless but improvements are underway. Change is always slow and is often painful.

Now coming back to the question of the QS University Ranking criteria, prominent education experts believe the QS university ranking methodology is flawed. The QS gives 40 per cent weight to academic peer review in ranking universities. This is the most controversial part of the QS evaluation criteria.

Peer review is a subjective matter. People tend to give opinions on the basis of their personal liking and disliking of an institution. Business interests and marketing considerations also play a role in peer review. Often old data is rolled to next years.