On the face of it, it is a fascinating and brilliant idea. But for those who know about the public sector universities in Pakistan, it is strange, illogical and not understandable. It implies as if professors in Pakistan universities lack competence, exposure, and foreign qualifications and, hence, we need some imported professors who could work as catalyst for energizing their local counterparts. In this context, I would like to draw the attention of policymakers, as well as of the general public, to the following points:

1. It is interesting that the government has Rs3.2 billion to spend on “hiring a foreign faculty”. But it faces a “shortage of funds” to increase PhD allowance of the already employed social science/humanities professors, who have doctoral degrees from the most prestigious foreign universities. The result is that some of the competent and renowned university professors are either seeking appointment in foreign countries or applying for “long leave” to work in the private sector.

2. The reason stated for hiring foreign faculty is “to supervise the local PhD programmes”. It implies as if the existing academia is not qualified or competent enough to supervise the PhD programme. It is a grave error of judgment. It may be noted here that the real problem is not human resource but research infrastructure. The reality is that our university laboratories lack chemicals and equipment, and libraries cannot afford to buy expensive technical books and scientific research journals.

3. The problem with our academia is that it is painfully low-paid. In Pakistan, to be a professor or a research scientist is neither socially nor economically very prestigious. Thus, most of the university teachers remain busy with supplementary earning activities like taking evening classes or engaging in consultancy assignments. The result is that little time is left for PhD supervision or other pure academic work.

So, the important thing is that their salaries should be rationalized so that they could work with devotion and concentration.

I cannot understand how foreign professors “would advance the pedagogical skills”. Hired people might have little sympathy or affiliation with the local institutions. The professors who have invested their lifetime are certainly more considerate and attached with the local universities provided they are given status and profile they deserve. By hiring foreign faculty to “modernize” the existing academia would further demoralize them.

Here, I would like to quote the example of the Punjab University where more than a dozen departments have started PhD programmes, thanks to the sincere and untiring efforts of the vice chancellor. All the PhD programmes are very successful and have improved the academic and research environment. There is no dearth of qualified professors/scientists. However, there is a dire need of governmental support to upgrade the research facilities. So, if the government really wants to develop a culture of research and scholarship, then it should generously support the existing systems and structures.

It would be a great achievement if we could stop the growing trend of “getting settled in the West”. No serious effort has ever been made to explore the reasons why some of the best scientists or professors decide to leave the country and what really pushes them to make this decision. The absence of opportunities of professional growth, advanced research and training is the prime reason of intellectual brain-drain. Routine violation of merit and miscarriage of justice are the precipitating factors, though.

In this context, how unrealistic the idea is that our universities would be able to retain the foreign academics while they have failed to retain the best local lot. “Hiring foreign faculty” may be a fascinating day-dreaming but the idea is divorced from the reality. Our policymakers need to put their feet on the ground, please.

DR MUHAMMAD ZAKRIA ZAKAR

Chairman, Department of Sociology, University of Punjab, Lahore