Quality education

High-quality engineering education has played a key role in the rapid development of certain Asian countries such as Korea, India and China. In Korea, the establishment of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology by the Korean government in 1971 as the nation’s first public, research-oriented science and engineering institution triggered the development of Korea into a strong technology-driven knowledge economy.

Similarly, in India, the first Indian Institute of Technology was established in Kharagpur in 1950. At its first convocation in 1956, Jawaharlal Nehru said: “Here in the place of that Hijli Detention Camp stands the fine monument of India, representing India’s urges, India’s future in the making.” The same year, the Indian parliament passed the Indian Institute of Technology (Kharagpur) Act, declaring it an Institute of National Importance. Today there are 23 IITs spread across India that are contributing in a major way to India’s rapid growth in the manufacture and export of high technology industries.

China too has established some of the world’s best universities of science and engineering in the world that include the best global universities for engineering in China such as Tsinghua University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Peking University and Zhejiang University among others. They are driving the rapid socio-economic development of China.

When I was federal minister of science of technology in 2001, I decided to establish engineering education institutions similar to the IITs but with one major addition – an integrated technology park that would foster the development of industrial products through university-industry linkages and new start-ups. In this connection, in 2002 I approached Prof Haroon Ahmed at the University of Cambridge to help me establish world-class foreign engineering universities on the pattern of IITs in India. Prof Ahmed was a very distinguished engineer, having spent most of his life as professor of engineering at the University of Cambridge, UK. He had risen to become the head of the Microelectronics Research Centre at the Cavendish Laboratory. He readily agreed to my request and we travelled together to Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Sweden and other countries trying to convince foreign governments and universities to assist us in establishing specialised engineering universities in Pakistan.

Our efforts resulted in remarkable successes, and as many as 30 top foreign engineering universities agreed to collaborate with us in this visionary initiative that had the potential to transform Pakistan into a strong knowledge economy. Projects amounting to Rs160 billion to promote engineering education were finally approved by the government during 2005 -2007. To make a quick start, existing empty buildings were taken over and refurbished in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. Classes were scheduled to start in October 2008, but there was a change of government. The new government had other priorities with the devastating result that the entire project came crashing down and was abandoned.

I did not give up hope and kept pursuing the idea. As a result of my efforts, the KP government agreed to fund the project for the establishment of a foreign engineering university in Haripur Hazara. Enthusiastic support was provided to me by Prof Haroon Ahmed, Prof Michael Rode from Innsbruck, Austria (who has also passed away), Prof Sohail Naqvi, Prof Mohammed Mujahid and Prof Nasser Ali Khan. As a result of these efforts, several Austrian universities agreed to partner in this exciting and visionary initiative and the Pak Austrian University of Applied Science and Engineering (Pak Austria Fachhochschule) was thus established in 2020 in Haripur Hazara. This is the first ‘Fachhochschule’ in the region, with 13 foreign universities from Austria, Germany, UK and China now collaborating in it.

The university has already established an excellent international reputation in the three years of its existence due to the very high standards of teaching and applied industrial research. The Punjab government then agreed to set up a similar foreign engineering university in Samrial, Sialkot, under my stewardship and it is presently under construction. With the success of the Pak Austrian Fachhochschule in Haripur, and the approval of a similar project in Sialkot, I am now trying to persuade the Sind government to establish a similar Fachhochschule in Karachi to help local industry.

‘Fachhochschule’ are universities of Applied Sciences and Engineering. They are common in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and many other countries and they offer a unique educational model that contrasts with traditional engineering universities. These institutions prioritise practical, industry-oriented education over theoretical research, making them a key driver for industrial development. These institutions design their programmes in collaboration with industry partners to ensure that students acquire skills that meet current market demands.

Unlike traditional engineering universities, which often emphasise theoretical and research-oriented knowledge, Fachhochschule prioritise practical applications of engineering principles. This alignment with industry needs enables graduates to seamlessly integrate into the workforce, thereby reducing skill gaps and enhancing industrial productivity.

Fachhochschule also place significant emphasis on hands-on training and mandatory internships. Students are required to participate in practical projects and industrial placements, giving them real-world experience before graduation. By producing work-ready graduates, Fachhochschule contribute directly to the efficiency and innovation capacity of industries. The focus on practical solutions drives innovation in manufacturing, energy, healthcare, and other sectors. By bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, Fachhochschule play a critical role in translating research into marketable products and services.

It is now high time to change gears and focus on industrial research to enhance high-tech (high value-added) exports of Pakistan. Pakistan gives the lowest priority to R&D which is reflected by the fact that our allocation to R&D as a percentage of our GDP is a shameful 0.16 per cent. It had risen to 0.86 per cent during 2000-2007, and the aim was to raise it to 2.5 per cent but it has come tumbling down instead because of myopic leadership.

We need to urgently change directions and focus on a transformation to a technology-driven knowledge economy. To maximise the economic impact of science and technology, we must prioritise equitable access to education, invest in digital infrastructure, and promote sustainable practices. Fostering a culture of innovation through incentives, research funding and public-private partnerships can accelerate economic growth and ensure sustainable socio-economic development.