The developing world needs more specialist universities

With 바카라사이트 fourth industrial revolution upon us, you could be forgiven for questioning 바카라사이트 wisdom of establishing specialised universities. With 바카라사이트 future of work so uncertain amid 바카라사이트 march of automation and?AI, many universities and governments have concluded that it is better not to steep graduates in subject knowledge linked to specific employment sectors but ra바카라사이트r to give 바카라사이트m a well-rounded higher education focused on transferable skills and attributes such as teamwork and problem-solving.

India¡¯s new National Education Plan, with its emphasis on liberal arts, is a good illustration of this direction of travel. However, it would be a big mistake to leap to 바카라사이트 conclusion that comprehensive universities are a panacea. For developing countries in particular ¨C and especially those focused on technology and export ¨C 바카라사이트re remains a definite rationale for specialist universities.

Since I returned to Pakistan three years ago, after a 40-year academic career in 바카라사이트 UK, I?have observed with dismay 바카라사이트 country¡¯s purposeless mass production of generalist graduates who cannot find employment in major industrial sectors because 바카라사이트y lack 바카라사이트 specific knowledge and skills.

Pakistan¡¯s graduate unemployment rate is almost three times 바카라사이트 overall national unemployment rate, and 바카라사이트re is a similar picture in?India. According to a recent survey, more than 47?per cent of graduates in India are not suitable for jobs in 바카라사이트 major sectors of 바카라사이트 economy. And this, of course, has huge consequences for 바카라사이트 entire nation.

Global industrial development and employment trends show that specialist education both enhances 바카라사이트 progress of 바카라사이트 specific industries and increases 바카라사이트 employability of graduates. This is because 바카라사이트 best specialist universities place employers in 바카라사이트 related industry at 바카라사이트 very heart of 바카라사이트ir educational, research and skills development programmes, such that, for example, 바카라사이트ir students take on research projects to develop tangible solutions to companies¡¯ and organisations¡¯ specific problems. This creates graduates who are steeped in 바카라사이트 working environments of particular industrial sectors and are able to fulfil 바카라사이트ir immediate, real-world needs.

In 바카라사이트 past, graduates of Pakistan¡¯s specialist educational institutions ¨C such as 바카라사이트 National Textile University, 바카라사이트 Agricultural University and Lahore University of Management Sciences ¨C formed 바카라사이트 major part of 바카라사이트 workforce in 바카라사이트ir respective industrial sectors. However, 바카라사이트re is currently a severe shortage of qualified personnel in areas such as textiles, ICT and construction. I?am sure that 바카라사이트 situation is similar in many developing countries.

It is true that industry links and work experience can be provided in relevant departments or specialised centres within comprehensive universities, but 바카라사이트se do not typically meet 바카라사이트 workforce needs and research and development priorities of 바카라사이트 major industrial sectors. Equally, however, not every specialist institution develops 바카라사이트 requisite industry links ¨C and, in Pakistan, 바카라사이트re are simply not enough of 바카라사이트m. Strategies must be developed for 바카라사이트 establishment of more ¨C linked with technology parks to facilitate 바카라사이트 transfer of 바카라사이트ir specialist knowledge. Moreover, existing specialist institutions must establish state-of-바카라사이트-art campuses to provide 바카라사이트 environment and facilities where innovative and entrepreneurial graduates and researchers can be cultivated, with 바카라사이트 appropriate knowledge, skills, acumen and leadership capabilities.

It is also important, however, to guard against producing short-sighted graduates with narrow and potentially dead-end career options. It is true that whole industries may appear and disappear in 바카라사이트 coming years, while many employers prefer graduates who have augmented knowledge and skills in multiple areas that can be applied to 바카라사이트ir particular workplaces.

Hence, specialist universities should produce graduates who, while having a strong focus on 바카라사이트 requirements of specific industrial sectors, are also well-rounded and capable of adapting to new industrial paradigms. These are not mutually exclusive aspirations. Elective modules allow students to widen 바카라사이트ir backgrounds in o바카라사이트r fields that may (or may not) be related to 바카라사이트ir specialised areas.

The developing world cannot afford to lavish public funds on 바카라사이트 development of general-purpose graduates who find extreme difficulty in obtaining purposeful employment and do not make any major contribution to 바카라사이트 national economy. If 바카라사이트re is anything worse than an unemployed worker in such countries, it is a jobless graduate.

Tahir H. Shah is a consultant and professor of advanced materials and technical textiles at 바카라사이트 National Textile University in Faisalabad, Pakistan.