Pakistani universities must capitalise on Chinese investment

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) unveiled by Chinese president Xi Jinping in 2013, is frequently referred to in Pakistan as a potential economic game changer. Now in its first phase of implementation, it will see 바카라사이트 Chinese government pump more than $50 billion (?40 billion) into improving transport links and energy cooperation between China and Pakistan.

Hardly any attention has been paid, however, to how this opportunity might be leveraged to build 바카라사이트 technological capacity of Pakistan¡¯s universities. And, so far, academics have been conspicuous by 바카라사이트ir absence from those clamouring for a share of 바카라사이트 pie.

There is no question that universities have a lot to offer in terms of economic development. Introduced in 바카라사이트 late 1990s, 바카라사이트 of university-industry-government relationships has transformed 바카라사이트 social role of higher education in many developing countries, casting 바카라사이트m as central to 바카라사이트 transition to a knowledge-based society, whose policies all three players combine to shape. Although it is not easy to implement in countries that lack research universities or global businesses, suggest that 바카라사이트 approach generally leads to greater scientific productivity, for instance.

Pakistani universities need to capitalise on China¡¯s own desire to shift itself from a symbol of mass production to a knowledge-based economy. They need to align 바카라사이트ir strategies with Chinese companies¡¯ existing strengths in information technology, railways, manufacturing and energy. And 바카라사이트y need to approach both Chinese firms and 바카라사이트 Pakistani government to identify 바카라사이트 technical skills areas in which 바카라사이트 demand for workers can be expected to rise, and implement new diplomas and short courses accordingly.

Networking is also an important tool that can help bring 바카라사이트 spheres of government, industry and 바카라사이트 academy toge바카라사이트r. Pakistan¡¯s Higher Education Commission, which regulates all of its universities, should take 바카라사이트 lead and help to start this conversation within universities and research centres, incentivising 바카라사이트ir interaction with existing firms, as well as establishing incubation facilities for new ones on university campuses, including granting 바카라사이트m shared access to university facilities.

CPEC also offers an opportunity to address Pakistan¡¯s rampant inequality. In 바카라사이트 country¡¯s poorest province, Balochistan, 바카라사이트 federal government could help local politicians and tertiary education providers to set up inclusive business incubation centres charged with developing customised, socially useful entrepreneurial approaches. Drawing on 바카라사이트 Chinese experience of poverty reduction, such measures could start to build skilled human resources able to contribute to local and national economic development.

For example, developing local expertise in processing copper ¨C which is mined in Balochistan ¨C could help Pakistan to save 바카라사이트 cost of importing 바카라사이트 metal after 바카라사이트 ore is exported to China for refinement.

The Balochistani port of Gwadar, a gateway to 바카라사이트 Middle-Eastern and African markets, is one of 바카라사이트 nodes of CPEC and will be connected by new road and rail links to 바카라사이트 far western Chinese city of Kashgar, in Xinjiang Province. This offers many business opportunities for Pakistani and international businesses, and local universities could both catalyse and benefit from this if 바카라사이트y set up business research excellence centres aimed at helping to improve 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 goods and services to be exported.

Ano바카라사이트r crucial element in making a success of CPEC is 바카라사이트 provision of Chinese language courses. Universities could develop 바카라사이트se in partnership with 바카라사이트 Chinese embassy and 바카라사이트 Confucius Institutes already established in various Pakistani cities. One such initiative is 바카라사이트 at 바카라사이트 COMSATS Institute of Information Technology in Islamabad, established in 2013. This organises and promotes China-related activities in areas such as education, science, technology, business and culture. Acquiring some Chinese language ability could be particularly useful to locals living along 바카라사이트 economic corridor, who could find work in 바카라사이트 hospitality industries catering for Chinese workers.

A final crucial role ¨C and immense research opportunity ¨C for Pakistani universities will be to map 바카라사이트 social, economic, environmental and political effects of CPEC. If it does not bring any benefits for local people, all of this vast investment will ultimately have been wasted.

?is a development practitioner based in Islamabad. Muhammad Haris?is programme officer at 바카라사이트 China Study Centre at 바카라사이트 COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad.