Pakistani Universities’ Global Ranking Woes Attributed to Governance Issues

The Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, stated that Pakistan’s education system possesses the foundational elements necessary to achieve top global university rankings. However, deficiencies in governance have led to a decline in the international standing of its universities.

These remarks were made during a recent television appearance, in response to a study indicating that no university in Pakistan secured a position within the top 350 globally.

According to the most recent data from QS, a global university ranking organization, Quaid-e-Azam University and the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) hold the highest positions among Pakistani institutions, ranking at 354th and 371st, respectively.

The University of Karachi, the largest in the nation, barely made it into the top 1,001. Furthermore, no other university from the Sindh province ranked within the top 1,500, which has raised questions about the role and efficacy of private universities.

Many private institutions, despite charging considerable fees, reportedly fall short of attaining global recognition. This raises concerns about the actual value of degrees acquired, particularly for students planning to pursue international opportunities after incurring substantial tuition costs.

Despite the concerning results, Dr. Ahmed noted a positive trend: 18 Pakistani universities now rank within the top 1,000 worldwide, marking a significant improvement from just three universities in 2019.

He reiterated that Pakistan has the fundamental elements to build a robust educational system.

“The country has produced graduates who have excelled globally, even surpassing individuals from much larger nations,” he observed. He emphasized that addressing three or four fundamental issues is critical.

He identified “governance” as the most pressing concern.

“Enhancing governance within educational departments is an essential step in resolving numerous existing challenges,” Dr. Ahmed emphasized.

The second major problem highlighted was “quality”.

“While universities currently operate with autonomy and are governed provincially, the HEC’s function is limited to offering a framework and ensuring adherence to minimum standards.”

Moreover, Dr. Ahmed pointed out that the perception of universities as mere “employment exchanges” instead of centers for academic excellence presents another major challenge for the educational sector.

He added that investment in Pakistan’s education sector has been “inconsistent,” and has been characterized by fluctuating budgetary allocations since 2002.

He clarified that the development budget for education has experienced reductions, which has further increased the disparity between Pakistani universities and their global counterparts.

“The budget of just one top 500 university in the West frequently exceeds the entire higher education budget for all universities in Pakistan.”

He advocated for increased “ownership and investment” in the younger generation to enable Pakistani universities to effectively compete with top universities around the globe.