A German scholar Dr Wolfgang Schluchter of Brandenburg Technical University, during a lecture given at the Islamic University on Thursday, questioned how, with economic growth, and rapidly increasing productivity in his country, social and educational budget is radically reduced.
Professor Schluchter's experience is the same as ours. In the third year of the UN project on sustainable education, Senate Standing committees are reminding us almost daily about funds earmarked for educational institutions. In addition, the Higher Education is asking billions of rupees to reinvigorate scientific learning in Universities.
The professor gave reasons for shrinking funds for education because globalisation is the buzz word in industrialised society where industrial society is becoming a service society, with its demand for soft skill labour.
Dr Wolfgang was sorry that Universities were losing power to attract people who demand more than education, expecting .that education would serve self-understanding of society.
'The joy to ask questions, carefulness, and we are losing on time, which is very necessary at this time.'
He also regretted that research had degenerated to 'individual and planned research project and Universities are being managed similar to a large companies like a cluster of technical colleges.
Sustainable development was an ongoing comprehensive social process of change that made it possible to preserve the current generation's quality of life as well to safeguard future generations' own life opinions, said Professor Wolfgang.
He added, people across the world agreed that there was no time to lose because education for sustainable development is relevant for every one. Education for sustainable development is an ongoing process and presumes acceptance of processes of social changes. It creates opportunities for individuals, society and economic life, and at the same time it also gives a sense of global responsibility.
The Professor said in the quest for sustainable educational development the society must pay particular attention to gaining from the experience of its senior citizens. In this regard he cited the example of his own country where older people attend universities not to gain degrees but with a wish to contribute to development. There are hundreds of such elderly people in his university.
He added sustainability was a two-way process: to learn also from the young people. At the end of lecture he circulated a questionnaire asking his students to assess his lecture, which helps them understanding of their issues.
President Islamic University, Anwar Ahmad Siddiqui paid tributes to Professor Wolfang for a very illuminating lecture, consistent with the tradition of philosophical enquiry which has always prevailed in Germany. He also asked students to learn the German language as well as study in German Universities, which is much more affordable than British Universities.