Pakistan with its population of around 170 million is fertile with competent human resource that is both dedicated and talented. When given the opportunity Pakistanis excel immensely in whatever field they focus, hence the need of the hour is to focus on building strong leadership potential and managerial capacity amongst them so that this energy is utilised for national growth.
Quality education is the platform on which leaders can be bred. For this purpose, it is essential that students be trained from their very first day to be competitive as well as hardworking. Primary education which sets the foundation for basic linguistic, mathematical and literary skills is carried on with secondary education which lays the base for personality development and recognition of area of strengths and interests.
Higher education is the stage where these individuals are tested for their mettle.
With globalisation and its effects rampant there is increased demand for trained business managers and professionals in Pakistan. Taking note of this need, many universities have responded by developing undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate programmes that seek to equip students with decision-making and planning skills that are required by businesses of today. One major change at the top schools has been the switch from rote learning to exposing students to interactive learning where students learn to think rather than memorise facts. In Pakistan, the prevailing political and social conditions have curtailed the attention that should have been devoted towards providing affordable and quality education to all. As with other sectors, even in this crucial area, it is the private sector that has made the most impressive contribution. Top-tier business schools in Pakistan are working towards obtaining international accreditation and are producing quality graduates that are founders of many businesses or employed in top executive positions of local and multinational firms. The market for business graduates and therefore for education is expanding at a fair pace. A primary reason for this is that people have recognised that earning an MBA degree gives them a holistic understanding of management and strategic planning. This allows them to expand from being a technician in a specialised field such as finance to understanding the "big picture" and taking a leadership role in their company.
Leading local business schools are also working hard to attract foreign faculty and faculty with doctorates from top international business schools, as well as entering into strategic collaborations with top business schools around the world. This is changing the dynamics of local education drastically and leading to a more enriching educational experience for students. The importance of applied research in Pakistan has also become evident to businesses and to business schools. With the addition of faculty with international doctorates coming to or returning to Pakistan, this research is now possible, in particular in collaboration with faculty from other parts of the world.
This research will give businesses and policy-makers real data on which decisions can be made. Using data they can trust will truly be a significant advance for Pakistani businesses. These top business schools are working to ensure that quality education is locally available and that responsible leaders are groomed to help solve many of the issues faced by this country. This will also help in reducing the brain drain from Pakistan, as Pakistani students become aware of more opportunities for advancement within this country. Pakistan's students are equal to any other students in the world, provided they are given the necessary training and education. Top business schools have begun to bring international best practices to Pakistan, and this transformation in business education will produce effective leaders.
(The writer is Dean, Karachi School for Business & Leadership)