Pakistanis at AIT

Pakistani Hopes at AIT

By Prof. Dr. Mansoor Akbar Kundi • Jan 27th, 2009

It is quite some time that I have been as a visiting fellow to Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) as a visiting fellow to from University of Balochistan, Pakistan one of the schools having signed Memorandum of Understanding for linkage program in different academic fields. In the twilight of my career with teaching experience spanning around thirty years with four years graduate studentship in two of the American universities and of the even period as the visiting fellow to two of the Turkish universities, I find AIT as a nice different academic and social atmosphere with a mini Pakistan on its campus.

AIT is thoroughly a self finance educational institution with commercialization in the field of higher education. It offers graduate courses at Masters or leading to Ph.D from two to four years. It does not offer undergraduate studies, except short courses in English language or research and methodology/management. Founded in 1959 as “SEATO Graduate School of Engineering with a mission to develop highly qualified and committed professionals who will play a leading role in the sustainable development of the region and its integration” into the new capitalist world, its foundations were raised on funding and donations from different governments or its organizations which more than decades past reminds one more or less on each front building of the faculty with plats acknowledging the support provided by a government in its completion or renovation. Entering the main gate one can see on the left a big sign saying “these buildings were made by New Zealand”. The countries having provided massive support include US, Great Britain, Japan, Germany, Sweden and others.

Japan in 1979 provided a grant of more than $ 4.5 million for the construction of main library. Spending few hours in library realizes one its academic and research enrichment. In 1989, AIT was awarded Ramon Magsaysay Award for Peace and International Understanding for producing a large number of engineers and managers committed to Asia. Whatever the truth may be about the award, an orientation to group of important visitors is familiarized with the award.

Pakistan students comprise a sizeable portion of the overall students population which is at present 112 out of the total AIT strength: 2259 from more or less 38 nationalities. They rank second after Thai students; followed by India. They are active in different walks of the university — be it academic, sports and even union activities. The AIT Student Union present is a Pakistani, Akthar Nawaz Khan from telecommunication department; the Muslim Students Federation/Union Present is also a Pakistan; and obviously the one who leads the Pakistan Students Union.

Students from the University of Balochistan (UoB) constitutes a larger chunk of the Pakistani student population with its number having grown during the last two years. They all are government financed under the hugely financial package of Mega Project the UoB had from the Higher Education Commission (HEC) during the heyday of President Musharraf rule with Ata ur Rehman as the Chairman of the HEC with the rank equivalent of State Minister; the man behind the show of pumping huge funds into the allotment of foreign scholarship to thousands of students from Pakistan between 2002-2007 in walks of academic fields. The boon can also be justified as the Ata-ur-Rehman School of Thought with maximum efforts in the achievement of higher education for which he demanded more and more funds from government as the result of which
one can see Pakistan students on numerous foreign universities’ campuses, AIT being one of them. The things are less encouraging and hopeful for the future arrival of students after he resigned and government faced financial crunches.

The UoB mega project besides Masters and leading to Ph. D programs included shorter visits to AIT which ranged from 12 days training courses to four months language or certificate courses — all well suited to AIT as the self finance educational institution. It tries to suit the completion of course work for students irrespective their academic background one way or another. I noticed a number of students from U of B with Physics and Mathematics background studying Mechatronics. A person with such a degree will be hardly of any use upon his/her return to the parent university. “Will there be opened a separate department for them”? asked a student. “To him, he should have come only and only in the concerned field.

Compared to the number of disciplines on the number of students ratio wise, the AIT is probably number one. It ranges from Computer Science, Telecommunications, Information & Communications Technologies, Mechatronics, Microelectronics, water Engineering and Management, Water Engineering and Management, Information management, Structural Engineering, Geotechnical and Geo-environmental Engineering, Energy, Business Administration, International Business etc. No matter from whatever provincial or ethnic background he may be, they form an integrated force with interaction with other students.

Sana ur Rehman Sheikh from the University of Balochistan is in process of completion of his Ph.D in International Business with six months left for the completion of his three year scholarship. He is worried of having hard-time in case the scholarship is not extended. Similarly, Mr. Mumtaz having come from remote area of Balochistan is in diploma courses but believes in completion of Master’s.

Speaking high of his teacher from Bangladesh, Dr. Mokbul in Regional and Rural Development Planning he is in expectation of having financial support from AIT in case of denial from U of B. Many Pakistani students I interviewed believed that the AIT should be considerate of providing financial students to Pakistani students with good academic record in case of the expiration of scholarship from their country. In wake of financial crises Pakistan is faced with and new command at HEC the students are fearful of future financial support. Dr. Said Irandoust, a man with galaxy of talents and challenge shooting techniques to have brought once drowning AIT in par with leading world schools, is believed to have been told by few of the students. They however speak high of the cooperation AIT administration show them in case of no arrival of funds from the parents institutions. It is more frequent now than was one year ago.

Source: www.pakspectator.com