Evolution, Not Elimination: The Way Forward for Pakistani Universities
Pakistan’s higher education system has reached a turning point. Around the world, universities are rapidly adapting to artificial intelligence, data-driven decision-making, quantum technologies, and interdisciplinary learning. Yet many Pakistani universities are still operating within rigid, outdated academic structures. The real debate today is no longer whether change is needed it is how that change should happen. And the answer is straightforward: Pakistani universities will survive and remain relevant not by shutting down degree programs, but by evolving them.
The fields shaping the future artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, fintech, robotics, quantum computing, and bioinformatics did not emerge in isolation. They grew naturally from the integration of mathematics, computer science, economics, management, social sciences, and biology. Real-world problems are complex. They do not belong to a single discipline. Solving them requires technology, data, ethical reasoning, and an understanding of human behavior. Universities that fail to recognize this reality risk graduating students who are unprepared for the modern world.
This evolution does not mean traditional disciplines have lost their importance. Mathematics is still the backbone of innovation. Economics remains essential for understanding markets and policy. Social sciences are critical for understanding societies, governance, and human behavior. What has changed is the context. These disciplines now operate alongside new tools, new technologies, and new challenges. Knowledge does not disappear it adapts, grows, and transforms with time.
Unfortunately, in Pakistan, institutional pressures often push universities toward the easier but damaging solution of discontinuing degree programs. This weakens institutional memory, discourages faculty, and undermines student confidence. Leading universities around the world have taken a very different approach. Instead of closing programs, they modernize them—by introducing new tracks, joint and hybrid degrees, faculty re-skilling initiatives, and interdisciplinary collaboration. This approach protects academic foundations while enabling innovation.
In this broader context, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) offers a promising and forward looking example. When the Rector of COMSATS University Islamabad, Professor Dr. Raheel Qamar, began putting this vision into practice, he emphasized the urgent need for researchers and academics to fully engage with emerging areas such as quantum technologies and advanced research. His message was clear: innovation-driven transformation is no longer optional for universities that seek global relevance.Under Professor Dr. Raheel Qamar’s leadership, COMSATS University Islamabad has articulated a bold ambition to become Pakistan’s first university to systematically prepare students for the demands of Industry 5.0. Rather than reacting to change after it happens, this vision focuses on aligning academic programs with future economic and technological realities.
To turn this vision into action, COMSATS University Islamabad has already begun introducing new, technology-focused courses across all disciplines not only in engineering and computing, but also in social sciences, management sciences, business studies, and biological sciences. By embedding digital tools, data literacy, and emerging technologies into diverse fields, the university is redefining what it means to be a “modern graduate.”
A key element of this transformation is the 6C Toolkit Framework, which equips students with structured training in Coding, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, Co-Intelligence (working effectively with artificial intelligence), Creativity, and Communication. This framework reflects a simple truth: future professionals must combine technical skills with critical thinking, ethical awareness, and the ability to communicate effectively.
Equally important is the role of universities in building a knowledge-based economy. Investment in university-led startups, applied research, and innovation ecosystems is essential if Pakistan is to move from consumption to value creation. Universities must function not only as teaching institutions, but as drivers of economic growth and technological progress.
It is also important to recognize that interdisciplinary programs are rarely perfect at the beginning. They improve through experimentation, feedback, and continuous refinement. Waiting for flawless plans only leads to stagnation. Educational progress has always come through action, learning, and improvement not hesitation.
Today, Pakistani universities face a clear choice. They can narrow their future by eliminating programs, or they can expand their impact by evolving them. The first option may seem convenient in the short term, but it is ultimately harmful. The second path is challenging but it is the only sustainable and future-ready option.
This is not just an academic debate. It is a national issue that directly affects Pakistan’s youth, economy, and global competitiveness. The universities of the future will not be those that abandon their foundations, but those that build wisely upon them. The way forward is clear: not elimination, but evolution.
Written By Sardar Naseer Ahmed
Abbottabad
naseer.ahmed660@gmail.com
