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Dr. Pervez Zamurrad Janjua
Possibilities of Educational Cooperation between IIUI and German Universities
- Concept of educational cooperation
- Importance of educational cooperation with German universities
- Advantages of cooperation with German universities for IIUI
- Possibilities of educational cooperation between IIUI and German universities
- Negotiations for cooperation between IIUI and German universities
- Conclusions
- Concept of educational cooperation
Education is a formal mean of acquiring knowledge. It is the basic factor to develop human capital, the most influential form of capital, and a central factor of societal development. As education is the essence of a society, the development of educational institutions is a precondition for development.
Education has its roots in family and it is organized by groups of people, but its nature is not a tribal or national one. It is rather a universal heritage of mankind.
Although a part of education is always inspired by the faith of the people, yet it can be enriched by examining and understanding the practice of other societies. Education can be a mean to analyse values and culture on rational basis, to differentiate between religion and tradition and to identify the bottleneck of spiritual and material development.
Being a developing country it is a great challenge for Pakistan to develop its educational institutions in order to pace with the developed nations of contemporary world. The modern educational institutions of higher learning in our country have a relatively short history. Although the institutions are developed at a rapid pace in recent years, but their structures are still premature. The institutions specifically need to be strengthened in following aspects:
1. Knowledge based education
2. Upgrading curriculum
3. Teaching methods and tools
4. Academic capacities
5. Compatibility of theory and practice
6. Compatibility of learning and examination
7. Research activities
8. Library and laboratory facilities
An educational institution can be upgraded through the process of reformation and educational cooperation with other institutions. The processes of reformation and cooperation may run in tandem.
The process of reformation may facilitate to reassess the existing educational structures in context of its basic weaknesses and to identify possible solutions in the light of historical, philosophical and (or) comparative analysis of other institutions.
Similarly, educational cooperation may enhance educational performance. Cooperation among educational institutions of higher learning is quite important to accelerate the pace of development in science and research. Through exchange of information knowledge can be updated and it may be an input for innovation. Updating of information can be a great source for expansion in the stock of available knowledge. Exchanging information also means confidence building. It contributes to a healthy development of organizations on mutual basis.
- Importance of educational cooperation with German universities
German educational institutions of higher learning and research can be ideal partners for cooperation for International Islamic University Islamabad. Main reasons underlying such cooperation can be summarized as under:
- Geopolitically both Germany and Pakistan are important countries of their respective regions.
- Both countries believe in regional and international cooperation and are interested in a multi-polar world.
- Both countries are interested to develop efficient and sustainable structures in their respective countries and regions.
- Germany has a well developed system of education and research. The system is substantially organized in public sector. However, after reunification of Germany its educational system is in the process of reformation. Privatization, module education and English language are the main characteristics of such reforms. These characteristics are already a part of education system in Pakistan. Nevertheless, the system in Pakistan needs to be updated and expanded.
- Germany has already achieved an advance stage of industrial development and at present effort is made to modernize its services sector. Pakistan is a developing country of great potential. It needs to develop its most productive sectors and modernize services. Cooperation in education and research may produce new input for economic growth and social welfare in both countries.
- Advantages of cooperation with German universities for IIUI
- Knowledge of German language enables our students/faculties to grasp the causal roots of cultural change in Europe, because most of the European societal movements have their philosophical origin in Germany. Knowledge of German language in social context may also create opportunities for inter-cultural dialog and cultural enrichment.
- Educational cooperation may enable our students/faculties to enrich their stock of knowledge in various scientific disciplines including philosophy, law, economics and natural sciences.
- Our students can avail better opportunities for internship, because Germany has a well developed domestic and regional market.
- Education in Germany is up till now almost free of cost except living expenditure. No fee is required to be paid for PhD programs and a nominal fee is recently introduced in some German universities at BS/MS levels. Contrarily, our students have to pay huge amounts as educational fee in Anglo-Saxon countries.
- German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and various interest groups of Germany including churches, trusts, public and private foundations, trade unions and private business do finance educational and research activities of public and business interest.
- Educational experiences of our students/faculties with German institutions facilitate them to interact with German institutions in Pakistan and elsewhere more effectively.
- Possibilities of cooperation between IIUI and German universities
How to create a scientific cooperation? It is not quite easy to achieve this objective despite of the fact that both cooperating partners can get the benefits of cooperation. Some of the difficulties are given below:
- Difference of climate and culture
- Barrier of language
- Physical distance
- Different pattern of organizations and their stages of growth
- Different working pattern
- Divergent group interest
On the other hand following factors may also facilitate to develop cooperation:
- Cultural commonalities and development of multicultural societies
- Common interests
- Common language
- International standardization of education
- Modern communications
- Negotiations for Cooperation
Recently certain negotiations were carried out to initiate or create cooperation between International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) and German Institutions. The administration of IIUI wished to have cooperation with German institutions in forms and areas as explained hereunder:
- There are elaborate opportunities of exchange of ideas for developing mutual understanding in the fields of teaching, training and research
- Young persons from IIU can be sent to German Universities for completing PhD degrees in their respective specializations preferably in the disciplines where medium of instructions is English
- Both sides may sponsor staff and students for orientation and training in the German experiences of merchant banking. The concept of German merchant banking may also be integrated in the academic programmes of the IIU
- Students from the German universities may join this University for short term and long term duration on semester wise or degree wise. Similarly, students from IIU may join similar universities in Germany for short and long term duration. In particular, a student can complete some certain selected courses in a respective specialization in either of the universities for one semester which will entitle them for credit transfers
- Academic cooperation in areas such as education, law, languages, economics and emerging sciences may also be developed on mutual basis
- Both sides may plan for the exchange of teachers, trainers and researchers on mutually agreed terms and conditions
- Both sides may organize seminars, workshops, conferences, colloquia, lecture series and other forums of common interest
- Both sides may cooperate to improve, update and refine schemes of studies in order to incorporate recent scientific and technical developments at global level
- The International Islamic University Islamabad may cater for the educational and training needs of German Muslim communities partly at Islamabad and partly in Germany by organizing training programmes.
In pursuance of the objective and direction of cooperation meetings were held with the administration of the Universities of Oldenburg and Marburg.
5.1. Negotiations with Oldenburg University:
The official response from the administration of Oldenburg University could be summarized below:
- 1. The administration emphasized the need to give due thought regarding doctoral studies, joint research/projects and exchange of students so that the financing of stay of Pakistani students for doctoral studies in Germany must be secured under joint doctoral study programme of IIUI. It is also desirable, if IIUI could develop a programme for the pre-selection of deserving doctoral candidates.
- 2. The administration of said institution also showed interest in the exchange of teachers, trainers and researchers specifically in the field of educational sciences. The university may contribute towards the development of the Faculty of Education, if the administration of IIUI so desire. Similarly, the graduates of the University of Oldenburg may wish to have a doctoral study in Pakistan in the area of special education at IIUI.
- 3. The administration of Oldenburg University wished to know about appropriate partners from IIUI in suitable/attractive areas for joint cooperation so that corresponding partners could be identified at that end in Oldenburg.
- 4. Keeping in view a number of lifeless contracts for cooperation and planned internationalization strategy of the University of Oldenburg, it is desirable to execute projects on bilateral basis first and after their successful accomplishment a possible contract for cooperation may be signed.
5.2. Negotiation with Marburg University:
Similarly, the response of the administration of Marburg University may be summarized below:
- Students from International Islamic University Islamabad may study at Marburg University in all subjects.
- There is no fee or limit for admission of doctoral students except in medical sciences.
- There are possibilities of cooperation in development studies through Institute of Credit and Cooperatives.
- Cooperation can also be extended to a new institute or department of Modern Orient Studies through a network of universities including Marburg, Darmstadt, Bochum, etc.
- Areas of joint interest and interested partners should be identified on both sides.
- Conclusions
Being an independent state Pakistan strives to have good relations with its neighbours. Our country maintains close relations with Muslim countries. One pillar of our external policy is to have good relations with all international and regional powers. In pursuance of this policy we have good relations with the developed countries. In this regard we have traditionally close relations with the Western countries including United Kingdom and United State of America. Same is true for our educational relations with these countries.
Federal Republic of Germany also belongs to the Western World. It is rather a leading country of Western Europe keeping in view the size of population, educational and research infrastructure, industrial growth and international trade. The leadership of Germany is inclined to expand its relations to other regions of the world. Germany and Pakistan have many common features. Both people believe in trustworthiness, unity, discipline, rule of law, individual’s freedom, responsibility and social justice. Similarly, both people adhere to safeguard basic human rights including the protection of individual’s honour, life and property. Both countries have common friends and do not have any coherent conflict to each other. Both countries are interested to strengthen democratic institutions in their respective societies. Germany is an important trade partner of Pakistan. Keeping in view the growth potential, the level of representation of each country in the other country could be upgraded.
However, there are certain difficulties that can be removed through concentrated efforts. The image of each country may be improved in other country. The necessity of reflection is greater for Pakistan than in Germany. Germany has almost a stable democratic system. Its institutions have already reached a certain level of maturity. The structure of power and decision making is widely decentralized. The infrastructure of education and research is quite developed. There exists a linkage between science and society. Therefore, basic institutional structures in Pakistan have to be organized on democratic principles. The structure of decision making must be transparent and defined. In this regard, media can also play a positive role to reflect civil society.
Another difficulty of cooperation is the internationalization policy of Germany. The policy is primarily based on German organizational ethic and geopolitical constraints. German organizational ethic is strongly influenced by neighbourhood and regionalism. The creation of custom union, formation of a nation state, European integration, and transatlantic relations, are some examples of this ethic. Keeping in view the internationalization policy of Germany, the opportunities and benefits of cooperation for each country/partner should be identified. This approach requires transparency, reciprocity and interdependence.
Having said that now we proceed to the possibilities of upgrading the level of education and research at International University Islamabad through cooperation with German institutions. The process of upgrading may take place in various stages, i.e. observation, examination, experimentation, adoption and re-evaluation.
Bilateral visits may serve to strengthen confidence and give opportunity to know partners and institutions. We must also know people to win them for cooperation. To make relations with German people one has to follow a gradual and reciprocal approach. People often like their traditions. Same is true for Pakistani and German people. Therefore, it is useful to know German traditions for better understanding.
Similarly, cooperation may take place through mutual contacts at the level of students, teachers, educationists, researcher and administrators. Certain exchange programme of mutual interest can be negotiated with German institutions.
Exchange of information can also take place through joint studies, research and publication works. In this regard one may organize joint seminars/conferences of common interest, joint study programs/courses through distance learning, joint supervision of thesis/dissertation of graduate students, and bilateral students exchange having the possibility of internship.
A prominent feature of cooperation relates to doctoral studies or post doctoral research activities. This element of cooperation can upgrade educational and research institutions both in qualitative and quantitative term.
Another form of cooperation is to get consultancy services or scientific collaboration in order to expand institutional infrastructure. In this way operative institutional structures can be expanded or new structure can be created. One may therefore plan to establish new faculties, institutes or department through international scientific cooperation.
Despite of a measured policy of internationalization there exist willingness on behalf of German institutions to have partners for scientific cooperation like IIUI from Pakistan. Nevertheless, before finalizing a partnership contract, German partners wish to learn Pakistani partners and to know their requirements.
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