Former CEO EDB believes today’s PEC is capable to reform engineering sector

If PEC had entered the current mode earlier, Engineering Development Board (EDB) would not have needed to be set up, says former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Imtiaz Rastgar referring to the current active mode of the council whose Academia-Industry Liaison Committee (AILC) hosted a splendid show in which academia and industry people sat face to face to hammer out issues hampering the collaboration between the two sides.
Recalling the establishment of PEC in the wake of a hunt for jobs for civil engineers he says the council is more powerful than EDB and has the power to enforce decisions as regards universities or the courses. Even HEC does not match such powers.
Touching the national economy, he said it’s the product being sold in the international market that matters. We have to see what our industry produces for the international market. There is a tiny number of products that we sell in the international market. Unless we produce a large number of exportable products and earn foreign exchange, we cannot address the issue of the balance of payment in Pakistan. Thus, he said we have to see what role our universities play in the creation of national wealth.
Speaking about the quality of faculty in the universities, he recalled he knew many names tagged with the engineer before their names but did they know physics? It shows that our school level fails to produce efficient students as there is no proper lab work at lower levels. It becomes evident when they enter a higher level. Therefore, we have to see where the feed is coming from.
We have five levels of education from primary to doctorate. Similarly, there are five levels in the industry. We cannot ignore any level, if we focus on bachelor’s or master’s only, it means we have not properly prepared people for the industry. We must not ignore the rest of the levels. We need to look at it holistically.
Rastgar said we have no people for the manufacturing sector, we have only degree holders, and don’t have the capacity to work practically. PEC should rectify these aspects of the engineering sector. We need to link theory with its application, it’s a must for the industry.
He was of the view that there should be a 2 to 3 years gap for pursuing a master’s degree after graduation. PEC can enforce it and let the graduate have some experience in the industry. Also, PhDs should not be out into teaching directly.
Speaking from his experience, he said faculty’s connection with knowledge and field stood at zero thus the universities should not be forced to work with PhDs only. He did not support the HEC’s line that only PhDs could be employed in the universities.
Imtiaz Rastagar appreciated PEC’s decision to introduce professors by practice in the universities. — ER