QUEST, Nawabshah, Sindh, Pakistan
By Manzoor Shaikh
I wanted to have an interesting conversation there! Where? At Quest, Nawabshah, an engineering and science and technology university located right in the heart of Sindh province.
I arrived there on a chilly evening, which was a bit of a change for me, since I’ve spent over 35 years of my life in Karachi. It was the perfect place for meaningful interaction, as I was there to participate in the 7th Plugin event and the celebrations on the eve of World Engineering Day, organized by the university’s Electrical Department.
The display of final-year projects is at the center of the Plugin series, designed by the Electrical Department. However, every department at the university is invited to share their final-year projects under one roof. This marks the 7th year the event has attracted attention from numerous universities around the province, as well as the industry.
In addition to covering various events and aspects of the moot, I wanted to understand the career aspirations of the undergraduate students at the university, as they make up over 60 percent of Pakistan’s 250 million+ population.
We need to understand what inspired them to choose their specific fields of study. How do they envision their careers progressing over time, and do they have role models in their fields? What kind of work environment do they dream of working in—corporate, academic, entrepreneurial, etc.? Are they thinking of working locally in Sindh, or are they aiming for opportunities abroad? What challenges do they anticipate facing in their professional lives? Moreover, how well do they think their current academic curriculum is preparing them for the real world? Are there any gaps between what they’re learning and what they expect from the job market?
When it comes to their choices and decisions, are they content with their field of study, or have they ever questioned their choice of major? How much do they feel external factors (like family and societal expectations) have influenced their career decisions? Are they considering a different career path once they finish their studies, such as entrepreneurship or a creative pursuit?
As for their dreams and ambitions, where do they see themselves in the next five to ten years? These are just some of the questions I explored in my conversation with them.
Here’s a brief conversation we recorded with them.
