MAKING PAKISTAN UNIVERSITIES CENTRES FOR RESEARCH A case study of the Centre for Solid State Physics

Abstract

In the last five years (2002-2007) under the directions of the Higher Education Commission, Islamabad, a process of transforming Universities within Pakistan into research oriented Universities has been initiated. What are the prospects for these initiatives? Under this perspective Universities should not only transmit knowledge but be actively engaged in the creation of new knowledge. About 30 years ago in 1976 a number of Centres of Excellence were established in Pakistani Universities with the same objectives of initiating research in selected fields within Pakistan. This paper attempts to analyse the successes and failures of one such Centre of Excellence. The Centre for Solid State Physics established within the Punjab University, Lahore, has been engaged in producing M.Phil graduates and to a lesser extent PhDs in the field of Solid State Physics over the last 30 years. Its experience serves as a guide for current efforts at transforming Universities within Pakistan.