Government College University, Lahore, recently grabbed headlines when Dr Shazia Bashir, an illustrious professor and an Old Ravian, became the first lady in the history of the varsity to be appointed as its acting vice chancellor.

Prof Dr Bashir has an MSc in Physics from GCU, MPhil from the UET and a PhD from Technical University, Vienna, Austria. She has chaired the Department of Physics, and served as the director of GCU-Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics, and dean of the Department of Mathematics and Physical Sciences at GCU. She has more than 150 research publications in reputed international journals to her credit. The Punjab governor, in his capacity as chancellor of GCU, entrusted her with the additional charge of the VC office for a period of four months or until the appointment of a regular VC.

The News on Sunday met with her for an exclusive interview. Excerpts follow:

The News on Sunday: What does it mean to you personally to be the first female head of GCU?

Dr Shazia Bashir: It is the greatest honour for me. I’ve been a part of this institute for a long time, first as a student and then in various capacities. I have spent 28 long years here, starting as a lecturer, then served as an assistant professor, associate professor, professor, director and finally as the dean. Now, I am the head, which I consider a blessing from Allah. It is not solely on account of my talent but the result of the guidance and support from my teachers and parents.

This position is not just a blessing but also a test for me. I aim to work for the uplift and improvement of this institute, making all decisions on merit.

TNS: Tell us a bit about your student days. If you were to compare the GC of that time with that of today, what would you say?

SB: I had enormous love and respect for the institution back then. Now I have even more.

As for the comparison, in my student days, the legacy of GC was evident: everyone was dedicated and hardworking, and we had immense respect for our teachers. Now there’s a noticeable difference in terms of attitudes. While students today are obedient, they often need reasoned persuasion, which takes time. I always stress the importance of respecting one’s seniors, as it eventually brings you rich rewards.

TNS: How do you see the level of dedication among teachers and students now?

SB: Sadly, dedication on the part of teachers as well as students may have diminished. The teachers aren’t quite as dedicated, which leads to a lack of comfort and connection between them and their students. A student’s interaction with teachers is crucial. In my time, the teachers stayed in their offices, labs, or rooms until late; and the students stayed with them. We were eager to arrive before our teachers and leave after them. Today, the students often leave without a care for whether the teacher is still around.

TNS: What do you have to suggest to the teachers to keep them motivated?

Dr Shazia Bashir: Consistency is the key, whether you’re a teacher or a student. We need to focus on self-improvement instead of blaming the system, the curriculum, or the society at large. If we keep blaming others for our failures, we’ll stagnate. Real success comes from self-correction. Both the teachers and the students must remember this.

TNS: As the acting VC, what are your immediate concerns and goals for the GCU?

SB: My first concern is to instill a sense of positivity and transparency among the teachers and students. I’ve called a meeting and conveyed to all my colleagues that every decision must be made based on merit and 100 percent transparency. My office will not be used for any sort of politics. So, I urge everyone not to approach me with their agendas; instead, come to me with positive proposals.

The government’s decision to appoint me was based on merit, and my aim is to uphold that standard in all our future actions. I believe that by ensuring everyone gets their rightful due, we can create harmony, peace and happiness at the institute.

“When we look at why we lag behind in international rankings, such as the QS ranking, a major factor is the disparity in budgets. The budget of a single American university exceeds the combined budgets of hundreds of Pakistani universities.”

Another priority for me is to improve our infrastructure. It is currently weaker than it was 28 years ago when I was a student here. Given that we are one of the most prestigious institutes in Pakistan, this should not be the case.

I visit three or four departments daily to discuss problems from the grassroots level. I am not an outsider, I understand the culture and needs of the place. My goal is to engage directly with the faculty and chairpersons to understand and address their concerns. I have my visits organised alphabetically, and I take detailed notes, involving the maintenance and registrar’s office as well as the senior staff to address issues on the spot.

While I cannot work miracles overnight, I hope to do my best to resolve as many problems as possible. I hope people will remember my tenure fondly, and recognise my sincere efforts.

TNS: How can the international ranking of GCU and other Pakistani universities be improved?

SB: See, the primary issue is the lack of state-of-the-art equipment. When we look at why we lag behind in international rankings, such as the QS ranking, a major factor is the disparity in budgets. The budget of a single American university exceeds the combined budgets of hundreds of Pakistani universities. This renders any such comparison unfair.

That said, the government must prioritise and significantly increase funding for scientific research and state-of-the-art equipment. I urge high-level officials, including the chief minister, governor and prime minister, to recognise the importance of investing in prestigious institutions like ours. With adequate funding and government backing, it is possible to upgrade our research faculties and infrastructure, and thereby improve our international rankings.

TNS: What is your typical workday like?

SB: My typical workday involves looking at both immediate and long-term priorities. My main focus is discipline. I have reactivated the proctorial board and requested all proctors, chief proctors and assistant proctors to ensure discipline across all departments. Over the next two to three weeks, I will announce a dress code, a hallmark of the GCU, which requires students to avoid casual jeans, rough T-shirts, and slippers. I didn’t impose this immediately after my appointment [as acting VC], because I wanted to allow everyone to understand my approach. Now, with more acceptance that’s come my way, I can urge teachers to instill discipline and ethical values in students. I tell them to dedicate five or so minutes of their class time to talk about discipline, ethics and Islamic principles. These teachings are essential for fostering respect.

As part of my job, I also get to handle a variety of administrative tasks, such as attending committees and meetings. I recently attended a committee meeting on Happiness and Peace in Turbulent Times. It highlighted the importance of teaching our students and young teachers the values of hard work and patience, and reassure them that their efforts will be rewarded in time.

Ahsan Malik is a media veteran interested in politics, consumer rights and entrepreneurship