n Pakistan, the youth face numerous challenges, many of those linked to employability and financial stability. A critical issue at the heart of these challenges is access to quality higher education.

The higher education these days often fails to impart the skills or provide market-driven education that significantly improve employability or support entrepreneurial ventures. Ensuring that higher education equips young Pakistanis with the competencies required to thrive in a competitive job market or embark on entrepreneurial journeys is a pressing concern that demands immediate attention.

Access to higher education remains a formidable challenge for young people in Pakistan. With a population of around 240 million, Pakistan is the fifth most populous country globally. Nearly 120 million people out of them live in rural areas.

However, most universities are located in urban centres. Consequently, aspiring students from rural areas face the daunting prospect of leaving their homes to pursue higher education in nearby cities, incurring additional costs beyond tuition and grappling with the emotional burden of living away from home. Securing admission to universities is an uphill task, exacerbated by disparities in quality of education between urban and rural areas and between private and public institutions.

Moreover, the lack of career counselling services leaves many students ill-equipped to navigate the selection of academic disciplines, often resulting in mismatches between their skills and market demand. Consequently, graduates frequently find themselves unprepared for employment or entrepreneurship opportunities.

Compounding these challenges are systemic issues within Pakistan’s higher education institutions, including inadequate leadership, governance, infrastructure and funding constraints. Together these factors affect the quality of education offered and limit the universities’ ability to effectively equip students with the skills required of the modern workforce.

Pursuit of higher education holds promise for personal and societal advancement. There is a critical need to reform Pakistan’s higher education sector to address disparities in access, quality and institutional effectiveness.

It is important to acknowledge that we are already late in implementing necessary changes and reforms in our higher education system. However, before it becomes too late, we must explore and discuss the improvements needed, the concrete steps to be taken, and, essentially, “what needs to be done” in higher education.

Recently, an international summit was organised in Islamabad to address urgent concerns about access, quality and relevance in higher education. The summit featured participation from leading national and international academics, government officials and civil society representatives who shared some brilliant ideas to shape the future of higher education in Pakistan.

The discussion touched upon various aspects of higher education, including access, quality, system efficiency, leadership, governance, linkages and partnerships. There was general agreement that the education system must embrace technological advancements reshaping teaching, research, and administrative services. There is a need to develop innovative curricula that bridge the gap between academia and industry, embedding essential soft skills for successful careers.

It is also important to grant universities greater autonomy to better address market needs, financial challenges and internal governance. An important consideration is to prevent faculty burnout and boost efficiency. There is a need for transparent policies on teaching, research and administrative expectations; support systems and mentorship programs; recognition and reward systems; and technology for streamlined workload management.

The pursuit of higher education holds promise for personal and societal advancement. There is critical need in Pakistan’s higher education sector for reforms to address disparities in access, quality and institutional effectiveness.

It is crucial for Pakistani higher education institutions to adopt online learning and micro-credentials to stay relevant in today’s evolving educational landscape.

The leadership and governance crisis has significantly affected Pakistan’s higher education system. There has been unprecedented growth in the number of public sector universities, but these institutions suffer from a lack of autonomy, unnecessary political interference, weak leadership capacities, and inadequate funding. These issues collectively compromise meritocracy and academic freedom, disrupt continuity and long-term planning, degrade the quality of education and research, and result in poor governance.

To improve quality leadership and institutional governance, it is essential to implement a leadership development programme. This program should aim to cultivate a cadre of capable administrators skilled in strategic planning, financial management and institutional governance.

Emphasising entrepreneurship in higher education is vital for preparing students to innovate, solve problems and drive economic growth, ultimately contributing to the nation’s overall development. Promoting practices that cultivate an indigenous entrepreneurial spirit, implementing curriculum reforms to incorporate entrepreneurship education across all disciplines, and establishing campus-wide incubation centres and hubs are crucial steps. Additionally, creating a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurship through networking events, startup competitions and access to funding opportunities are important as essential for nurturing student ventures.

Climate change is one of the most significant phenomena of our time. It is crucial to examine how higher education programmes are evolving to address climate and water challenges, emphasising the importance of faculty and students embracing new academic opportunities. It is imperative for higher education institutions to take proactive steps; specifically, integrating climate change content into all degree programs, fostering interdisciplinary research networks across institutions and implementing sustainability initiatives on campuses to mitigate carbon footprint. These initiatives include practices like recycling, efficient water use, renewable energy adoption and developing green infrastructure.

Industry-academia linkages are important but have progressed slowly despite being a longstanding priority. Strengthening these links is key to fostering innovation, boosting economic development and meeting societal needs. There have been some success stories in our higher education system. We should learn from, replicate and expand these successes.

To enhance industry-academia collaboration, industrial advisory boards should be formed. Platforms for greater interaction should be established and structured internship programmes should be promoted.

Capacity building of higher education faculty is another important area that needs to be strengthened. Higher education is rapidly evolving due to changing demands from students, industry and communities. Faculty roles are increasingly complex, requiring new teaching skills and adaptation to innovative curricula. Universities should offer targeted training programmes to help faculty transition to these new paradigms and ensuring their continuous professional development. These programmes should focus on high-impact practices, interdisciplinary collaboration and cultivating a mindset of lifelong learning and adaptability.

A significant portion of Pakistan’s population is young. 64 per cent of them are under the age of 30 and 29 per cent between 15 and 29 years. It is crucial for Pakistan to provide accessible, high-quality, market-driven and competitive higher education to its youth. Investment in this area has immense potential. It can enable the youth to contribute to both economic and societal development.

The writer is a communications specialist based in Rawalpindi. He may be reached at qureshiwaqas@gmail.com. He tweets @qureshiwaqasA