Kamalia University VC Stresses Outcome-based Education System

FAISALABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jul, 2025) University of Kamalia Vice Chancellor Dr. Yasir Nawab has stressed the urgent need for transitioning to an outcome-based education system in Pakistan and said that universities must go "beyond bricks and mortar" to truly fulfill their purpose.

In an exclusive conversation with APP, Dr. Nawab said that the conventional image of universities in Pakistan is grand campuses, tall buildings and expansive infrastructure but it should not be mistaken for academic excellence. “The true greatness of a university does not lie in its physical structures but it is lies in its intellectual environment, the quality of its research and the learning systems that shape students into thinkers and change-makers”, he added.

He expressed concern over the state of higher education and questioned whether Pakistani universities are genuinely generating knowledge or merely operating as “degree-distributing machines”.

He advocated for an educational framework that equips students not just to pass exams but to gain skills, critical thinking and creative abilities which would enable them to become agents of social change not just job seekers.

Dr. Nawab stressed that research must be connected to real-world challenges beyond classrooms and libraries. The fields such as water scarcity, climate change, agriculture, health, information technology and industrial development require locally-driven research to produce not only academic knowledge but also tangible and practical improvements in the society, he added.

He also stressed for promoting a culture of inquiry, dialogue and intellectual diversity in the universities where students can ask questions, challenge ideas and explore new perspectives. “Without freedom of thought, the light of knowledge remains incomplete”, he added.

According to Dr. Yasir Nawab, another critical component is community participation. He highlighted the need for an education model in which local communities, institutions and businesses actively support underprivileged students. Such partnerships could expand access to education and create opportunities for marginalized groups to rise, he added.

He underlined the importance of digitization and efficient governance as the foundation for a modern university. He advocated for aligning administrative systems with technology to ensure transparency, performance and swift decision-making.

He also stressed the need for self-accountability within academic institutions and said that the values, knowledge, principles and models we claim to teach must first be practiced by us.

He said that the universities must become living examples of the change they advocate. Without this, the journey of reform will remain confined to slogans.

“If we truly want the universities to become centers of transformation, their roles must be redefined, not merely as teaching institutions but as forces that drive the intellectual, economic and ethical growth of the nation”, he added.