KARACHI: Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Karachi (KU) Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi urged that the Muslim world should come up with a mechanism according to which they could have their own university ranking system.
He was addressing the panel discussion of the ninth Science and Technology Exchange Program (STEP) under the themes of energy, environment, health, AI, and STI Ecosystem, in Isfahan, Iran, said a statement issued by a spokeperson of KU here on Monday.
He said that a separate university ranking system should consider the ground realities of the Muslim countries.
He mentioned that the socio-economic conditions of the Muslim world cannot be improved without making heavy investments in education and research sectors.
He believed that we have to make education and research sectors one of the top priorities to compete with other parts
of the world.
More than 100 eminent scientists, technologists, innovators, leaders, and policy-makers, from different countries participated in the event including general and specialized sessions.
The ninth STEP event is being held alongside with fifth Mustafa (PBUH) prize award ceremony in the Iranian city.
The KU VC Professor Dr Khalid Iraqi is invited to participate in both events and attended different programs during his
stay in Isfahan.
He discussed various topics including elite management: maintenance, empowerment, and utilization, promotion of discovery and creativity in educational and research centers, and enhancement of university ranking in the Islamic
world.
During his address, KU VC Professor Dr Khalid Iraqi shared that the Muslim world should enhance collaboration with
each other and said that they should engage with academicians, scholars, and researchers to widen their research opportunities.
Professor Dr Khalid Iraqi added that Muslim scholars would like to stay in their homeland if their governments provide
them better environment to conduct research and pay them according to their abilities.
He said that the brain drain cannot be stopped if governments do not come up with suitable policies, and mentioned
that the overall ranking of universities in the Muslim world cannot get better if things remain the same.
He further said that we need to give our own model rather than following the university ranking method designed by
the West.
He observed that the West is utilizing the work of Muslims but their own countries did not give them due consideration
and respect.
Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi shared that the fifth Mustafa (PBUH) award ceremony and the ninth STEP provide
the platform to interact and foster cooperation among laureates, scientists, technologists, innovators, and policy-makers.
He added that these meetings provide a stage for scientists and technologists to exchange knowledge on the latest scientific and technological developments, while also creating opportunities for global networking, and having a chance
to engage with their peers from around the world to gain insights into the latest advancements in their respective fields.