Engineering Universities of Pakistan !

There are several engineering institutes in Pakistan but none of them ranks in the top 100 universities of the world ... ever wondered why ?

We study the same curriculum ,from the same books and by the same authors. Leaving ground realities aside, on paper we even have similar facilities and machinery. Yet our institutes lag behind other international universities.

Today in most engineering universities majority of the Professors and other teaching staff have atleast one foreign qualification to their credits yet our situation is far from improving.The number of Phd's in our universities is far greater than it once was but yet the quality of engineers being produced by our institutes remains inferior.

So where does the fault lie ?

The fault ladies and gentlemen lies within us.Yes all of us from teachers to students are responsible for messing up our educational system.

We've forgotten the true essence of acquiring knowledge. Rote learning a few sentences from a book doesn't make one a scholar. It is infact the understanding and the culture that needs to be developed. Those who are responsible for designing our curriculums will have to understand that bombarding students with loads of information does not makes them any wiser, It only adds to their stress level.It is the concepts that will remain with the student for life.

As for students, we've got into the habit of looking for shortcuts. The copy-paste culture is on the rise and its really hurting our educational system.Students do not realise that by copying assignments and test answers they're actually cheating themselves.Most of these students regret once they're on their own in the field.
It is also the duty of our universities to act soon to curb plagiarism before its too late !

Donate !

For those of you who haven't donated to the flood victims of Pakistan and are still looking for a reason to do so, here are a few benefits of giving away :

Tax Benefit:
The most common and popular reason to donate to charity is for the tax write-off. There is no shame in wanting to get a tax deduction, and you can claim it for both monetary donations and donations of items. The tax deduction is dependent upon the value of the items you have donated. The more valuable the items, the more you are able to write off on your taxes. You are able to pay less to the government and feel great about helping a nonprofit organization at the same time.It is a win-win situation.

Clean Out the Clutter:
It is time to clean out those closets and the attic. If you do not want to take on the hassle of a yard sale, donate the items to charity. You will have extra space for more important items and help a nonprofit at the same time. Don't waste perfectly good products by throwing them out, donate them to less fortunate individuals or nonprofit organizations.

Feel Good:
One of the best reasons to donate to charity is to help the less fortunate and feel great at the same time. If you are fortunate in your life, donating to charity can help you give back.

Give Back:
Donating to a charity from which you found assistance in the past is a great way to show your appreciation. No one knows more about how helpful and necessary a nonprofit organization is than a former client. You know how much the people receiving assistance need those services. What better way to give back than to donate to the charity once you are in a better place in your life.

In Memory or Honor:
Making a monetary donation in a loved one's name is a great way to honor their life and the charitable organization at the same time. You may select a charity that has touched him personally or that is close to his heart. Many families ask mourners to contribute to a particular charity instead of sending flowers to a funeral. Some people do the same for birthdays, asking friends and family to donate to charity rather than purchase a gift.

So don't wait ! Help those who're in need even if it has to be a penny.

PS:You might be interested in one of my previous posts regarding sharing

Purpose of education ?

We've seen our society advance in terms of literacy rate in the previous years.We've seen new schools,colleges and private universities come up throughout the country.The number of graduates has consistently increased year by year but somewhere along the road all of us have forgotten the true purpose of education.The sole purpose of education has rather become a tool for us to generate a decent income.

The purpose of education is to provide the building blocks for change. Whether that is intellectual, social, financial or whether it is simply a change of skill level, knowledge or attitude from one perspective to another. All education is a matter of change. Education is beneficial to all, however, the education must have a function and purpose beyond itself alone. We must also not confuse equity, the equal right to education with utility, the usefulness of the education!

The purpose of education should be to develop people through that process of change. Like any process of change, it should be challenging and difficult. It should be a little painful because that act of change, like any physical change takes time and effort to shape and complete.

Choosing a career !

Choosing a career can be the most exciting or most confusing task for a person.There are a lot of myths associated with choosing a career.I would like to state a few of them over here:

#1 Choosing a career is simple

Actually, choosing a career is an involved process and you should give it the time it deserves. Career planning is a multi-step process that involves learning enough about yourself and the occupations which you are considering in order to make an informed decision.

#2 A career counselor can tell me what occupation to pick !

A career counselor, or any other career development professional, can't tell you what career is best for you. He or she can provide you with guidance in choosing a career and can help facilitate your decision.

#3 I can't make a living from my hobby !

Says who? When choosing a career, it makes perfect sense to choose one that is related to what you enjoy doing in your spare time, if you so desire. In addition people tend to become very skilled in their hobbies, even though most of the skill is gained informally.

#4 I should choose a career from a "Best Careers" list !

Every year, especially during milestone years, i.e. the beginning of a new decade, there are numerous articles and books that list what "the experts" predict will be "hot jobs." It can't hurt to look at those lists to see if any of the careers on it appeal to you, but you shouldn't use the list to dictate your choice. While the predictions are often based on valid data, sometimes things change. Way too often what is hot this year won't be hot a few years from now. In addition, you need to take into account your interests, values, and skills when choosing a career. Just because the outlook for an occupation is good, it doesn't mean that occupation is right for you.

#5 Making a lot of money will make me happy !

While salary is important, it isn't the only factor you should look at when choosing a career. Countless surveys have shown that money doesn't necessarily lead to job satisfaction. For many people enjoying what they do at work is much more important. However, you should consider earnings, among other things, when evaluating an occupation.

#6 Once I choose a career I'll be stuck in it forever....

Not true. If you are unsatisfied in your career for any reason, you can always change it. You'll be in good company. Many people change careers several times over the course of their lifetimes.

#7 If I change careers my skills will go to waste....

Your skills are yours to keep. You can take them from one job to another. You may not use them in the exact same way, but they won't go to waste.

#8 If my best friend (or sister, uncle, or neighbor) is happy in a particular field, I will be too !

Everyone is different and what works for one person won't necessarily work for another, even if that other person is someone with whom you have a lot in common. If someone you know has a career that interests you, look into it, but be aware of the fact that it may not necessarily be a good fit for you.

#9 All I have to do is pick an occupation... Things will fall into place after that !

Choosing an career is a great start, but there's a lot more to do after that. A Career Action Plan is a road map that takes you from choosing a career to becoming employed in that occupation to reaching your long-term career goals.

#10 There's very little I can do to learn about an occupation without actually working in it....

While first hand experience is great, there are other ways to explore an occupation. You can read about it either in print resources or online. You can also interview those working in that field.

Hope these tips will help you in making a better career choice !