[LAP] Some reflections on ICLAP2019

[Usman Ghani]

I am pleased to read observations and comments of honorable academics about
things which are prevalent and very pertinent to Pakistani academic
community in institutions of higher education.

We keep on presenting and listening to very idealistic situations from the
world history in various conferences in Pakistan. However, when it comes to
academics’ social behaviors and practices, the hierarchies and inequalities
are strongly reinforced, as Dr Ahmer has pointed out.

I have attended many functions at International Islamic University
Islamabad as a faculty member and found almost all of them strongly
reinforcing hierarchies as if they were in a royal court. As for dinners
and luncheons, the president and rector are given a special space while
different deans and heads would be dancing attendants upon him like moths
around a bulb. The faculty and some presenters, nonetheless, comfortably
and conveniently mix with the students and the audience.

Groups and individuals are certainly privileged over others and undue
favors are granted to some which in no way  suits an educational
institution. Unfortunately, in my observation, our universities sometimes
try their best to be a replica of the ugliest situations of our society.

Dr Nasim has aptly suggested that it’s the responsibility of us academics
to address, in our capacity, situations demonstrating inequalities which,
in my view, lead to inefficiencies, misconceptions and discriminations in
institutions of higher education.

Sincerely,

Ghani.

On Sun, Dec 8, 2019 at 09:11 Nasim Akhtar <nasimakhtarraja at gmail.com> wrote:

> I would like to appreciate you for pointing out a social inadequacy.
> Insignificant as it may seem, yet, I believe, it will have a far reaching
> impact on reshaping thinking of our community members. I couldn't agree
> more that being the leader of social change we the educationists need to
> put up best of behaviours to lead the transformation. We are not behind in
> criticising, but not in front in setting examples either.
>
> Stay blessed.
>
> Regards,
>
> On Mon, 11 Nov 2019, 14:19 Ahmar Mahboob, <ahmar.mahboob at sydney.edu.au>
> wrote:
>
>> Thank you ICLAP and GCUF for inviting us to participate in the 5th ICLAP.
>> We enjoyed our interactions with the people at the event and learned a lot
>> from each one of them.
>>
>>
>>
>> At the same time, we also witnessed how and why our educational
>> institutions are unable to address many of the problems we experience
>> across the country.
>>
>>
>>
>> Let me share one (of many) examples:
>>
>>
>>
>> During lunch on the Day 1 of the conference, Mona and I chose not to stay
>> in the VIP reserved-area, but instead chat, eat, and mingle with the
>> participants. I went to one of the tables to get some food. The dish was
>> freshly refilled with steaming yummy chicken biryani. Two people took the
>> serving spoons and fished out all the pieces of chicken from the serving
>> dish. Once they had served themselves, they saw that I was waiting in line.
>> Embarrassed (even though I did not say anything), they immediately offered
>> their plates to me, which I of course declined. When I shared this anecdote
>> with Mona, she said that she had experienced something very similar in
>> another section of the dining hall.
>>
>>
>>
>> In reflecting on these incidences, we realised that the responsibility
>> here lied with the VIP culture practiced in educational institutions.
>>
>>
>>
>> If the teachers, invited guests, presenters, and students were sharing
>> the same tables, things would have been different for at least two reasons:
>>
>>
>>
>> 1. The students/presenters would have seen that everyone is equal and we
>> all share; as opposed to the culture of giving the best to the VIPs. [The
>> students/presenters were essentially mirroring the VIP culture that they
>> experience(d) and were giving themselves the best without much/any
>> consideration for others.]
>>
>>
>>
>> 2. In the absence of authority (in this case, teachers), others felt that
>> they could do and get away with anything. [Again, something that they
>> experience in many of the other aspects of their everyday life.]
>>
>>
>>
>> By replicating the VIP culture seen elsewhere in Pakistan, the
>> educational institutions become a source of reinforcing hierarchies and
>> self-centred practices in the country.
>>
>>
>>
>> Instead of modelling inclusivity and sharing, many of the current
>> practices of our teachers/academia show that it is OK to privilege oneself
>> (or an exclusive group of people) at the cost of others.
>>
>>
>>
>> How can educators bring about a change in society, if they fail to change
>> themselves?
>>
>>
>>
>> Ahmar
>>
>>
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