Two elite universities form the basis for the case studies for this research project. Both are located in a major city in Pakistan. The universities are co- educational English-medium institutions that offer undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral degrees in a range of subjects.
The first institution, Apex University, is located in the central city. The university, with a student population of approximately 4000, was founded in the early 1980s primarily as a university of Business and Management providing undergraduate and postgraduate courses including the BSc (Bachelor of Sciences), BSc Honours, MBA (Masters in Business Administration), as well as doctorate degrees in Business, Management and Commerce. Today the university, built on a large site, has grown by adding departments such as Social Sciences, English Language, Education, Engineering, Law and Accounting. The university is a private institution affiliated with one of the top Ivy League Business Schools in the United States. Apex, originally conceived and functioned as a business university in the early 1980s, clearly declares itself as being funded by prominent corporations both from Pakistan and abroad.
According to the information obtained from my conversations with staff members at the institution and on the university’s website, Apex University is currently significantly funded by international multi-corporations and
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international banking and financial conglomerates that have both a prominent global and domestic presence. Other contributors range from high-ranking prominent political figures in the current American administration to prominent Pakistani government officials. The international banking sector has shown interest in supporting the university by smaller financial contributions as well as by guaranteeing job placements to young graduates. The board of governors of the university consists of high profile local businessmen, as well as chief executive officers of global corporations.
With such strong financial support this elite university caters primarily to the upper middle class, who can afford to pay in excess of USD $20,000 per annum in a country where the per capita income3 is USD $700-850 per year, with average salaries of USD $850-900/month. Scholarships are available, but are hotly contested. Admissions to the university are procured after results from an entrance examination and scores from the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) are compiled. It is interesting to note here that GMAT tests are standardized American tests that assess mathematical and English skills at an undergraduate level, administered by a prestigious US University. Apex University at the time the data was collected in 2004-2005, had 2400 undergraduate, 1600 postgraduate and 15+ doctoral students. The 143 full-time faculty staff included Rhodes scholars, and doctorate holders from international prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Oxford, Berkeley, MIT, and Stanford.
Staff qualifications are referred to on the website, as the basis on which the institution prides itself. Recent data collected from the University’s website, shows that graduates have all obtained (100% recruitment) jobs. The majority are overseas and employed by international corporations including those that contribute to or sit on the board of governors.
The university buildings include an Information Technology building, a cafeteria and student centre building, sponsored and funded entirely by an American corporation, a mosque (for 3000-5000 people), and a sports complex with international squash, basketball and tennis courts. The hostels are segregated into male and female blocks. The campus also houses an academic centre, a
3 Data sourced from the South Asian Media Net (www.southasianmedia.net).
world-class library, and residential luxury apartments for staff (who are offered free accommodation).
The courses offered by Apex are designed so that English Language, Composition Writing, Communication Skills, Creative Writing and Critical Thinking courses are compulsory. They are required to be taken by all undergraduate and postgraduate students who have not gone through the university’s undergraduate system before. The research for this study was carried out in these English language classes. The majority of students involved in the research were undergraduates, although a few postgraduate students were also interviewed. The students were evenly mixed with regards to gender, and the staff within the faculties of social sciences and education was predominantly female. Almost all the staff were Muslim (some converts);
although a few staff were Pakistani Christians and two were Buddhist. The students were mostly Muslims, although some postgraduate students, who were eager to informally share their views, were Hindus. Most students were in their late teens/early twenties to late twenties. Students in their late thirties or older were non-existent, even in the doctorate programs. The staff, in both universities, had been employed from American universities and the local public university. Hence they were all mature doctorate holders of 50+ years.
The second institution is also an elite business university; it competes with Apex University and has been given the pseudonym Rise University. This institution began in the late 1990s, has the support of a high profile British University, and is similar in its administrative structure to Apex. Rise University does not reveal its corporate sponsors and refuses to divulge any substantial information about them, although from various conversations with administrative staff on campus, it was clear that large corporate bodies that are not based in Pakistan contribute private funds. Among them, high profile American corporations were mentioned, although it is important to point out that no substantive evidence was given by anyone in the administration, and there is no mention of any such corporations on the University’s website.
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This co-educational business university includes two large buildings that house 2500 undergraduates and 170 postgraduates. Currently, Rise does not offer doctorate programs and detailed information on the demographics of the student body was not available. Despite all the reassurance, it seemed clear that there was an uneasiness within the University’s administration as to how the information they provided would be used; and hence their reluctance in releasing it. The entrance examinations are strictly based on the university’s own guidelines, but it is apparent from discussion with their staff that GMAT results and school results are usually taken into account when students are selected. Rise University does not house its staff on campus, and the land area of the university is significantly smaller than that of Apex. Rise University offers free transport facilities to students and staff.
When comparing the two institutions, it was clear that there were differences in their respective administrative approach. The administration at Apex was helpful and supplied much of the information requested. This was in stark contrast to the administration at Rise who refused to divulge any information. The information that was gathered on the organization, administrative policies and curriculum was primarily from students and staff who were willing to share such information. English language courses at Rise were very similar to the English language creative writing courses at Apex. Courses in academic English writing, research writing and creative writing at Rise and Apex were taught primarily to undergraduates. Administrative staff at both institutions were quick to point out that all postgraduate students who felt they needed help in academic writing were offered places within undergraduate courses. A detailed discussion will be presented in chapters four and five.