By Prof. Dr. Aamer Ijaz

About 2.3 to 2.4 million postgraduates have been produced in different universities of Pakistan. Most o

f them are getting education at this level with the mindset that it will help them in getting a job; whereas the purpose of education should be to produce manpower who should be self-sustained; it’s the way to find new horizons, it shows the path to sell your abilities and create jobs. We have produced a class of about 2.3 to 2.4

million

jobless people. We need to change the mind set of both the students and teachers and this change will not come through just by shouting, it will only come through the schools, colleges and universities and through classrooms. We

have to create manpower who should have the real knowledge of developing their own products. Our teachers need to teach with full enthusiasm, vigour and inculcate in our youth the true knowledge, integrity, honesty and humility. If we would able to change the mindset of our teachers and students then it will be a real change. Our faculty need to focus more on research, if you are a good innovator you are a good entrepreneur. We need to combine technology, business and innovation together, only then you would not be good to be hired by other organizations but also you would be in a position to create jobs.
Higher Education Commission, Islamabad, gives research top priority for sustainable economic growth and future knowledge economy. For this purpose Offices of

Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) were established in 2010 in Public Sector Universities of the country to play a pivotal role in research and development activities. Accordingly, ORIC managers / personnel are been equipped with basic

knowledge covering a variety of areas of research promotion, administration, and

commercialization.
The main objective of the Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization is to develop, enhance, expand and manage the university’s research programs. It will explore donors for research initiatives; establish linkages between universities and industrial and commercial activities. Office of research, innovation and Commercialization (ORIC), University of the Punjab is playing a vital role in Punjab University research activities and also encompasses the business incubation center of the university. ORIC has adopted its following mandate to enhance the environment for all research activities and scholarship schemes by:-
• Developing the university’s strategic research directions and policies.
• Increasing and diversifying external research funding.
• Improving integration of research and education at all levels of the university.
• Improving translation of research into the public benefit.
• Strengthening university-industry relationships.
• Promoting entrepreneurship, technology-transfer and commercialization activities that energize and support the local and national economy.
• Promoting and enhancing crosscutting and multi-disciplinary research initiatives while working out incentives and awards’ schemes for world class research and publications.
• To critically enhance research activities in P.U.’s Institutes / Colleges / Departments and also protect intellectual property generated as a consequence of research activities.
ORIC is working closely with the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), Islamabad since last two years, and an MOU has been signed. The credit goes to both the parties and especially our worthy Vice Chancellor to develop a liaison that will definitely give a boost to research and development activities at PU. There is an increasing need today than ever before to identify the technological needs of our country and to point out how the academia can apply their knowledge and expertise to propose workable strategies that our industry may embrace to do fuller justice to its vital role in the country’s development. At the moment, ORIC is acting as a bridge between the university’s researchers and funding organizations.
A database of all the equipments which are being used for carrying out analysis and certain tests have been made and placed on ORIC’s website not for only Panjab University but also other universities research students, public/community, other research organizations and industries to get benefit from these highly valuable equipments/expertise of the faculty members of PU. ORIC has planned to conduct a Vice Chancellor’s IDEA Competition for Business, for which there will a prize for the best innovative business idea for the faculty of Punjab University.
PU ORIC has been organizing a summit called “INNOVATION TO INVENTION SUMMIT” for the last five years in which not only faculty members of PU but also other universities of Pakistan and different industries displayed their products and processes of commercial importance, which they have developed indigenously. ORIC has placed a showcase in its building displaying few tangible products developed by our faculty members. Some of these products include Aleo Vera Gel, Aleo Vera Juice, Biodegradable plastics, Urea Formaldehyde, Flower Extracts, Perfumes, Honey, Liquid Dish Wash Detergent, Hand Washing Liquid and Sanitizer, Herbal Cold Creams, Diesel from Plastic Waste, Mosquito Repellent, Industrial Enzymes etc.

(Prof Dr Aamer Ijaz is head of PU ORIC and Member Syndicate elected on professor’s seat. He can be reached at: [email protected])