Project assistance completion report : institutional excellence project (391-0498)

Originally intended as a 10-year, 2-phase effort, the project was curtailed in 1991 following termination of aid to Pakistan. The planned Phase II was eliminated, and efforts for the remainder of Phase I focused on collaborative applied research projects between Pakistani industries and the six department/centers that had already been selected to participate in the project: (1) National Center of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar; (2) HEJ Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi; (3) Center for Advanced Molecular Biology, University of Punjab; (4) Department of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University; (5) Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology; and (6) Department of Chemistry, Gomal University. Beginning in May and June, 1992, a total of 16 projects between these 6 centers and 14 cooperating industrial companies, all but 2 of them in the private sector, were initiated at a cost of slightly more than $1.1 million. The projects included, inter alia: identification and characterization of silica sand for glassmaking; bating enzymes from animal sources; microbial control of insect pests in cotton; uninterrupted power supply; commercial exploitation of taxol anti-cancer drug; and medicinal plants for antidiabetic activity. These efforts, which involved 26 faculty members as well as a number of research associates and graduate students, proved successful. Of the 13 completed projects, 7-9 led to marketable products. In addition, a systematic procedure for cooperative applied research between industry and university researchers has been tested via the project and an manual which summarizes the system and process has been given wide distribution. The project was given strong endorsement by industrial participants, and steps are being taken by the Ministry of Education, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and the University Grants Commission to sustain and enlarge cooperative research activities. There is a critical need for follow-up by USAID to provide advice based on its experience with this project. Lessons learned are as follows. (1) Defined and required output, not funding input, should be the basis for developing Pakistani higher education institutions. Specific objectives need to be identified at the earliest stages of the project. (2) Selection of participating departments and centers should depend on two criteria: relevance of a unit's area of expertise to technological economic goals, and a demonstrated effort towards achieving professional excellence. Possession of entrepreneurial qualities by the university departments proved necessary to project success. (3) Competition for support should be an integral part of projects to strengthen educational institutions. (4) Changes in incentives, promotion criteria, and financial and research management must accompany efforts in any departmental development project. In this project, serious delays were encountered due to university policies and procedures. Structured arrangements for cooperative efforts between educational and other research institutions are also essential.