Academic Public Declaration: Rethinking Professorship in Pakistan
This week, one academic may receive a promotion through a simple paper. Colleagues may celebrate. However, an academic public declaration should mean more than a title.
A Title Should Carry Responsibility
The word professor comes from the Latin profiteri. It means to declare something openly. Therefore, a professor should explain what they teach and what they uphold.Old European universities understood this duty. They separated the licence to teach from the start of teaching. The master addressed colleagues and students.
The tradition still lives in the Netherlands. New professors deliver an inaugural address called an oratie. They explain their field and plans. Universities publish these addresses as public records.Pakistan could revive this practice. Boards can assess research and teaching. However, they could also ask each professor to make a public declaration.
Character Matters As Much As Knowledge
Academic records show what a scholar has achieved. They do not always show how that person treats students. For example, boards rarely ask whether teachers guide students fairly.They should also consider honesty and trust. These qualities shape universities. In addition, they build confidence among students.
Our tradition connects education with character. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) earned the names al-Sadiq and al-Amin before declaring his message. Makkah trusted his warning because they knew his character.
He also described himself as a teacher. Therefore, anyone accepting a professorship should understand the weight of that role. A public declaration can turn promotion into a promise.A chair represents a trust. That trust extends beyond the university to students, colleagues, and society. As a result, each professor should state their duty.Pakistan needs scholars who speak with knowledge and live with integrity. A public declaration can remind them of that duty. It can restore respect for the public good and service.
