MECH ATRONICS, a multidisciplinary field that combines principles from mechanical, electrical and software engineering, is a rapidly growing field globally, but in Pakistan, the field has failed to blossom.

Many universities in Pakistan offer mechanical engineering programmes, but mechatronics is often treated as an afterthought, primarily owing to a lack of awareness and investment in the education sector, and because of the vastly isolated nature of the country`s automobile and mechanical industries from the rest of the world.

The curriculum is usually outdated, following a run-of-the-mill theoretical approach, and the faculty often lacks the necessary expertise to teach the subject effectively. As a result, our graduates are ill-equipped to compete in the global arena, where they are often pitched against graduates from world-class institutions with professional experience in globally dominating mechanical and automobile companies.

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) and all the other relevant stakeholders should take immediate measures to revamp mechatronics education in Pakistan. We need to update our curriculum, train our faculty, and facilitate the establishment of state-of-the-artlaboratories. Besides, corporate partnerships have the potential to produce graduates with the ablity to compete globally.

Muhammad Saad Islamabad