Abstract:
The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) is a set of multilateral, legally
enforceable rules governing international trade in services. These rules are aimed at
enhancing international trade in services including through promotion of progressive
liberalization, free competition among service providers, and open access to national
markets with out any prejudice or any pre-conditionality. The agreement regulates the
cross-border flow of trade and investment in services and provides important
opportunities and threats for developing countries especially in higher education field.
However, the potential impact of GATS is still unknown as it is a new agreement yet to
be implemented fully. With out examining the purpose, motivations, content, thrust and
tone of GATS and specific threats and promises it holds for the economy, society and
cultural enfoldments of signatories, they would be grouping into dark. Instead of being
positive impacted, negative fallout may be in store for them. Considering the role and
importance of higher education for sustainable social, political and economic
development in Pakistan it is imperative for the appropriate quarters to investigate pros
and cons attached to this new set of globalization process. To better understand this
ongoing process the research explores the viability of options for our own institutions to
avail the opportunities being offered by foreign market like Middle East, Central Asia,
and South Asia etc for performing an efficient role as educational providers across border
and vise versa.
The research is based on the belief that insightful evaluation of consequence of opening
education at various levels of GATS is essential for the formulation of rational, prudential
and internationally acceptable policy and response mechanism on the part of Pakistan.
Therefore, the dissertation aims to furnish helpful inputs to the authorities managing
higher education in Pakistan so as to enable them to articulate realistic proposals, preempt
the impact of negative effects attached with the agreement, execute necessary safeguards
and reap benefits if any at appropriate stage.
The resultant awareness is likely to
smoothen higher education system in Pakistan compatible with the dictates of ongoing
iiiglobalization and to withstand the competitive environment shaped by the developed
world. Depending on the sagacity of policy and organizational intervention the intended
expansion in trade and promotion of development can be realized and perils of disposed
trade rise by foreign owned and controlled academic institutions can be avoided.
Research endeavours to highlight the stakes and the pearls of intended participation of the
third world in the forthcoming round of negotiations of GATS and the future of
competitiveness of Pakistan’s higher education system hinges upon the reduction of
prospective risks and maximization of our competencies.