A Study of the Perception of the Community Regarding Impact of University Education in Developing Tolerance

Abstract

Universities sprawl between global knowledge and local aspirations. Universally higher education institutions create and transmit knowledge as their basic function. There is a growing emphasis that importance should be given to localized concerns and aspirations of the communities. Investments in higher education, demands a transformation of the neighboring societies and cure for socio-economic ills. Diverse Tolerance is a tendency of human beings to show acceptance towards diverse behaviors. Pakistan as a whole and Southern Punjab are especially facing the challenges of intolerance in society. The major factors of this issue are; religious extremism, sectarianism, poverty, and backwardness. Universities are believed to be a source of bringing attitudinal changes in their graduates and transform them into useful citizens. The major objective of the present study was to explore the role of the universities of Southern Punjab to foster tolerance, harmony, and social justice in the community. The students of general public sector Universities of Pakistan were the population of the study. A sample of one thousand students and thirty alumni were selected as the sample of the study. A self-developed questionnaire and interview were used as data collection tools. The mean score, standard deviation, and t-value were calculated. A thematic approach was followed to analyze the responses on interviews and open-ended items. It was concluded that university education is improving moderately the tolerance level among the students, helping the community to combat extremism, increase of social justice, and improving religious and social harmony. To achieve the educational aims and to develop a level of tolerance of students, lectures on tolerance education must be included in the syllabus at every level of degree.