INTERVIEWEE

Sir Zafar Ullah Siddique

FOREIGN EDUCATION
University of Surrey
MSc in Marketing (1986)

Harvard University
Masters in Business Administration
Diploma in Executive Leadership

Rikkyo University
Diploma in Tourism Management

National University of Singapore

Diploma in Environmental Management

Q#1

What made you to choose a foreign university?

What Interviewee said: My choice for a degree from a foreign

university was based on my parents desire to get education from
abroad, almost everyone in my family is a foreign graduate
Our Point of view: In Pakistan there is a concept that holding a
foreign degree really boosts your earning potential, along with
your chances of getting a great job. However this concept is not
entirely true. Unless one does not hold a Bachelors/Masters/PhD
degree from a top global university it does not really matter if you
have a foreign degree or not. And getting into a top program like
at Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, MIT (just to name a few) is not an
easy task.
Over the past few years many Pakistanis have went abroad for
higher education. Many pursue their Bachelors/Masters and a very
few go on to do their PhDs. However I have not seen many get
anywhere extraordinary with these qualifications. On the contrary
those who went to the top U.S. universities or to Oxford and
Cambridge have all made their way into some really awesome
places or have made important contributions to this world or
country.

Q#2a
How you accommodated
environment Culturally?

yourself

in

that

What Interviewee said: Im culturally adoptable by nature,

adopting the environment was never a problem for me as I went
to a boarding school, when I went to Surrey University; I made
many foreigner friends rather than creating a micro cosmic
Pakistan and moving, living with Pakistanis
Our Point of view: Cultural adoption is really important if you
are going abroad for studies, Living abroad can be hard, in part

because you have to make so many adjustments to your daily

routine as well as to your preconceived notions about life abroad
and your personal beliefs. Balancing these adjustments can be
tricky, and sometimes students find themselves feeling
overwhelmed by so much change at once. Cultural shocks are
experienced by students, again there are many tactics to
overcome them, one just needs to be adaptable.

Q#2b
How you accommodated
environment socially?

yourself

in

that

What Interviewee said: Im socially extroverted person, I was

not an inbound student who stays at home, I travelled across
Europe by road, made friends from every place I went
Our Point of view: Social integration is very important specially
when you are going abroad, One needs to be very open and
adaptable to fit in socially, You simply cant live in another country
and not be social. You are the outsider, you need to fit in. If you
dont, youll have few friends, and probably be labeled as
something you might not want to be called. Its also hard to claw
back a reputation.

Q#2c
How you accommodated
environment economically?

yourself

in

that

What Interviewee said: Money was never a problem; I was

partly funded by British council and my mother
Our Point of view: When it comes to the money, its really
tough for a Pakistani to cope with it, unless they are financed by
their parents or on a scholarship. Working abroad is an issue, if

you have work permit good enough!! Else youll face many
difficulties. Working in a different culture is going to be difficult
and also tough when you have to study as well.

Q#2d
How you accommodated yourself in terms of
technology entrenchment?
What Interviewee said: Its true that foreign universities
provide you technological environment and back home in Pakistan
organizations need such employees

Q#3
Did the foreign environment
presence and in what ways?

accepted

your

What Interviewee said: In every aspect, I was a brilliant

student apart from that I was really nice to them, for example,
many Pakistanis wouldnt keep pork in their fridges if someone
ask them to, I was not like that all. I accepted them, they
accepted me
Our Point of view: When it comes to accepting someone out of
your culture its not easy for everyone to do that, its even more
difficult if that person is from a different ethnic background,
sometimes people are judgmental due to any reason, Like now a
days, people might get judged for being Pakistanis, Acceptance
level depends on the environment of university, if is multicultural
then no problem. Making your place in another society is bit
difficult; again, it depends on the person.

Q#4 What contribution you did as a Pakistani toward their

social norms and values.

What Interviewee said: I demonstrated that I have come from

a country which is modern, I did not always wear Shalwar
Kameez, I tried to dress like them, and tried to promote the soft
image of my country, I completely respected their norms and
values.
Our Point of view: Exchange of norms and culture is very
common practice now a days, we are living in the Era of
Globalization, exchange of values is very important to learn
about any country. But when it comes on individual level, Its also
important to accept the norms of place you stay at. They will
accept you only if you accept them. Tit for tat situation.

Q#5 If given a chance next time, would you opt for similar
university or country, why or why not?
What Interviewee said: Ofcourse from cradle to the grave, I
would love to visit them again, in fact I went to Harvard again to
do my MBA and then to do diploma in executive leadership from
Harvard
Our Point of View: Going to the same university again and
again is not a perfect idea, well it depends on the situation as
well, In our opinion a person should be open to new things and
places, Try a different university for another degree.

Q#6 Due to your outstanding performance through your

competence level and life style, did you influence your
foreign mates to know something about Pakistan? Why or
why not?

What Interviewee said: I did my tourism thesis, and

conducted a survey of foreigners whether they want to visit
Pakistan or not? I had many interactions where I promoted
Pakistan, I also distributed brochures about Pakistan and talked
about Pakistan at the cultural evenings, I told the English people
about the climate of Pakistan, that Pakistan is a country of
contrast if the temperature in 40C in the plains, it might be -40 up
in the mountains. I told them that Pakistan have 3 big mountain
ranges. I promoted the soft image of Pakistan, the culture and
values etc
Our Point of View: Again to mention about the Globalization, Its
important to let others know about your culture, values and
norms. Pakistan is blessed with enormous natural beauty and
have great potential to earn from tourism, its necessary to
present the positive side of Pakistan to the western world for
Pakistan is considered as a unsafe place. Creating temptation by
telling is very important.
Q#7 After completing your degree, what foreign
perspectives have you implemented in Pakistans
environment which proved to be beneficial for Pakistani
environment?
What Interviewee said: When I teach I always teach in a
western style manner, Im not regimental, I focus on the concepts,
Im using my modern methods to get my message across the
classrooms
Our Point of View: Learning something good and passing it on
to others is important, and also Islam tells us to pass on the good
teaching, Western world is far more ahead from us in education
and technology. Moreover, in Pakistan, there is a trend of
memorizing and reproducing exactly in exams, which need to be
changed. Learning methods of west are now being followed in

Pakistan, We need to focus on concepts rather than the theory.

Adopting the latest trends will help us to succeed.