In conversations about world-class universities, Pakistan often looks outward, yearning for a simple answer to a complex question: how do we build academic excellence? When we examine three of the most influential universities in our broader region - the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), and the National University of Singapore (NUS) - we do not see clones of the same institution. Instead, we observe three distinct models of excellence, shaped by context, choices and constraints. For a country like Pakistan, where we are seeking better teaching standards, stronger learning outcomes for students, and graduates ready to lead and innovate, the understanding of these differences matters deeply.

NUS stands today among the world's elite universities. Its position in the global top ten reflects scale, ambition and sustained state-backed vision. What sets NUS apart is not only the quality of its research but its breadth. It performs strongly across engineering, medicine, sciences, business and social sciences. Research at NUS is generously funded, interdisciplinary and aligned with global challenges – from climate change to AI. This did not happen by chance. Singapore made a clear national decision that a world-class university was central to its future and then provided autonomy, resources and long-term policy support to deliver on that ambition.

The IITs represent a different story. Their excellence is concentrated rather than comprehensive. IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi have become global........

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