PAKISTAN: Enticing factors of Youth Extremism in Higher Educational Institutions

Extremism in universities is not a new phenomenon in the contemporary educational system. This study was conducted to explore the student mindset on extremism in higher educational institutions in Pakistan. In the HEIs, different groups are showing their power and do the extreme act for creating a horrifying and dangerous environment for students and in and outside of the university. The main objective of this study to explore the multiple grounds in higher educational institutions (HEIs) which enticing youth toward extremism. This research is based on secondary data analysis of different archives which are published in different newspapers about these extremist acts in universities. Thematic analysis technique was applied to highlight and discussed the relevant information related to the study objectives and themes. In this study, we found out different themes -ideology, heterogeneity ethnicity, identity, political and religious groups, university faculty and administration - that became the grounds of extremism acts. This study recommended that counter the extremism strategies that the main focus on the amendment in the education policy. Universities could control the activities of extremism in our education system through quality content and pedagogy. Universities should provide an excellent environment and encourage the youth to become tolerant flexible and open-minded.