ڈیجیٹل دور میں اردو زبان کی تدریس کا بحران: جامعات میں اردو پروگرامز کے زوال کی وجوہات اور احیاء کی حکمت عملی
Urdu, once a central pillar of South Asia’s cultural, literary, and intellectual identity, is now facing a severe pedagogical crisis in the digital age. University admissions in Urdu programs—BS, MPhil, and PhD—have declined dramatically in Pakistan, and many institutions have either downsized or completely shut down their Urdu departments. This research article explores the multidimensional reasons behind this academic decline, including sociocultural perceptions, governmental policy neglect, lack of technological integration, and the diminishing job market relevance of Urdu. Drawing on empirical data, survey reports, expert quotations, and comparative institutional analysis, this paper reveals how Urdu has been marginalized in the realms of digital learning, AI, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and curriculum innovation. The study argues that unless Urdu is connected with emerging fields such as computational linguistics, e-learning platforms, content development, and digital humanities, its academic survival will remain uncertain. The paper proposes a set of actionable strategies for revival: redesigning interdisciplinary curricula (Urdu + AI/NLP/Media), creating Urdu-compatible digital tools, strengthening institutional collaborations, increasing research funding, and promoting Urdu through online learning platforms such as MOOCs. Ultimately, the survival of Urdu in higher education is not only a linguistic concern but a matter of preserving cultural identity, intellectual autonomy, and national consciousness in the era of digital transformation.
Keywords: Urdu Language, Educational Crisis, Digital Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Urdu Curriculum, Urdu in Universities, E-learning, National Language Policy, HEC and Urdu, Urdu and Employment, Computational Linguistics, Urdu Research, Urdu Technology Integration, Language and Modernity۔.
