IBA suspends classes; campuses remain open

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

The Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, taking into account the COVID-19 related concerns, has suspended its academic activities for a couple of days, starting from September 17.

The main campus, housed in the premises of the University of Karachi, as well as the city campus, located in the Garden area, will remain open for operational matters throughout this period, however. They will continue providing the normal facilities.

The IBA Academic Board has decided that all classes for the various undergraduate degree programs would be based on flexible learning system for the time being. 

“Flexible learning system is where the classes would be conducted online while all IBA facilities would remain open and available to the undergraduate students including the classrooms. However, the Graduate programs students will attend the classes on campus,” it was announced. 

As part of the Flexible Learning System, it was also decided that attendance policy would be relaxed for the time being and situation would be monitored and policies may evolve over time. The hostel residents would be recommended to stay since assessments including the final examinations would be held physically. 

It was also decided to further increase the COVID-19 testing of the students, staff and faculty and enhance our SOPs to ensure the well-being and safety of the IBA community. 

The IBA, in coordination with District Health Office, has carried out hundreds of COVID-19 PCR tests for students, staff and faculty since September 14. Before the commencement of the session, detailed guidelines under the government directives were formulated and disseminated to students, staff and faculty. 

As a precautionary measure, isolation rooms at both the campuses and boys and girls hostels have been designated for individuals exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.

IBA, Shanghai University to collaborate in masters programme

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Dr Farrukh Iqbal, Dean & Director, Institute of Business Administration (IBA) and Dr Nasir Afghan, Assistant Professor & Director, MBA Programme, IBA, participated in the 2nd Belt and Road Initiative University Presidents' Forum’ at the Shanghai University in China recently. 

Focusing on the theme, ‘Innovative Talent Development in University’, the forum brought together eminent educationists and academics from the countries across the proposed belt; providing an excellent platform to exchange insights and to encourage collaboration on agendas, such as university development and innovative talent development. 

During the visit, Dr. Farrukh Iqbal, on behalf of IBA Karachi signed an MoU with Prof. Jin Donghan, President, Shanghai University China, to collaboratively offer a ‘Master of Finance’ programme between IBA Karachi and Shanghai University China.

Having been established in, IBA, located in the bustling port city of Karachi, is the oldest business school outside North America. 

Initially the technical support was provided by the world famous Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania while later, the University of Southern California set up various facilities at the Institute and several prominent American professors were assigned to the IBA. 

The course contents, the curriculum, the pedagogical tools and the assessment and testing methods, developed under the guidance of reputed scholars from these two institutions, laid strong foundation for IBA which has persued the high standards and academic traditions it had inherited from Wharton and USC while adapting and adjusting them with the passage of time.

Founded in 1922 and immersed in the distinguished heritage and pioneering track record in a leading global city, Shanghai University is situated in the heart of Shanghai. 

They combine educational achievement with forward-looking courses, attuned to the latest city developments in science, technology and culture. 

Shanghai University is a member university of the national project 211 and is a research-intensive and comprehensive university. 

The university has witnessed continuous progress and advancement, have a clear and vibrant educational mission, with far-sighted objectives to cultivate talents with all-around development, global perspective and creative awareness. 

Shanghai University is also known for its vigorous international exchanges and cooperation. So far the University has established academic links and cooperation with dozens of foreign universities, including faculty and student exchanges. Currently, over 4,000 international students are studying on Shanghai University campuses.