Tag: Habib University

Karachi, March 14, 2022 (PPI-OT):The trick is to initiate a conversation about your favourite book, or a piece of poetry that you hold close to your heart, or even just some instrumental that makes your bones ache; you’ll attract the attention of a Comparative Humanities student right away.

We’re hidden among the pretence of your average student, mingling with you over a cup of coffee, or Rahim Bhai’s fries at the Dhaba, but what differentiates us from other majors is our ability to make everything and anything into a soulful academia aesthetic.

CH kids can talk to you about why a character in the book you’re reading is deeply philosophical and make you appreciate all the layers they have in seconds if given the chance.

They do this with their ability to quite literally, devour books. In dreams of listening to Sufi kalams or Beethoven’s compositions all day, while we read research papers; you’ll find our inner CH.

But until that becomes a reality, you’ll find us talking about the affective experiences in our everyday consumption of readings for class and outside of it. Every now and then, before walking into a classroom, we’ll discuss how each of us felt about the readings. We’ll unpack how the material made us think, how beautifully it was written, how powerful the ideas were, and with what other things we could make a connection to.

A good amount of time after class will be spent discussing the things from class. In CH, the conversation does not stop as soon as you step out of the room. Or frankly speaking, it simply just never stops. The dialogue flows so naturally that we often find ourselves completely immersed in conversation about the author or the ideas. Sometimes even days ahead of it.

We ponder over it until it becomes a part of us. Each of us carries a passion for academia. To us, studying is not just restricted to classrooms and books but it is a hunt for knowledge from anywhere and everywhere. CH students end up embodying what we learn. We become the philosophy we study or find ourselves practicing the theories we often discuss.

We become the characters we speak of, or the anti of it. In our everyday lives, we are just one text away from growing, from becoming, from finding a part of us that we did not even know existed.

You’ll often find us hanging out together in groups just talking about changing the world, not realizing that we’re also changing ourselves bit by bit. Always for the better though. Every time we sit in a circle reading each other’s poetry to make suggestions, or give each other a book we think the other might enjoy, or just sit with the other letting them talk about a figure they like or a philosophy they connect with; we change.

We become more human. We become all that we hope the world will, too. This blog was written by Fareha Siddiqui, a Comparative Humanities alumnus from the Class of 2023.

For more information, contact:
Habib University
Karachi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-34301051-55
Email: marketing@habib.edu.pk
Website: www.habib.edu.pk

Karachi, February 23, 2022 (PPI-OT):From February 18th to 20th, Habib University’s Centre of Trans disciplinarity, Design and Innovation: The playground, bustled with students, professors and industry experts gathered together to brainstorm solutions for our planet’s problems.

They had gathered for the Invent for the Planet Challenge (IFTP), an annual event held in collaboration with Habib University’s global partner, Texas A and M University, where more than 35 universities around the world focus on developing innovative solutions to global problems. Habib University was the only institution from Pakistan that participated in the IFTP challenge. The event served to empower and inspire students through collaboration by engaging them with other student teams across the globe.

Faculty and industry mentors guided the students throughout their need statements in the 48-hour challenge until final presentations. The range of needs identified by IFTP included vision impairment solutions, using small-scale renewable energy sources to replace carbon at home and in the office, disaster resilient food-energy-water infrastructure, grid modernization and more.

Three student teams won the local round of the challenge by coming up with solutions for three needs, ‘Improving Indoor Air Quality in Built Environments,’ ‘Food Waste,’ and ‘Digitalization in Seafood Production.’ The winning team consisted of Hammas Abid (Electrical Engineering, Class of 2024), Shameer Masroor (Electrical Engineering, Class of 2025), Sidra Aamir (Computer Science, Class of 2025), Sara Ahsan (Social Development and Policy, Class of 2025), and Hamza Irfan (Electrical Engineering, Class of 2023) who successfully tackled the challenge of improving indoor air quality in built environments through a limestone-based air filter.

“It was an amazing experience working with the playground. We feel exhilarated that we could actually invent something for the planet!” said Hamza Irfan. The first runner-up team included Jeena Mourani (Communication and Design, Class of 2023), Sudais Yasin (Computer Science, Class of 2024), Sandesh Kumar (Computer Science, Class of 2023), Murtaza Khokar (Computer Engineering, Class of 2024), and Safi Haider (Electrical Engineering, Class of 2024) who created a prototype solution for the digitalization in seafood production through an IoT based Centralizing Monitoring System with a web based info dashboard that caters to all aquacultures entities present in the region by providing information services.

The second runner-up team included Zainab Mohiuddin (Communication and Design, Class of 2025), Emaan Rafi (Communication and Design, Class of 2025), Asfiya Ghanchi (Communication and Design, Class of 2023), Abdullah Junejo (Computer Science, Class of 2025) and Hana Ali Rashid (Computer Science, Class of 2023) who tackled food waste through an application that manages food storage, sends a reminder about expired foods and donates leftovers through various NGOs.

Dr. Aamir Hasan, Interim Vice President and Dean of Faculty, who was one of the judges of the students’ project prototypes, commented, “Invent for the Planet (IFTP)” program provides Habib students a great platform to experience collaboration, design and problem solving by curating innovative solutions to our collective global problems. As part of the judging panel at the IFTP 2022 at Habib – I witnessed both the remarkable work and great enthusiasm of our 9 participating teams.”

Students were equally overjoyed to take part in the challenge and showcase their teamwork skills and aptitude. The playground at Habib University serves as a unique and important platform in bringing together experts and collaborators to investigate how we should inhabit the world in the face of crisis.

With human centered design and empathetic approach to problem-solving at the heart of its activities, the playground acts as a catalyst for change for students and faculty at Habib University. Through workshops, pop-up classes and industry and community projects students learn and apply their learning across disciplines and media. The world is constantly facing challenges in contemporary times. It is imperative for innovative thinking and action to emerge as the solution for our global problems.

For more information, contact:
Habib University
Karachi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-34301051-55
Email: marketing@habib.edu.pk
Website: www.habib.edu.pk

Karachi, February 02, 2022 (PPI-OT):As I sit down on one of the empty benches outside the Engelska Parken campus of Uppsala University in Sweden, with a chilly breeze, empty tree branches, and a ground full of crisp yellow autumn leaves around me, I cannot help but remember the very first time I visited Habib University.

To be honest, I was not so happy that day, visiting the fanciest campus of any university I’d ever seen, and thinking about how I could never afford to study there. Even with the best grades, the thought seemed like a distant dream. But things change, and your hard work pays off, one way or the other – it did in my case.

In 2016, I was granted the opportunity of enrolling myself at Habib University on a 100% scholarship through its HU TOPS program. Choosing this over other established university admission offers seemed quite risky at the time to friends and family. But what is life worth if not for decisions that surprise you? This reminds me of when we would often hear, dar k aagay jeet he (there’s victory beyond fear).

The same year was also one of the toughest years of my life. I was preparing for my final year exams of the first semester when I lost my father to Leukemia, which left our family struggling with loss, trauma, and financial crises. I remember my instructors offering condolences, easing my deadlines for me, and being extremely supportive during that difficult time. I realized then that I did not just choose a university for myself, but a community, that would be there for you, in whatever way they could.

Four years later, I became one of the first graduates through the HU TOPS program and I can safely say it was the best decision of my life. It turned my life around for the better. A year into the program, I presented HU TOPS at Merit’n’Merit (Nazimabad branch) at the request of my mentor Safi Ahmad Zakai. Through that session, another student like me got the chance to study at a 100% scholarship at Habib University.

I would keep on writing about my 4-year journey at Habib University in this blog and how my time was studying there, from the course selection to the degree structures, from the work-study opportunities to the benefits of a liberal arts education, to the global exposure at Habib University that granted me this 100% scholarship at Uppsala University.

If you’re a student from a local board, have big dreams, and want to change your life, apply to HU TOPS. I am currently pursuing my master’s on a scholarship. I want to thank Habib University for getting me to where I am today, and I feel indebted to the institution for everything it has provided me with. I want to express my gratitude to Habib, its flagship HU TOPS program and the generous Mohsineen. With that, I hope this piece of writing benefits a student, a family, and a generation.

For more information, contact:
Habib University
Karachi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-34301051-55
Email: marketing@habib.edu.pk
Website: www.habib.edu.pk

Karachi, January 26, 2022 (PPI-OT): A year that saw schools and universities shut down to tackle growing coronavirus cases, was the year Habib University bolstered triumphant efforts in providing students ease of access to its world-class quality education in the form of Habib’s generous scholarships. The year marked phenomenal recruitment for the Class of 2025 among which 60 students were awarded scholarships under the Habib University Talent Outreach Promotion and Support program (HU TOPS) while 22 students were awarded the Yohsin scholarship – making it the highest number of scholarships awarded to a batch in the history of Habib, as reported by Senior Director Student Success at Habib University, Ms. Yasmeen Bano.

With the COVID-19 surge and the education system massively affected, it was a chance for higher education institutions to step up their efforts in providing relentless support for students to continue their studies despite perils. The gratitude goes to our respected Mohsineen who sustain Habib University’s commitment to generosity in education and make it the most generous university in the world.

Muhammad Youshay, a Computer Science major from the Class of 2025, was one of the recipients of the prestigious Yohsin scholarship that is awarded to exceptionally well-rounded and high merit students. He credited Habib’s financial support to his choosing Habib University for his undergraduate studies.

“I first visited HU two years ago; its campus and dynamic student life impressed me. Since then, I have always considered HU as the top choice for my undergraduate education. Today, I feel incredibly proud of being a part of this diverse community and being admitted as a Yohsin Scholar with a 100% scholarship. Habib’s interdisciplinary approach, progressive learning community, and financial generosity highly influenced my choice of Habib as my undergraduate destination,” he said.

Sidra Aamir, a student of the Class of 2025 was grateful for receiving the Yohsin scholarship to pursue her Bachelors in Computer Science, claiming that she could only pursue her dream of attending Habib because of the generous scholarship it offered her. She is excited as she begins her time here and explores Habib’s interdisciplinary curriculum, believing it will help nurture her self-growth.

Another testimony to Habib University’s generosity came from Asad Ali, a Social Development and Policy major from the Class of 2025 who was awarded a scholarship through the HUTOPS program that provides an opportunity to talented students of Board of Intermediate Education (BIE), Federal Board (FB) and the Aga Khan University Examination Board (AKU-EB) to apply for admission to Habib University and get admitted with full tuition and laboratory fee waiver for their degree based on their academic talent and passion.

He said, “For me, acquiring the exceptional HU TOPS 100% scholarship and through it, a quality, interdisciplinary education is a privilege. Habib University is very generous towards those who cannot afford quality education and it offers multifarious opportunities for all talented students. I am grateful for Habib’s unparalleled generosity.”

Gaining a full scholarship through the competitive HUTOPS program is a challenging endeavour and recipients of the scholarship proved their merit and talent to Habib by believing in the institution’s goals. Mahnoor Usmani, a HUTOPS scholar and a Communication and Design major from the Class of 2025, acknowledged Habib’s philanthropic approach to education and the unique environment it cultivates to ensure the student body gets the best out of it.

“Habib University’s generosity and philanthropy are truly exceptional. Habib University’s interdisciplinary curriculum and liberal core pave the way for their students, which not only prepares them in all aspects for their future endeavours but also aids in their individual growth throughout the course of four years. The sense of belonging where people with distinct views and backgrounds are equally welcomed without any sort of discrimination is praiseworthy and something I am grateful to be a part of,” she said.

Habib University continues to provide quality and world-class education to students from all socio-economic backgrounds and leads in paving the way for uninterrupted learning. The year 2021 was another testament to the institution’s commitment to its bigger goals of achieving student success, sustaining financial support to students through its generous scholarships, and maintaining this sustainability even in the face of crises.

For more information, contact:
Habib University
Karachi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-34301051-55
Email: marketing@habib.edu.pk
Website: www.habib.edu.pk

Karachi, January 15, 2022 (PPI-OT):This past year, Habib’s alumni continued their journey of success and made a mark beyond the University by landing dream jobs at leading organizations, securing positions at some of the world’s top graduate schools, or launching their start-ups. At the same time, 2021 was also the year during which many Habib students made an impact through their critical thinking and problem-solving skills even before completing their four-year intellectual journey at the University. One such example is Farah Naz Khan, a Computer Science major from the Class of 2022 who was named among the top interns from the Fresh Start Internship Program 2021 at Dawlance.

Shedding light on her Dawlance experience, Farah shared that her project was about Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in which software robots are created in order to automate mundane and repetitive tasks. The problem that Farah chose to solve was updating the daily KPI records of the call center employees through RPA. “This task used to take up 4-5 hours a day because the data had to be fetched from three different sources such as Avaya, CRM, and salesforce but through this automation, it can be done within 20 minutes,” Farah underlined.

Along with being named among the top five interns out of a batch of twenty-six students who were selected from a pool of more than eight thousand applicants, Farah has also been awarded a “Golden Key” which will enable her to join Dawlance for a well-suited position without having to go through any recruitment process at any point in the future.

Currently working under the supervision of Habib University playground (an innovative space for learning and practice) and Dr. Waqar Saleem, Associate Professor at Habib University, as a design researcher, Farah Naz Khan continues to create an impact at an early stage of her career. Her success story is a testament to how Habib University is shaping futures by nurturing professionals who master solution-oriented approach and are equipped with the right set of soft and hard skills to develop those solutions. It goes on to show the significance of a holistic higher learning experience and an all-encompassing student support system offered at Habib that aims to develop empathetic, engaged, and highly skilled individuals. We wish Farah all the best in her future endeavours!

For more information, contact:
Habib University
Karachi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-34301051-55
Email: marketing@habib.edu.pk
Website: www.habib.edu.pk

Karachi, January 15, 2022 (PPI-OT):Computer Science graduates of the Class of 2020, Muhammad Furqan Karim Kidwai and Sarfaraz Shahid Hussain are co-founders of the successful investing platform, YPay Financial Services (Pvt. Ltd). YPay is an app that enables people to invest digitally in mutual funds. Targeted towards creating a digital future for Pakistan, YPay facilitates the population in the smart investment of their money and helps them track their current financial statistics.

The app’s main goal is to create financial literacy among people, create a bridge between the Pakistani youth and the capital market, promote a culture of savings, and provide a means to invest in mutual funds via the application. YPay provides simple means of investing in solutions with zero paperwork, free financial advice, and investment returns.

Recently, the company raised a 6-figure pre-seed investment through the US-based Accelerator Fund, ODX. Habib University’s entrepreneurial stars continue to take their ventures to new avenues despite overwhelming challenges.

Furqan, who received a four-year scholarship under the Habib University Talent, Outreach, Promotion and Support program, shared his thoughts on how the journey was like since the platform’s inception, “The experience was phenomenal, especially in terms of how we began the venture. From the end of 2020 to mid-2021, along with 100,000 individuals, we ran SECP’s (Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan) regulatory sandbox and gained good results.”

A regulatory sandbox allows time-bound testing of innovations, new technologies and business ventures under a regulator’s supervision. YPay successfully graduated from SECP’s 1st regulatory sandbox cohort to test transactions in real time. The latest pre-seed funding acquired by YPay is a momentous step taken by fintech startups to come closer to a financially secure Pakistan.

“SECP showed interest in our venture, and we’re now applying for a commercial license and hopeful of receiving that license from SECP. By the 31st of January, we’ll be launching a commercial product as well.”

Furqan acknowledged the many bumps on the road to the company’s success. Going to sandbox, however, was a huge achievement. While running its pilot in 2021, the company has partnered with more than five financial institutions and is prepared to go national soon.

“We are relieved in the sense that we have enough money to go commercially live and work full-time,” Furqan said. “We can become a source of income for many people. The future looks very promising for us, but because it’s a startup, it is a high-risk game and we are ready for it. I am grateful to Habib for nurturing my dreams to set up a company like YPay.”

Sarfraz, who is also a TOPS scholar, thanked Habib’s intellectually rigorous environment for enabling him to take on challenges such as initiating YPay. He feels elated to be counted as one of the youngest Fintech founders. “Being a part of Habib University and the exposure that a liberal arts education gave me, played a vital role in my overall entrepreneurial journey. The environment that I had at Habib helped me take on daily life challenges which helped me in both setting up a core Fintech company and getting it funded from one of the promising US accelerators.”

For more information, contact:
Habib University
Karachi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-34301051-55
Email: marketing@habib.edu.pk
Website: www.habib.edu.pk