Tag: Habib University

Karachi, September 09, 2021 (PPI-OT):The New Student Orientation (NSO) concluded with President Habib University Wasif Rizvi sharing words of encouragement with the Class of 2025 in a candid online Q and A session conducted by the Orientation leaders. The session was held as part of the NSO week that began on August 23, 2021.

President began by narrating the need for the liberal arts model in Pakistan and what students can learn from it. The vocational aspect of education was alienating students from the problems plaguing society, he pointed out. The liberal arts model, he went on, was the solution of the times as it aimed to produce ‘engaged citizens’ that had an insight and the relevant skills to solve problems. Habib University was the first institution to envision this sort of nuanced approach.

He also said that there needs to be a conversation initiated around how undergraduate education should look like. This, he believes, is how Habib can have a bigger impact on the state of education.

In terms of the university’s locality, President Rizvi was asked why the leaders chose to build Habib University in a city like Karachi, and particularly in Gulistan-e-Jauhar. He commented that universities exist in areas and communities such as these to uplift them, which Habib has done successfully.

The pandemic brought with it unprecedented challenges to higher education. President Rizvi remarked on how delighted he was to see the new generation possessing strong adaptability skills when it came to the virtual world. He credited the Habib community of Mohsineen’s commendable efforts in lending technological aid to those in need and the faculty’s flexibility in making the access to content easier, “we want to have the best environment both physically and virtually.”

Sustainability is one of the Habib University’s main challenges. President Rizvi emphasized that it was incumbent on society to play a part in making someone’s dreams of pursuing higher education come true. He cited examples of top universities like Stanford and MIT, that emerged when society came together and collectively invested in education. Pakistan should follow a similar example, he stressed.

The significance of Habib’s Yohsin ideology was one of the key messages President Rizvi imparted to the Class of 2025, “We are living in a crisis of imagination. How can we develop an inspired sense of leadership when our view of reality is heavily borrowed and artificial? How do we progress intellectually from here? This is why we adapted Yohsin and the ideals of ‘thoughtful cultivation’. If everyone can apply this philosophy to what they do, that’s a world we should be living in.”

In a parting note, President Rizvi stressed upon the Class of 2025 to demonstrate exceptional work ethic. He urged students to share their journeys with the rest of the community because a mission-driven project such as Habib University will only succeed if every stakeholder recognizes their responsibility and commits to the mission.

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

Karachi, September 07, 2021 (PPI-OT):Habib University’s Faculty Reboot Week, aimed at professional development for faculty to acquire new skills, recently came to a successful conclusion. According to Dr. Anzar Khaliq, the Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning, the desired outcome was to “create pedagogical experiences which are in line with the needs of the modern day”.

Organised by the Centre for Pedagogical Excellence (CPE), before the beginning of the new academic year, a total of 18 sessions were conducted which drew upon the knowledge of both local and foreign academia.

In line with the CPE’s commitment to innovation in teaching and ensuring that exceptional educational experiences are delivered, the sessions covered the unique teaching challenges faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic and their student-centric solutions. Some sessions, such as “Rethinking Teaching Statements” conducted by Dr Glen Van Brummelan, a historian of mathematics at Trinity Western University, were reflective in nature focussing on what makes one unique as an educator and how to develop meaningful teaching identities and engage in conversation.

In addition to rethinking teaching practices, there was a focus on how to engage with students and make learning an inspirational experience for them. Dr. Fred Leichter, the founding Director of the Rick and Susan Sontag Center for Collaborative Creativity (The Hive) at Claremont Colleges, conducted an ‘unusually’ titled session, “How Might We Make a Zoom Class Feel Like a Dinner Party with Friends?”. The session was particularly insightful and drew upon his experiences at the Hive and how he integrated reflecting, sharing, and fun exercises to create meaningful connections between his students.

While discussion revolved around innovative strategies to optimise learning experiences, other sessions were designed to recognise the effects of added stress due to online learning. John Armstrong, a lecturer and fellow at Stanford’s Design Program, held a session on “Wellbeing for Students and Faculty Inside and Outside Classroom”. It focused on holistic well-being to help faculty in managing work-life balance and being able to convey useful strategies to their students. Dr Humaira Jamshed, an Assistant Professor for Integrated Sciences and Mathematics at Habib University, conducted a workshop “Stress Repress” aimed at identifying the signs of stress, ways in which it affects the body and the brain, and how an adult brain differs from a teenage brain in stress perception and management.

As Faculty Reboot Week came to a close, Dr. Khaliq reflected on the immense progress Habib’s faculty has made, “I am amazed by the creative response of our faculty and the quality of ideas that have emerged from these conversations. We now have many new and critical insights (and possible solutions) for a number of challenges that will truly enhance the overall learning experience of our community”.

By creating spaces where knowledge can be exchanged and discourse is encouraged, Habib University has the ability to leverage innovative solutions to society’s multifaceted issues, proving its commitment to teaching excellence.

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

Karachi, August 25, 2021 (PPI-OT):Habib University continues to provide its students with technology support and has transitioned successfully to online platforms, as a consequence of the ongoing pandemic, while there are those belonging to other institutes at large, who continue to suffer educational loss every day.

It is in this backdrop that Habib University welcomed the incoming Class of 2025 on August 22, 2021, as part of a week-long orientation program. The ceremony was initially organized as an on-campus event, but due to the recent resurgence of the pandemic, the ceremony was revisualised as an online event.

In his address to the incoming class, President Wasif Rizvi brought to attention current environmental, economic, political, ethical, and moral crises afflicting the world. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the Welcoming Ceremony was conducted online for the second year in a row.

President reassured the Class of 2025 and their parents that over the next four years Habib University would provide ample opportunities for the students to develop a depth of passion, clarity of purpose, and become equipped with critical thinking and leadership skills to transform the world.

Habib University’s Vice President Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty, Dr. Aamir Hassan also welcomed the students, and congratulated their parents “on playing an instrumental role in enriching the students.” He hoped to meet the Class of 2025 in-person, once the situation of the pandemic improves.

Director of Student Success, Yasmeen Bano also commended the incoming class for continuing higher education in these unprecedented, challenging times of the pandemic. She stressed on the importance of being grateful and taking responsibility for one’s actions in order to succeed.

The Welcoming Ceremony is part of Habib University’s week-long orientation, conducted every year to welcome, enable and encourage the incoming batches and providing them the required support as they transition to university life. During the course of the week, incoming students attend different learning sessions – all online – that provide a glimpse into Habib’s intellectual experience.

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

Karachi, August 09, 2021 (PPI-OT):G and T Group and Habib University joined hands to help brilliant and hardworking students obtain a world-class education in a MoU signing ceremony on July 16, 2021. Greatly inspired by Habib University’s unflinching belief in providing education to students from diverse backgrounds, the Diwan and Bilwani families, who operate G and T group of companies, dedicated a scholarship for students who demonstrate high academic performance. The landmark ceremony strengthened Habib University’s community of supporters, and provided another example of how community ownership is transforming higher education in Pakistan.

President Wasif Rizvi acknowledged the Diwan and Bilwani families’ unwavering support to Habib University, defining G and T group’s partnership with Habib as an invaluable part of Habib’s role as a community-owned institution.

“The biggest crisis in Pakistan is the crisis of leadership, and it’s because higher education has failed [to include majority of students],” President Wasif Rizvi said. “I can’t think of a better group, a more conscientious group, a more socially engaged group like the Diwan and Bilwani families. You have stepped up and create this endowed scholarship. In a significant way, you have made history.”

Abdul Razzak Diwan, the Director of Finance of Gatron Industries and senior member of the family, praised Habib University for providing an intellectual experience to young people, and reiterated his conviction in the philanthropy of the House of Habib. “Charity has three shapes. One is money, second is time, and the third is knowledge. What you’re doing here is a kind of charity, you’re passing on knowledge to people who want to learn,” he said.

The G and T Group is a group of family-owned companies that has been operating for 70 years, and includes enterprises like Novatex Limited and Gatron Industries. The Diwan and Bilwani families are also respected philanthropists who donate to important welfare causes, and have generously supported Habib University since the early days of the University’s founding in 2014.

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

Karachi, August 07, 2021 (PPI-OT):As part of Habib University’s Breaking the Story series, a webinar on “Fake News and Diminishing Trust in Media” was conducted on Saturday, 17th July 2021. Presenting the event was Habib University’s Marketing and Communication Head, Ms. Aqsa Junejo, and co-hosting with her was Eesha Qazi (HU Class of 2022). A panel of esteemed guests, comprising of Najia Ashar, Maria Memon, and Masroor Gillani, was invited to hold a dialogue on origins, threats, and prevention of false news in local and global journalism.

The panellists unanimously agreed that fake news has an ability to reach a wide spectrum of audiences, influence their narrative, reinforce bias, and even alter social and political affiliations. The practice is dangerous to society at large as the audience falls into the trap of believing false facts and figures, accepting the agenda of those who have means to control.

The discourse began by stressing on the spread of fake news in more recent political history, discussing 2016 United States Presidential Elections. Ms. Memon provided valuable analysis on how false narrative was and can be used as a powerful tool by influential groups to dictate, and even alter, the political outcomes and associations of consumers of media. Ms. Memon further compared and drew similarities of fake news between 2016 United States’ election and Pakistan’s 2013 general elections.

Building on breakdown provided by Ms. Memon, Ms. Ashar acknowledged that living in “post-truth” world, news outlets have lost their credibility. Rather, according to Ms. Ashar, the influence of emotions, hateful or otherwise, is making its way in the deliverance of news. Our panellist highlighted the fact that the line between facts and sentiments in journalism has been blurring, especially given the recent political and social developments.

Ms. Ashar indicated that the practice of fake news is not something newfangled. In fact, almost all socio-political debates, ranging from vaccines to climate change, have been subjected to false narrative being spread for decades. By this means, Ms. Ashar suggested that the world senses the effect of fake news even more today because of easier access to the platforms, in particular social media that broadcast the counterfeit facts.

The esteemed panel of journalists also emphasized on the responsibility of mainstream media, which has been “polarized to an extreme extent”, according to Ms. Ashar. The panellists agreed that mainstream journalism in Pakistan has been fractioned in two sections: one that overly sensationalizes the news, furthering it from actuality, and second, that despite attempting to provide factually correct news are labelled as defectors.

The discussion also touched upon how journalists in Pakistan can defy the spread of fake news. Ms. Memon, sharing a personal experience of fighting the false narrative, suggested one should carefully analyze whether or not the news is perpetuating an agenda of the powerful few. Our panellists recommended that consumers have the responsibility to corroborate, cross-check, and verify any news before reacting or resharing in order to curb the spread of fake news.

The discussion on fake news also emphasized on the struggles of journalists, who tirelessly work to ensure that only accurate narrative is circulated on mainstream, social, and digital media. Adding on to this point, Ms. Ashar in particular highlighted the hardships and dilemmas female journalists in Pakistan face today. To cite an example, Ms. Ashar recalled an incident of a female journalist whose personal details were made public as a response to her covering accurate news uncovering an influential individual. Therefore, the discussion emphasized on the fact that female journalists are often careful, and sometimes discouraged, to report an important and accurate news, fearing personal repercussions.

The discussion ended with the panellists recognizing the need of more factually correct and informative news outlets to be promoted in Pakistan to combat the spread of the epidemic of fake news. It was also highlighted that responsibility also lies within the consumers of news to fact-check the news before reacting or forwarding it to greater number of audiences.

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

Karachi, August 06, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Pakistani-American diaspora in Houston, Texas has ardently supported Habib University’s mission to provide a world-class liberal arts education to students in Pakistan. In July 2021, Habib University hosted a series of visits from community leaders, who visited the remarkable campus and observed first-hand how Habib University is shaping the future leaders of the country by teaching a liberal arts education.

Talib Dhanji, a leading businessman, Dr. Junaid Kamal, Dr. Asif Cochinwala, and Junaid Iqbal, a purveyor of Islamic banking in the United States, visited Habib University, and were greatly impressed by the world-class facilities, the rich interdisciplinary curriculum, and Habib’s generous provision of scholarships to deserving and hardworking students. The visits marked a new chapter in the Houston diaspora’s enthusiastic support for Habib University, and the expansion of Habib’s devoted community of supporters, which helps the University grow and prosper.

All the community leaders were heartened to see Habib University’s state-of-the-art campus, and the attention and resources available to students, agreeing that an education at Habib is equivalent to any high-ranking university in the US.

“I was really impressed,” Dr. Asif Cochinwala said. “I visited many universities in the US. This is equal or better than most of those. The campus is designed beautifully, the spaces are utilized amazingly, and everything seems perfect. I think the students would have a great time here.”

Many supporters reflected on their own days of attending university in Pakistan, remarking that they would have enrolled in Habib University if it had been available when they were students. “If I had the chance, I’d probably attend this school if I’d gotten in, because I’d feel it would give me a very strong foundation to build my career and future,” Talib Dhanji, a passionate advocate of education, said.

Mr. Dhanji praised Habib University’s efforts to ensure access for accomplished students, who lack the means to afford an education at a private university in Pakistan. “The pivotal role that Habib University can play today is by providing opportunities to students who are extremely qualified, but might not have access to the resources you need to get a world-class education, an education that rivals Europe or the US, right here in Karachi,” Mr. Dhanji said.

Junaid Iqbal, the Vice President of Devon Bank in Houston, was highly impressed by Habib’s scholarship program, and the incredible standard of the campus, resources, and facilities for students and faculty.

“Coming from Houston and having left Pakistan 20 years ago, my concept of a university here was very different,” Mr. Junaid Iqbal said. “I have attended local universities here, but seeing this institution, it’s on par with anything that we are doing outside, and where we are having our kids attend. For children in Pakistan, [Habib University] is a wonderful blessing.”

Acknowledging Habib University’s inclusion of students from local examination boards through the HU TOPS program, Dr. Asif Cochinwala shared that he had attended Dow Medical College in Karachi, a public university, and that diversifying the student body with young people from different socioeconomic backgrounds is critical for any modern liberal arts university.

“In Pakistan, only the rich people are able to go to these [excellent private] universities,” Dr. Cochinwala said. “I myself went through the Matric system and graduated from Dow Medical here, so I think it’s very important that all students have access to a liberal arts education like Habib, so they can be on equal footing with everyone else.”

Inspired by Habib University’s never-ending commitment to provide bright students with cost-free education, all of the guests from Houston pledged their support and promised to visit again with the hope of spreading Habib’s message of transformative higher education to the rest of the diaspora in the United States.

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