Tag: Habib University

Karachi, October 20, 2022 (PPI-OT):Habib University as Pakistan’s leading Liberal Arts institution of higher learning, lays great emphasis on promoting intellectual discourse on relevant and critical issues affecting Pakistan. In keeping with this focus, the University recently hosted Dr. Miftah Ismail, former Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue to speak about Pakistan’s current economic turmoil in the session titled: Pakistan’s Economic Future. The session was moderated by Dr. Aqdas Afzal, Assistant Professor, Social Development and Policy.

The former minister began by stating that Pakistan’s economy suffers from three fundamental problems. Delving deeper he highlighted that first and foremost, as a nation, we don’t live within our means, secondly our focus is on import substitution and not export growth and lastly, there was this ‘elite bargain’ existent in the country, essentially meaning that 99% of the population continues to work for the privileged one percent.

During the talk which was held as part of Habib University efforts to promote intellectual discourse on a variety of issues of importance to the country, Dr. Ismail, alluded to the difficult decisions he had faced at the time of taking office. According to him, “there was no commercial lending, we couldn’t sell our bonds and we weren’t part of the IMF program.”

He pointed out that the Government’s efforts to secure financing from friendly nations also met with cold shoulders and deaf years, “When you are defaulting, no one helps you out.” Raising prices was the only way that the country could have been saved from default.

To a question regarding what Pakistan would be like in 2047, Dr. Ismail, was not too optimistic. He pointed out that in the last 75 years, we had neglected to provide proper education to our youth, and built a society which was inherently intolerant. He cited the example of many educated minority members having left the country for the same reason.

He also pointed out that as a nation, everyone knew the problems but when it came to solving them, there was a tendency to delay them. He questioned how it was possible for people to talk about exporting Information Technology from Pakistan, “You are not developing institutes for IT, but want to export it, that’s not going to happen.”

To a question regarding the possibility of receiving climate reparations, he was of the opinion that there were other countries that were worse off than Pakistan when it came to the effects of climate change adding that Pakistan was not really liked by most countries.

Referring to the effects of the floods, Dr. Ismail added that while physical damage might be repaired, how we would be able to repair the emotion and psychological loss suffered by those affected.

In his closing remarks, President Wasif Rizvi, thanked Dr. Ismail for his candour in discussing such pertinent issues. He highlighted how Habib University was trying to play its part of spreading higher education to the youth of Pakistan, by providing 100% scholarships to 40% of each of its upcoming batches.

As a token of appreciation, a valued member of the Habib University community of Mohsineen, Mr. Shahbaz Yasin Malik who is President and CEO, Hilton Pharma, presented a memento to Dr. Miftah Ismail.

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

Karachi, October 13, 2022 (PPI-OT):“We (Stanford University) can learn from Habib’s Liberal Arts model and especially the Liberal Core which says, if you (students) want to be an engineer, it’s good, but we will make sure to equip you with more options for future.” were the thoughts by Dr. Alexander Key, Associate Professor of Arabic and Comparative Literature and Director of Stanford, Humanities Core on: Liberal Arts Education: Myths and Misconceptions, today at Habib University.

Dr. Key continued by saying, “Liberal Arts education is a label used for small, elite, teaching focused institutions in the US.” Yet, it is an essential element in preparing young 18 to 24 year-old individuals in facing the issues afflicting the world, explained Dr. Key.

As an institution, “You want students to leave after 4 years and be successful and the best way to do is to give them options for what they want to do with their lives for the next 10-20 years,” said Dr. Key. This is where a liberal arts education is so important, as it provides students an opportunity to engage with a breadth of knowledge and flexibility in learning.

He cited the example of the US, where many students take up vocational jobs at an early age and by the time, they are 30 years old, are not happy and have no recourse for the future. This, Dr. Key stressed was why a Liberal Arts education was so important as it provided choices to students.

In a country where vocational education still holds sway, Dr. Key appreciated the role that Habib University was playing in bringing a positive change to higher education. “Habib University’s commitment to the liberal arts is truly valuable,” he added, stating that what made the university attractive was the intellectual confidence of the high-quality faculty and their understanding of the need to teach their students within the context of being in Karachi in the 21st century.

He further went on to say that institutions like Habib University, are really productive, and empower diverse student body with diverse experiences. Dr. Key further stated that in the modern workplace, employers were looking for individuals who had a certain skill set rather than a particular degree, and what sets you apart is your broader frame when referring to the outside world – the blend which Liberal Arts Education provides.”

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

Karachi, October 05, 2022 (PPI-OT):Habib University places special emphasis on student success during the students’ 4-year journey and beyond. Mukesh Kumar and Syed Zain Rahat Hussain, graduates of Electrical Engineering, Class of 2019 and Class of 2020, respectively and, Nida Zehra Hadi, our Social Development and Policy alumna, class of 2019 are three of a growing number of graduates making their mark; all three having been granted admission to graduate programs in the Ivy League.

Mukesh Kumar’s journey from a small village of Tharparkar, Pakistan to Cornell University, is a story of inspiration. After completing his secondary education at a government college, Mukesh was intent on completing his higher education at a reputable university.

He got this chance at Habib University, which provided him with the support to complete his BS in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Computer Science. While at Habib, Mukesh was inspired by the University’s Yohsin values, which encourage students to seek thoughtful cultivation by embodying the values of excellence, service, respect, passion and appreciation of beauty.

Graduation offered the opportunity for a new beginning, which has materialized in the form of his acceptance to the Cornell Engineering Management program for his Master of Engineering (M.Eng.).

Another Electrical Engineering alumnus, Syed Zain Rahat Hussain from the Class of 2020, has recently received the Fulbright Scholarship to pursue his Masters of Science degree in Electrical Engineering at Columbia University, with a specialization in Smart Electricity. He has been designated a Nikola Tesla Electrical Engineering scholar for his superior undergraduate academic record.

During his undergraduate journey at Habib, his final year thesis “Load Analysis and Management System” was also published as a research paper, “IoT Enabled Real-time Energy Monitoring and Control System” in the 9th International Conference of Smart Grid 2021, and as a journal paper, “Remote Real-time Power Analysis and Management System” in the International Journal of Smart Grid 2021.

Another outstanding graduate, Nida Zehra Hadi, a Social Development and Policy graduate, has been admitted to the prestigious Dartmouth College, for Master of Arts in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Cultural Studies.

Sharing her view on Habib University’s Liberal Core, she said, “I fell in love with the Habib Liberal Core and my master’s program is a testament to that infatuation. Habib is a place for the curious and passionate; you’re bound to find your calling here!” Nida is studying at Dartmouth on a 60% scholarship and she has also joined as a Writing TA at Dartmouth’s Institute for Writing and Rhetoric.

Habib University congratulates and wishes all the very best to all three of our alumni. We hope that their success acts as a catalyst for other students to fulfil their dream of studying at some of the best global universities!

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 26, 2022 (PPI-OT):Picture this, techies: We, as a nation are interestingly very genuine to fall in love, when its our own baby, we love it unconditionally.

Now see this: There is a much-loved startup, great founders, having great vision, good initial trajectory and having pinnacle of success in mind and reaching that peak!

Consider this: Pakistan, it is a great startup, Jinnah was a great founder, his ideals that were inculcated in the foundational years, at the birth of the country were immensely extra-ordinarily gem-stones, one should treasure, leading to reaching to the top of the peak, cases in perspectives PIA and the Pakistani cricket team. How brilliantly focused approach was it? It was.

But with every success and significance, comes a down-turn, the spiral wave, but with this fall, you still plan to rise and can garner hope for going back to the top. To place this story, courtesy of Mr. Umair Khan, who assembled this thought? Mr. Umair Khan, Founding Partner at Mentors Fund was here at the talk.

This talk, ‘This Silicon Valley Insider’s View of Pakistan’s Tech Ecosystem’ was held on late Friday evening, at Tariq Rafi Hall, Habib University. The University collaborated with Folio3 in allowing the young students of the institute a chance to see what the panel of experts (read: leading techies) had to say about economic uncertainty that is prevailing in the country and yet it is giving the feel to this particular community, the Pakistani techies to rise and plan a start-up!

Besides, Mr. Umair Khan there, were two other panelists, namely Mr. Eram Khan, CITO, Engro Corporation and Mr. Furquan Kidwai, CEO of Dawaai and the panel was moderated by Dr. Anzar Khaliq, Associate Dean, Teaching and Learning, at Habib University.

The chief of Mentor’s Fund, Khan, said that, “Why would you want to have a start-up in the first go? But if you as a youngster are really involved in doing so, it must inculcate three things in you fundamentally about the project, because it essentially requires three things within you to have a) desirability, b) viable project and c) feasibility.” Going forward and giving an idea that can be structured around the surface, “You see you live in Karachi; the city is not clean at all.

This is your home. Do something about it? Basically, there should be a strong demand in the good market of Karachi, to make it (neat)” Khan has about 60+ startup that he has mentored and 10+ alone are based in Karachi.

Taking this cue forward Eram Khan observed that, “Entrepreneurship is all about product failure or pass. The desire should be given in the form of Demand and Supply, which in itself makes Entrepreneurship an exciting thing, to begin with!”

Mr. Furquan Kidwai, briefly shared his trajectory of life, while he was based in London in 2014, he desired to comeback to Karachi and start his own startup company where he saw the fact that he “could work with cheap Labor and skilled labour.

Where I could upgrade it and this became my resolve to continue. If we don’t do it now than when? One needs to dared to try and just do it. The key factor here is Resilience and earning money, should not be the mantra but rather solving the problem.”

What makes the startup click is the, “Fact that you have a good idea and a solid space. Plenty of it can happen,” stated Mr. Umair Khan. Where patience and resilience was given a major thought, Mr. Eram Khan stressed on the need to “Please learn, to get to learn. Because that’s how you will get there.”

Where Umair Khan, had initially talked about Pakistan as a great case-study, for a start-up, he shared yet another story of a man called Abdul Sattar Edhi. “With Pakistan a success story. Edhi yet another success story. But remember, not everyone can be Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates!”

Also, “try keeping Cash Flow, positive, “said Mr. Eram Khan and remember “Investment is not a Revenue,” a retained thought by Mr. Umair Khan.

Time is ripe for start-ups to begin functioning, for after every major recession, the new model of economic changes takes place. Besides after “Every Success Story leading to Significance comes down to being in-significant,” Mr. Umair Khan stated. Which in entirety “leads to understand Your Value which Determines Your Destiny, of Success and Significance.”

Dr. Khaliq moderated the event and closely observed the thinker’s attitudes and deliberation which in itself created a host of opportunities for the critical mind of young student, attending the forum, to realize the potential of being a critical thinker, in this regard.

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 24, 2022 (PPI-OT):Looking for a degree that can prepare you for many different careers? Then learning more about the seven Forms of Thought and Action of the liberal core may be the right choice. Liberal core courses allow students to explore a range of subjects before specializing in one area.

This makes it possible to get a well-rounded education and discover which field interests them the most.

After studying different forms of liberal core, you can improve your chances of succeeding in a job you love by gaining skills and knowledge that will help you succeed.

This is not just one academic discipline but a comprehensive approach to education that offers students an intellectual foundation across multiple diverse fields. Just as the importance of the knowledge about these various disciplines is, so are the skills learned highly relevant in today’s job market.

What Does The Study Of Liberal Core Involve?

Liberal arts provide a breadth and diversity of exposure that cannot always be found in specialized education. Liberal Arts today refers to multiple interdisciplinary academic disciplines, including:

Humanities: cover topics such as art, literature, philosophy, linguistics, religion, ethics, and modern foreign languages; music, theatre, and classical languages.

Social Sciences: includes, but is not limited to, history, psychology, law, sociology, political science, gender studies, anthropology, economics, geography, and business informatics.

Natural sciences: Zoology, botany, climatology, geography (including astronomy), oceanography, and environmental science are only a few disciplines studied at universities.

Mathematics, Computer Science, Environmental Studies, Music, Visual Art, Performing Arts, Public Affairs, Gender Studies, etc.

Habib University, top university of Pakistan, offers a wide range of career opportunities since you will be a well-rounded, effective communicator with excellent problem-solving abilities. These are all the personality characteristics that an employer is looking for in ideal prospects, which will enhance your chances of getting your desired employment.

Reasons to Opt For Liberal Core Courses

Skillsets like critical thinking, problem-solving, networking, and creative thinking – to name a few – that are closely linked with the humanities and arts will be highly sought-after in future workplaces.

Many people choose to study these courses for a variety of reasons. Let’s look into the most common ones:

Learning style that incorporates multiple disciplines and topics.

An interdisciplinary approach to education is taken. It gives exposure to students regarding a wide variety of subject areas, which provides them with a broader perspective on whatever job they select. Such individuals may be more valuable to employers because of their abilities.

Subjects that are highly intriguing to learn about

Students enrolled in this program will explore fascinating topics such as the evolution of societies, mind and behaviour, natural sciences, philosophy, logic, legal studies, rhetoric, etc. These areas of study will provide students with the right frame of mind and understanding of the world around them.

Freedom to choose from various forms

These courses allow you to explore several areas of interest and build upon your strengths. You can choose one or two majors to develop specialized knowledge and minors. There are also various interdisciplinary majors and minor options if you want to explore further.

Immense scope for graduates

Students can select from various courses including creative writing. Students who study in this field may specialize in business or healthcare administration. Liberal arts graduates are also great business owners, managers, designers, and instructors. The breadth of liberal arts education is increasing and will continue to do so in the future.

It improves your soft skills, which employer’s value

These courses provide students with highly valued skills in the industry, such as effective communication, problem-solving and critical thinking. With the growing age of technology, these skills are more relevant than ever and will prepare students for the future of work.

Final Words

So, should you take a core course? The answer is unequivocally yes. Courses offered at Liberal Arts University in Pakistan, are the backbone of a well-rounded education and can teach you how to think critically about the world around you.

They also provide opportunities for networking and forming relationships with professors who can help you later in life. In short, core courses may seem like a pain, but they’re worth it in the end. Have you taken any liberal core courses? What did you think?

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 24, 2022 (PPI-OT):“Climate Change is all about Climate Justice and Class Injustice,” says Aafia Salam, the renowned Environmentalist and Media Development Specialist, while speaking on Habib University’s platform for Twitter-active audience on the side-line of ‘The Dilemma of Climate Change.’ Salam going further in-depth of it, asserted that it surely sounds like more like the world of haves and haves-not!

Last evening, Habib University took the initiative to host a panel of experts on the online forum through Twitter Space, on ‘The Dilemma of Climate Change’ with the hope that the realization will come thru for others in the wake of the catastrophe that this needs to be discussed as an insightful enterprising opportunity to understand what the poor villager faced when the roaring floods took away not only his farm-land but also his life! The vulnerable human life!

Certainly, to understand what exactly led the flooding happen in Pakistan, where one-third of the country has been gravely suffered, most notably in the rural areas, according to Maira Hayat, Assistant Professor of Environment and Peace, at the University Of Notre Dame, who claimed that, “There are no immediate factors what could have been done.

The World Bank released its Report in 2004, on this issue of flooding. Big question remained that we should find no excuse on what could have been done? However, when it happens the constraints grew. We need to show how not to pause it. Damage can be averted and the inquiry can begin. Climate Change is considered something out of the blue—it is an urgent issue, and it’s not separate factor behind the Rural and Urban relationship.”

Come to think of it, the major issue pertains to the humanitarian cause. According to Imtiaz Ali, Lecturer of Environment and International Relations, University of Karachi, who shared Dadu-centric story, “What is the humanitarian cause in Dadu, where the women and children were major sufferers. Unfortunately, this is a big issue in Sindh. About 12 deaths took place in Dadu and Larkana today.”

Ali believed that there are 3-major underlining causes of the flooding, majorly “The first cause was the Environmental Changes and the role of Mis-management with centuries old-Agrarian System which relies on the outdated Agriculture System. Secondly, Divergence of Water and finally, Deforestation which took place in Shikarpur, Larkana and Dadu. It is here one finds the influential political families (their role in it). Floods across Sindh, have seen change of force. There is politics behind it. They are trying to maximize from it.”

In giving her insight to the recent flooding impact Ms. Salam said that the river-zoning is required otherwise as we witnessed, “the hotel collapsed like a straw. Which is unfortunate?” She further said that, in 2010, “Actual allocation of funds were given for this purpose (to government offices). But there is no pressure and they are not regular things which got crafted. The Civil Society was the first one to respond and put their efforts in there. Things are not good, because the initial response was not there.”

Haniya Mansoor, Founder of Project Kamyabi, shared her thoughts on the Climate Change asserting that she first heard about the word, ‘Climate Change’ as a 12-year-old girl-child. She viewed the factor which required major Social Policy Changes when talking in terms of Textiles industry, Punjab province and better governance issue.

Ms. Hayat kept the fact upright, that, “The habit of governing is so down. Nothing has really happened. Internal Accountability hasn’t happened, which is utterly lacking.”

About 90 minutes into the Twitter space, the Habib University’s faculty member, who was the Moderator to this event, Mr. Aaron Mulvany, Program Director, Social Development and Policy about his own experience, “Such collective misery, I have never seen in my life, what I saw in Badin. It’s true when they say in Sindh and Baluchistan painted a Doomsday (landscape). Which is an unfortunate time.”

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