IBA Hosts Workshop on Structure of Undergrad Education

Advertisements by Academia Magazine

The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi held its inaugural workshop on the “Structure of Undergraduate Education,” marking a significant step towards rethinking and reforming higher education in Pakistan. The event, organized by the School of Economics & Social Sciences (SESS) at IBA, was a collaborative effort with the Aga Khan University’s Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED).

This pioneering workshop gathered esteemed faculty members from leading universities across Pakistan, including representatives from IBA, AKU, LUMS, Habib University, NED, and several public sector institutions. The objective was to foster a dialogue on the evolving nature of undergraduate education in response to global shifts and challenges.

Dr Asma Hyder, Dean of SESS at IBA, initiated the discussion by emphasizing the critical importance of re-evaluating undergraduate education in today’s rapidly changing world. “In today’s complex society, the changes are substantial enough to prompt educators to consider their impact at all levels of education. This raises fundamental and philosophical questions about its purpose, relevance, and structure. Through this workshop, we aim to address these questions with a focus on undergraduate education,” stated Dr Hyder.

Dr Farid Panjwani, Dean and Professor at AKU-IED, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the pivotal role of universities in nurturing the idealism and creativity of undergraduate students. “Undergraduate students are at a stage of idealism and creativity, making it the profound responsibility of universities to nurture their potential through critically progressive and historically grounded education. This demands regular reflection on the nature of this education, ensuring it remains fit for purpose. Educators must rethink the purpose, relevance, and structure of undergraduate education to prepare students for an uncertain and complex future,” Dr Panjwani remarked.

The workshop addressed several critical sub-themes, including the balance between skills and theoretical knowledge, the challenges and opportunities presented by the emergence of artificial intelligence, the debate between specialization and interdisciplinarity, and issues surrounding joint degrees, courses, and academic freedom.

Organizers of the event indicated that this workshop is the first in a series of sessions aimed at proposing a more robust and viable structure for undergraduate education in Pakistan. This initiative underscores IBA Karachi’s commitment to leading the conversation on educational reform and ensuring that Pakistani universities are equipped to prepare students for the complexities of the modern world.