Karachi: In a unique international conference experts from social, educational, health sectors and from media and communication endeavored to present simple solutions for the well-being of the common man at the grassroots level. International Conference on Experiential Learning (ICEL) at the Institute of Business Management (IoBM), titled: “Connecting Classroom Learning with Industry Practices”, in fact, envisioned trickle down benefits of development plans and policies for the masses in the overall developmental perspective, says an IoBM press release. A set of some specialized ICEL Conference tracks at IoBM were so formulated and designed in such a simple and easy manner that public welfare was envisaged in letter and spirit at the community, local, regional and national levels. Such Tracks included Media Studies, Business Management, Health Management and eHealth, Environment and Energy Management, Education, Communication and Languages, Electrical Engineering and Engineering Management. Each Track has a positive influence on the common man.
Present during the Inaugural Session of ICEL 2018 were Mr. Talib Karim, President IoBM; Mr. Bashir Janmuhammad, Chairman and Director Westbury Group of Companies, Dalda Foods (Pvt.) Limited, Mapak Edible Oils (Pvt.) Limited and Chancellor IoBM and Engineer Ahmed Farooq Bazai, Vice Chancellor, BUITEMS. The Welcome Address was presented by Dr. Syed Irfan Hyder, Dean CBM and CES and Conference Chair, ICEL 2018. The Keynote Speaker was Dr. Amjad Waheed, CEO, NBP Funds. International speakers invited to the ICEL 2018 were Professor Craig Duff, Northwestern University, USA; Professor Maria Jose Palma, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbonne, Portugal; Dr. Sheroz Khan, International Islamic University Malaysia, Malaysia; Dr. Tanju Deveci, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Dr. Syed Shiraz Hyder, University of North Dakota, USA and Dr. Shakti Kumar Gupta, Medical Superintendent, AIIMS (Dr. RP Centre), New Delhi, India.
Mr. Talib Karim, President IoBM, complimented ICEL for its pertinent and practical tracks and said that each was a Conference in itself. CSR at IoBM, he added, was envisioned by its Late Founder President, Mr. Shahjehan S. Karim and continues to be implemented in IoBM managerial, academic and students’ programs. He highlighted the instrumental role of IoBM well-wishers like Mr. Bashir Janmuhammad, Mr. Mohammad Ali Tabba and others for their inspirational and financial support in making IoBM a dignified brand name home and abroad. He thanked the international and national luminaries present at the Conference and commended the role of ICEL organizers and sponsors.
Dr. Amjad Waheed, in his Keynote Address, touched upon the value of students’ skills, team spirit, ethical and business values, critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making. He said that gradual inculcation of students’ managerial, communication, computer skills and developing entrepreneurial mindsets remain of paramount significance. He said how vital faculty and industry mutual interaction is. Mr. Bashir Janmuhammad emanated his sense of belonging to IoBM and said that he was attending this Conference as a Chancellor and not as a businessman. Believing in social objective as of paramount significance he assured that no deserving student will be deprived of education due to paucity of funds and that we need to invite the less privileged for education with grace, dignity and honor and not as a favor or “ehsan”. Dr. Syed Irfan Hyder stressed upon the need for learning by doing through a support system to manage numerous student projects in diversified fields connecting all with real practical life.
Each Track has a positive influence on the common man. The track on Electrical Engineering and Engineering Management Track benefited the needy students of interior Sindh who are studying with full scholarship at IoBM. All Conference Tracks are supported by CSR activities for the less-privileged in and around Karachi and in Sindh. Dr. Asima Faisal, HoD Health and Hospital Management Department, IoBM, while making her presentation for the Conference ensured that a Health Assessment Camp is running parallel, free of charge for IoBM students, faculty, staff and management, especially for Institutions’ guards, chowkidaars, cleaners, peons, gardeners. CBM Society of Health Managers (CSHM), a representative body of MBA Health and Hospital Management Program at IoBM, organized its health assessment camp ‘Generation Health’ in this regard. The event was graced by Ms. Sabina Mohsin, Executive Director Administration and Finance, IoBM and Dr. Irfan Hyder, Dean CBM and CES. The event was headed by Dr. Asima Faisal, HoD MHM along with Dr. Humeira Jawed and Dr. Shahida Mirza, Sr. Faculty, MHM. Conference speakers, specialists and participants, both from Pakistan and abroad, all development and social sector specialists, were attuned to and acclimatized with the Conference theme’s trickle down benefits for the common man and set rhyme and rhythm of the Conference theme alive in the overall development perspective of the masses, for public welfare and the society at large.
