The Career Development Center (CDC) at the Institute of Business Management (IoBM) hosted its annual HR Networking Lunch on Thursday, July 16, 2026, bringing together human resource professionals from a wide range of industries to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry and discuss the changing needs of today’s workforce.
Held under the theme, “Industry-Academia Co-Creation: Building Agile Curricula for the Digital Economy,” the event provided a platform for HR professionals and academicians to discuss how academic curricula can better prepare students for the future of work. A key question that guided the conversation was: When industry professionals look at today’s graduates, what is the one skill gap they consistently observe?
Welcoming the guests, Ms. Juveria Baig, Head of the Career Development Center, emphasized the importance of building strong partnerships with industry to prepare students for the future workplace. She also presented an overview of IoBM’s history, legacy, academic programs, and executive education initiatives.
Representing IoBM were Prof. Dr. Tariq Rahim Soomro, Rector; Prof. Dr. Muhammad Kashif, Dean, College of Business Management (CBM); Prof. Dr. Muhammad Abbas, Dean, College of Computer Science and Information Systems (CCSIS); Dr. Imran Batada, Chief Digital Officer and Director, Center for Information Technology (CIT); Ms. Rabia Sabri, Head of Student Academic Affairs; Mr. Nabhan Karim, Head of Marketing & Communications (MARCOM); along with Heads of Departments and faculty members.
Participants shared valuable insights into the changing expectations of employers and emphasized the need for stronger alignment between academia and industry. A common view among the speakers was that graduates must develop stronger life skills, including communication, critical thinking, professionalism, adaptability, workplace readiness, and the ability to continuously learn, re-learn, and remain agile in an increasingly dynamic work environment.
The event was organized by the Career Development Center in collaboration with MARCOM. The organizing team included Mr. Abdul Khaliq, Senior Assistant Manager; Ms. Maryam Qazi, Career Service Specialist; and Ms. Hajra Khanum, Career Services Coordinator, whose efforts contributed to the successful execution of the event.
