A delegation representing various Malaysian universities visited the Institute of Business Management (IoBM) on Saturday, September 14, 2024. The guestsincluded senior representatives from prominent institutions such as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation, among others. The Chief Guest of the event was His Excellency Herman Hardynata Bin Ahmed, the Consul General of Malaysia.
Present at the occasion representing IoBM were Mr. Talib S. Karim, President; Mr. Bashir JanMohammad, Chancellor; Dr. Muhammad Abbas, Dean of CCSIS; Dr. Muhammad Kashif, Dean of CBM; Dr. Nadia Ayub, Dean of CESD, along with Heads of Departments, faculty members, and management. Mr. Zubair Bandukda, President of the Textile Institute of Pakistan; Dr. Mansoor uz Zafar Dawood, Vice Chancellor of ILMA University; and Dr. Kashif Mehmood, Director of KASBIT were also present.
The visit aimed to strengthen academic collaborations, explore potential partnerships, and discuss opportunities for enhancing student exchanges and research initiatives between IoBM and the visiting Malaysian universities. This gathering marked a significant step toward fostering international educational ties and building robust networks for academic and research development.
The program began with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran by Hafiz Humayun Baig. Ms. Juveria Baig, Head of Internship, Placement and International Office, served as the Master of Ceremonies. She provided a detailed overview of IoBM's academic, research, and extracurricular activities. She also emphasized IoBM's strong associations with several Malaysian universities and highlighted the fact that many IoBM faculty and management members have completed their PhDs at universities in Malaysia.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Talib S. Karim warmly welcomed the guests and expressed his gratitude to the Consul General of Malaysia for supporting the visit. He highlighted the close and cordial relations Mr. Bashir JanMohammad has maintained with Malaysia and mentioned that IoBM is frequently invited to meetings hosted by Mr. JanMohammad when Malaysian universities and government officials visit Pakistan. The President of IoBM also noted that IoBM has several active MoUs with Malaysian universities. He emphasized the strong bond between Pakistan and Malaysia, which has fostered ongoing collaboration, and expressed confidence that this partnership will continue to grow. He further called for additional research collaborations and faculty exchanges, encouraging IoBM faculty members who have completed their PhDs to consider pursuing post-doctoral opportunities in Malaysia to gain international exposure.
In his speech, His Excellency Herman Hardynata Bin Ahmed, Consul General of Malaysia, praised Mr. Bashir JanMohammad for his pivotal role in strengthening ties between Pakistan and Malaysia. He announced Malaysia’s plans to open a trade office in Karachi to streamline and enhance trade and economic activities between the two countries. Furthermore, he emphasized the need for a formal partnership in the field of education, promoting greater collaboration and exchange between academic institutions in both countries.
Earlier, in his welcome remarks, Mr. Bashir JanMohammad shared his experience with the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mr. Mahathir Mohamad, and expressed his admiration for the Malaysian people and the opportunities the country offers. He paid tribute to the late Founder President of IoBM, Mr. Shahjehan S. Karim, acknowledging his vision and efforts in establishing the institution. Mr. JanMohammad noted that while IoBM is producing graduates, there are limited job opportunities available, emphasizing that fields such as artificial intelligence and data science represent the future. He called for increased communication and collaboration with Malaysian universities and highlighted IoBM’s commitment to providing scholarships and financial aid to its students.
Mr. Novie Tajuddin, Chief Executive Officer of Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), presented the theme of the event and highlighted the importance of fostering international collaborations in higher education. He emphasized the role of global partnerships in enhancing academic standards, facilitating student and faculty exchanges, and promoting research initiatives between Malaysia and Pakistan. Mr. Tajuddin expressed his optimism about the future of educational ties between the two nations, stressing that such initiatives would not only benefit the institutions involved but also contribute to the broader development of the region's academic and research capabilities.
The recent visit by a delegation representing leading Malaysian universities to the Institute of Business Management (IoBM) supports SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals by fostering international academic collaborations. The discussions on potential partnerships, student exchanges, and research initiatives directly contribute to strengthening the global network for education, which is essential for sustainable development. Moreover, the visit highlights the importance of SDG 4: Quality Education, as the collaboration aims to improve research and higher education standards between the two countries.