IoBM hosts its 26th Convocation; 1,446 graduates received degrees

The 26th Convocation of the Institute of Business Management (IoBM) was organized amid the guidance and inspirational leadership of Ms. Sabina Mohsin, Executive Director, who has been presiding over the Convocation Planning Committee (CPC) since IoBM's inception in 1995. The CPC works diligently to plan, organize, and execute the various activities of the Convocation.

The Institute of Business Management (IoBM), Karachi, held its 26th Convocation at its campus on Saturday, December 09, 2023. 1,446 graduates from more than 40 disciplines including Bachelor’s, Master's, and Ph.D. were conferred degrees at the ceremony this year that was attended by senior representatives from IoBM, graduating students, their parents, and faculty. The distinguished speakers of the event were Mr. Talib S. Karim, President of IoBM and Mr. Bashir Janmohammad, Chancellor of IoBM. The Keynote Speaker was Mr. Rizwan Ahmed Sheikh, CEO, Saudi Pak Industrial and Agricultural Investment Company. Mr. Rizwan is an IoBM alumnus from the first-ever batch to graduate from IoBM.

While presenting a progress report for the institution, the President of IoBM, Mr. Talib S. Karim highlighted how the passion project of the Late Founding President, Shahjehan S. Karim, has turned into one of the leading educational entities in the country. He noted: “Of the many achievements of IoBM, the Shahjehan Syed Karim Incubation Centre (SSKIC) established in November 2020, requires a notable mention. The center has made good progress and incubated 20 Tech-enabled startups over the last two years and received more than PKR 6 million in external funding from HEC and the Private Sector.” He also highlighted IoBM’s robust endowment fund, the emphasis that the institution lays on research through the Office of Research, Innovation, and Commercialization (ORIC) as well as the focus beyond academics and on extracurricular activities.

Earlier, during the Welcome Address by Mr. Bashir Janmohammad, Chancellor of IoBM, he stressed the need for intellectual minds to trust in their country and dedicate their efforts toward contributing to the betterment of the nation. He presented the graduates with three important pieces of advice. First, they should be thankful to their parents for their unconditional support and sacrifice. Second, they should work hard with honesty to achieve their goals. Third, they should have a vision that they should pursue in life. Moreover, he encouraged the graduating class to ignite an entrepreneurial vision so they could develop innovative ideas to solve social problems. Moreover, Mr. Bashir Janmohammad urged for the upgradation of the syllabus in higher education that should be inclined to IT and artificial intelligence.

The Keynote Speaker, Mr. Rizwan Ahmed Sheikh lauded the graduates, imparting key learnings for them by saying: “I will leave you with my secret to success in life that is summarized by four acronyms, D, C, B, and A. These stand for Dream, Create, Believe, and Achieve. Stick to the principles of discipline, consistency, and hard work as these are the elements that will lead you to fulfill your biggest ambitions. Mr. Rizwan added that we should believe in ourselves and keep endeavoring to complete our objectives. He further said that the challenges in life strengthen us by making us self-aware. He imparted words of wisdom to the graduating class including: “Have faith in Allah”, “Do what you are passionate about”, “Never hide from thinking out-of-the-box” and “Dream without goals are just dreams. We need to plan and act to achieve our goals.

The students who were part of the graduating batch this year received their degrees in a diverse range of disciplines that encompass commerce, finance, data sciences, and entrepreneurship along with numerous others. 22 gold medals were also awarded to the highest achievers within their respective programs. Among the graduates, 872 were awarded Bachelor’s, 527 received Master’s, and 33 students got their MS/M.Phil. degrees. 47 students received merit certificates while 14 individuals were also conferred with PhD degrees at the ceremony. 

In her speech, the Valedictorian for the year, Dinah Kamal Hamidi, the recipient of the Shahjehan Syed Karim Gold Medal, reminisced on the memories and learning she had accumulated over the years. She reminded her batchmates how, from asking themselves what they wanted to be when they grew up, to this day, “all grown up”, a new journey awaited them. She stressed not to forget “how exceptional we are! And just what all we are capable of!”

IoBM’s efforts play in contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Notably:
•    SDG 4: Quality Education is highly relevant, as IoBM continues to provide quality education, graduating students across multiple disciplines, and supporting lifelong learning through initiatives like the Shahjehan Syed Karim Incubation Centre (SSKIC), which fosters tech-enabled startups.
•    SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth is reflected in the institution’s efforts to encourage entrepreneurial thinking and innovation, particularly through its focus on incubating startups, thus contributing to sustainable economic growth.
•    SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure is linked to IoBM’s incubation efforts and external funding support, promoting technological innovation and infrastructure development.
By focusing on these SDGs, IoBM is actively contributing to global sustainable development goals through education, economic empowerment, and innovation.

 
Gold Medalists
The Gold Medalists at the 26th Convocation of IoBM were: