New horizons at International Conference on Experiential Learning 2017

KARACHI: A galaxy of international icons and national luminaries from various industries converged recently at the a local university in Karachi to attend the International Conference on Experiential Learning (ICEL) 2017.

The conference theme was “Invigorating Learning through Creativity and Innovation”, interpreted by experts as emanating from overall socio-economic stability and development trickling down to personal and individual excellence!

While concepts in macro socio-economic development needs no introduction, how the conference envisaged as providing food for thought for benefiting school children at the grassroots level was enlightened upon by Mr. Javed Jabbar, a noted public figure.

Participants commonly confessed that conference tracks were so designed as to practically benefit such fields as education, engineering, business management, media and health management.

It is being conceived with consensus of opinion that experiential learning or “learning by doing” must be implemented in universities in letter and in spirit enabling students to accustom to and acclimatize with latest on-the-job and corporate insights, ideas and initiatives.

Conference tracks focused on experiential learning through corporate linkages and industry projects in business schools, case studies, research papers, posters and panel discussions to disseminate valuable information to build closer linkages between academia and the industry.

Besides motivating presence of Bashir Jan Mohammad, Chancellor, IoBM as the Chief Guest, attending the inaugural session were Talib Syed Karim, President, IoBM; Dr Syed Irfan Hyder, Conference Chairman and Dean CBM and CES, IoBM; Dr Abdul Bari Khan, CEO, Indus Hospital as the keynote speaker; Noor Ahmed Shaikh, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur; Mr. Javed Memon, Director, Higher Education Commission (HEC), Regional Centre; Dr. Abdul Salam Lodhi, Director, University College of Zhob, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS).

Amid the inspiring guidance of IoBM’s President and Ms. Sabina Mohsin, Executive Director, Admissions, Administration and Finance was IoBM’s ICEL Team, including among others, Dr. Syed Irfan Hyder, Dr. Muhammad Abid Ali, Chief Organizer, ICEL 2017; Cdr. Shahid Mirza, Dr. Amber Raza, Ms. Sarwat Nouman, Ms. Seema Ansari, Mr. Ekhlaque Ahmed, Dr. Erum Hafeez, Mr. Ejaz Wasay and Dr. Samra Javed.

MHM track was headed by Dr. Asima Faisal, Asst. Professor and HoD, MHM covering three plenary sessions, oral and poster presentations. Such renowned leaders from health care industry shed light on the current practices of experiential learning in healthcare Mr. Johannes (Hans) Theodorus Kedzierski, CEO AKU, Dr. Abdul Bari Khan, CEO, Indus Hospital, Dr. Seemin Jamali, ED, JPMC, Dr. Nadeem Rizvi, Consultant Cardiologist, South City Hospital, Dr. Saad Khalid Niaz, Honarary Consultant, Civil Hospital, Mr. Saeed Allawala, Chairman ATCO Laboratories Ltd, Mr. Salman Burney, Director Arigato Industries, Dr. Asim Jamal, Country Chair and MD, Sanofi Aventis, Dr. Tania Shakoori, Assistant Professor, HoD Biomedical Sciences, Kind Edward Medical University, Ms. Sajida Bandukwala, Head of Staff and GM Marketing & Partnerships, Aman Foundation, Dr. Farhan Essa Abdullah, CEO, Dr. Essa Lab and Diagnostics, Dr. Izhar Hussain, Director CEE, IBA, Dr. Tariq Mehmood, Assistant Professor, Computer Science, IBA, Dr. Naveed Yousuf, Assistant Professor, AKU and Dr. Yahya Noori, Assistant Professor, DUHS and Dr Humeira Jawed, Senior Faculty, IoBM.

Health Management students also showcased their Capstone projects in form of oral and poster presentations. The event was an inspirational gathering of ideas and knowledge sharing for the audience which comprised of students and faculty of IoBM.

Upon inquiry on the core and clear resolution of the Conference, IoBM spokesman Parvez Jamil referred to mutual confessions made by distinguished panelists and participants regarding excellence in education, business management engineering, health management and media and accordingly in the ultimate analysis the trickle down benefit of such development endeavors being envisioned at the grassroots level, for the common man and towards a welfare society!