Govt must do best for inventive teaching and learning methods.

• Author: Ahmed, Khalil

Byline: Khalil Ahmed

Interview with Mr. Talib Karim - President, Institute of Business Management (IoBM)

PAGE: Tell me something about yourself and IoBM, please:

Talib Karim: After completing Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering and a Master's in Economics from the University of Arizona, Tucson, USA, I returned to Pakistan in 1986 and joined a development finance institution. I worked there for several years in various capacities and then decided to leave the organization and devote myself full time towards the establishment of the Institute of Business Management (IoBM) in Karachi, which now has entered into its 26th year of existence. It was founded by my father, the Late Shahjehan S. Karim, who served as its Founder President until he passed away in 2017. He envisioned establishing a business school after retiring from the civil services in 1993 and since then concentrated all his efforts on materializing his dream.

The Institute, through its College of Business Management (CBM), offers a four year BBA (Honors) and a two/three year MBA degree program with a specialization in various areas of business administration. A research degree, an MPhil leading to a PhD, is also offered in Finance, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Education, Psychology and Management Information Systems. IoBM has three more constituent colleges, namely College of Computer Science and Information Systems (CCSIS), College of Economics and Social Development and College of Engineering and Sciences (CES), each offering degree programs at all levels.

PAGE: How would you comment on the state of education in Pakistan vis-a-vis the rest of the world?

Talib Karim: Firstly, education is a lifelong journey, and one must remain up-to-date with the changing trends. Continuous efforts are required from the concerned authorities as we need a shift in the innovative teaching and learning methods compared to the developed nations. I feel there is a dire need to compare our present with the past, reflect on our key strengths and weaknesses and predict for the future accordingly. Focused efforts are required to streamline early childhood and primary education, ensuring adequate teaching and learning that lay the foundations of a solid primary and higher education.

PAGE: Your views about the quality of research conducted in the universities of Pakistan:

Talib Karim: I believe research is most certainly the foundation for progress and development. Hence, the...