IBA, Aga Khan University sign MoU for collaborative research

KARACHI: The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi and the Aga Khan University (AKU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on research and innovation initiatives in education and healthcare.

As pert details,  the agreement was signed by IBA Executive Director Dr S Akbar Zaidi and AKU Vice-Provost Dr Anjum Halaion Thursday.

The MoU will provide opportunities for faculty, researchers, students and innovators at the IBA Karachi and AKU to explore potential activities ranging from joint research projects and training to professional development programmes and the creation of a shared pool of mentors.

Dr. Zaidi welcomed the agreement between both institutions as it offers enormous opportunities for research, student training and development and innovations.

“Our institutions will have the ‘space’ to collaborate on projects focusing on big data, knowledge, training expertise and human resources, that can be potentially beneficial locally, nationally and even globally,” he added.

While addressing the ceremony, Dr. Halai emphasized that IBA Karachi and AKU recognize the importance of partnership, of positive academic engagement and the contributions that institutions of higher education can make to society.

He said, “We share a mutual desire to collaborate on initiatives that can positively contribute and expand upon creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship in education and healthcare.”

In the closing remarks, AKU’s Chief Data and Analytics Officer Farhan Sabzaali said, “This agreement should enable both institutions to leverage their expertise in machine learning and data analytics to expand the number and breadth of projects in areas of common interest.”

The IBA Karachi has established itself as a premier tertiary education level institution in Pakistan with a strong track record of over 60 years of producing quality undergraduates and post-graduates in various disciplines.

The Institute hosts several research labs in Artificial Intelligence, Telecommunication Research, Neuro-marketing and Big Data Analytics headed by qualified faculty members.

The Aga Khan University is a pioneering institution of higher education that works to improve quality of life in the developing world and beyond.

The University operates programmes and campuses in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and the United Kingdom, and treats more than two million patients per year at seven hospitals and more than 350 medical centres.

A study of AKU’s impact in Pakistan, conducted by U.S.-based Centennial Group International, found that AKU has an annual economic impact in Pakistan of US$ 1 billion, and directly and indirectly supports 42,000 jobs annually.