AKU, IBA host dialogue on future of undergraduate education

The Aga Khan University’s Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED) and the Institute of Business Administration’s School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS) convened a significant dialogue to explore the future of undergraduate education.

Held at IBA’s Main Campus, the event featured leading scholars and educational leaders from top institutions such as AKU, IBA, Habib University (HU), Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), and the University of Balochistan (UoB).

The discussion, led by Professor Asma Hyder, Dean of SESS, IBA, and Professor Farid Panjwani, Dean of AKU-IED, focused on the changing landscape of undergraduate education in the face of global challenges and technological advancements. Dr. Panjwani emphasized the importance of nurturing undergraduate students’ idealism and creativity, urging universities to provide a critically progressive and historically grounded education. He stressed that educators must continuously rethink the purpose, relevance, and structure of undergraduate education to equip students for an uncertain and complex future.

The event featured several thought-provoking sessions. Dr. Faisal Bari from LUMS led a discussion on the balance between skill acquisition and theoretical knowledge, while Dr. Aaron Mulvany from HU urged institutions to embrace interdisciplinarity and break traditional academic boundaries.

Dr. Anjum Halai from AKU explored the potential of joint degrees, courses, and co-teaching models to create a more integrated learning experience.

Dr. Aurangzaib Alizai from UoB highlighted the importance of inclusion and diversity, emphasizing the need to teach students how to coexist, embrace diversity, and respect differing opinions.

Professor Hyder underscored the need for collaboration among educational institutions to rethink and restructure education at all levels, aligning it with the demands of today’s complex society.