Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, and Stanford University’s Life Design Lab have joined forces to tackle Pakistan’s educational challenges. Unveiled by IBA’s Director of Alumni Communications and Corporate Relations, Ms. Malahat Awan, and Assistant Professor Dr. Azam Ali, this partnership marks a transformative step in Pakistan’s educational landscape.
By integrating design thinking into the curriculum, the collaboration aims to develop sustainable and locally-driven solutions to foster long-term growth and innovation in the country’s education sector. The announcement was accompanied by a thought-provoking panel discussion led by Sindh’s Chief Minister and Patron of IBA Karachi, Syed Murad Ali Shah.
He was joined by IBA’s Executive Director, Dr. S Akbar Zaidi, Stanford Life Design Lab’s Executive Director, Bill Burnett, and Co-Founder of Designing Your Spiritual Life, Junaid Aziz. The discussion highlighted the importance of this collaboration, bringing together global expertise and local insights. A key point raised during the discussion was the critical role played by IBA alumnus Junaid Aziz, now a senior faculty member at Stanford.
The Chief Minister emphasized how Aziz’s dual understanding of both institutions ensures the collaboration is not just an academic exchange but a deeply relevant effort to address Pakistan’s educational needs. Chief Minister Shah emphasized the importance of Stanford faculty immersing themselves in Pakistan’s unique challenges, stating that solutions must be co-created to truly resonate within the local context. He stressed that this partnership is about developing homegrown solutions, not importing pre-packaged ideas. Mr. Burnett echoed this sentiment, seeing the collaboration as a reciprocal learning experience that will also inspire Stanford with insights from Pakistan’s challenges.
Dr. Zaidi noted that this initiative is rooted in long-term impact, with plans to embed this innovative pedagogy into IBA’s educational framework. The partnership will serve as a hub for nurturing innovation and testing practical, sustainable solutions. Earlier, the Chief Minister, alongside IBA faculty, visited Stanford’s Life Design Lab to discuss the mechanics of knowledge transfer between Silicon Valley and Karachi. Concrete plans were outlined to rapidly integrate this teaching approach at IBA, ensuring that both faculty and students benefit from workshops, curriculum enhancements, and direct involvement from Stanford experts. The Chief Minister also engaged in discussions with Stanford’s Biosecurity and Pandemic Preparedness Initiative on collaborating to develop vaccines and preparedness measures for future pandemics. This dialogue underscored Sindh’s proactive response during the COVID-19 crisis and highlighted the potential for further cross-border partnerships in healthcare innovation.
