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Meeting Challenges of the 21st Century

Dr. Sayeed GhaniAssociate Dean, Faculty of Computer Science

Institute of Business Administration

Best Practices Day ConferenceOctober 19, 2010

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OUR HERITAGE• Established in 1955, IBA is the oldest graduate business school

outside North America, with an array of strengths:

– IBA values include merit, truth, excellence, diligence, tolerance, discipline and humility

– A merit-based admission and need-based financial assistance policy  

– 55 years of producing quality professionals, IBA has established itself as a premier business school in Pakistan

– IBA students are the preferred choice of employers both in private and public sectors

– A network of over 8,000 well-placed alumni, nationally and internationally

• However, over the recent past, the stakeholders of IBA had felt the need for IBA to rise up to the challenges that it faces today.

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OUR STRATEGY

• To build up on strengths in order to ensure that IBA matches the standards of leading educational institutions in Pakistan, the Middle East and Central Asia

• Over a period of 5 years (2009-2014) the IBA is endeavoring to:-

– Benchmark itself against a few chosen institutions of India, Singapore, Hong Kong and Turkey

– Secure ranking among the top 100 Global Business Schools and top 10 Business Schools in the Middle East and South Asia region  

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OUR OBJECTIVES• Restructure internal management processes and governance

• Develop physical plant and IT infrastructure and remodel and renovate its existing facilities

• Attract, train, retain and motivate a highly qualified faculty

• Rebuild quality assurance and plan expansion and strengthening of academic programs for the future

• Develop an HR strategy – hire top quality management; separate academics from operational management

• Be prepared for the challenges of change management

• Have short term / long term strategies

• We shall look at what has been achieved but more importantly how it is being achieved as well.

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INTERNAL MANAGEMENTEffective decision making must be based on collaboration and frequent

communications among all stake holders

Initiatives undertaken to improve the internal working of IBA• Executive Committee

• Consisting of senior faculty members and heads of administrative departments• Committee to consider suggestions and proposals from staff, student and/ or faculty

members• Frequent follow ups on action items

• Academic Committee • Drawing all levels of faculty members to set and enforce academic standards

• Regular Meetings across different segments of the organization• Departmental meetings, Chairpersons/Coordinators meetings, All Faculty meetings

• An open environment for exchange of ideas with freedom of expression and respect for difference of opinions; heavy use of emails and group email culture

• Transparency of decisions with all meeting minutes publically placed on the portal.

• Culture of dynamism with a positive attitude towards change and pilot studies

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INFRASTRUCTURE Optimal performance requires an enabling environment.

Infrastructure expansion plans:

• 12 storied Aman Building

• New City Campus Auditorium

• Centre for Entrepreneurial Development (CED)

• New Academic Building, Main Campus

• New Boys/ Girls Hostels

• Visiting faculty residences

• Master plan with outdoor games facilities

PROPOSED ACADEMIC BLOCK AT MAIN CAMPUS

7Proposed New Boys’ Hostel

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INFRASTRUCTURE:Projects Recently Completed

• Renovation of academic building, Main Campus & City Campus

• Renovated classrooms, new faculty lounges

• Renovation of Boys Hostel

• Student Canteens/ Lounges

• Renovation of Main Campus auditorium

• Video conferencing facilities on both campuses

• All the above were achieved via a professionally managed projects department with active feedback from all stakeholders.

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TECHNOLOGY UPGRADATIONQuality education cannot be provided without state of the art

IT infrastructure

• Operational efficiency is difficult to achieve in the absence of an ERP solution, therefore, an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for Campus Management has been made operational since Fall 2010

• The ERP implementation was preceded by a Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) phase to ensure a realigned and well functioning ERP

• Perhaps the most challenging aspect of the process was BPR whose success was primarily due to the active involvement of the top management

• State of the art IT infrastructure: 34x2 Mbps Internet; high-end servers, licensed software, VoIP services.

• Creation of user-friendly service units

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E - LEARNING

• Increase the scope for use of video conferencing, open course ware and virtual classroom as learning tools

• Facilitate E-learning through

– Wireless Wi-Fi, broadband internet services available in classrooms

– High speed connectivity

– Digital library resources

• User friendly and cost effective on-line and remote access to emails, portals, fee management, registration, course material and learning resources for the students, faculty and others

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A primary factor in rating of Universities is the Quality of Faculty and their Research Output

The aim is to provide a regular and continuous supply of high caliber and well qualified faculty. A multi-pronged approach is being pursued:

• New Faculty Appraisal System to ensure research output

• Significant Faculty Development funding with short and long term

international visits

• New Faculty work-load calculation system

• Revised compensation structure

• Targeted faculty search

• Strong induction methodology for new faculty with greater role of

faculty in hiring

• Frequent interactions with faculty members from leading universities

FACULTY DEVELOPMENT

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• Before the beginning of each academic year, each faculty member prepares an academic plan regarding:

• Number and selection of courses to be taught each semester

• Research projects to be undertaken

• Number of publications or papers to be submitted

• Number of courses to be taught

• Consultancy or other outside advisory assignments

• Junior faculty encouraged to have growth/ PhD plans

• Student and 360 degree evaluations

• Transparent appraisal process linked to compensation

• Stretch goals ensured through bell curve

• HR Consultants conducted frequent workshops with faculty to ensure proper understanding and appreciation of the new systems

• Change management is the major challenge here

• The above was achieved through a well staffed HR department and appropriate academic structure

FACULTY APPRAISALS

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ACADEMIC INITIATIVES• Emphasis on International / Regional Accreditations

• Curriculum development with use of

External Review Panels A wide range of Focus groups with concerned stake

holders: Industry HR representatives, Alumni, students, faculty.

Completely new MBA program launched (2010)

• Strategic alliances with key organizations, e.g. CFA, GBSN, AAPBS, SAP, Oracle and Microsoft.

• Industry leaders are invited to share their experiences through Distinguished Lecture Series and Guest Lectures

• Flexible curriculum with plenty of options for students

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INDUSTRY INTERACTIONFirst CEO Forum hosted by IBA in May, 2010 in collaboration with CIO Pakistan and P@SHA and was attended by a large number of CEOs and CIOs from the local industry.

Campus Conversations held between IT Industry experts and FCS students organized by CIO Pakistan.

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STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

SAP, February 2009

Microsoft, 2005Oracle, May 2009

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TALENT HUNT PROGRAMS &FINANCIAL AID

• National Talent Hunt Program (NTHP) & Sindh Talent Hunt Program (STHP) launched

• The objective is to prepare economically challenged but talented students for the IBA aptitude test for BBA / BS degree courses

• NTHP primarily targets students from the backward areas of Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh, FATA, NWFP and Northern areas

• Fully funded programs jointly financed by IBA and the Government

• IBA’s commitment: No admitted student will be denied an IBA education due to lack of funds!

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SOME PHYSICAL & IT

INFRASTRUCTURE

ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE

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MAIN CAMPUS ACADEMIC BLOCK BEFORE RENOVATION

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RENOVATED MAIN CAMPUS ACADEMIC BLOCK

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NEW CAMPUS RECEPTION

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CLASSROOMS BEFORE RENOVATION

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CLASSROOMS AFTER RENOVATION

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NEW MBA CLASSROOMS

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NEW VIDEO CONFERENCING ROOM

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OLD COMPUTER LABS

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NEW COMPUTER LABS

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NEW STUDENT’S CAFETERIA

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NEW STUDENT’S LOUNGE

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NEW FACULTY LOUNGE

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BOYS HOSTEL BEFORE RENOVATION

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BOYS HOSTEL AFTER RENOVATION

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BOYS HOSTEL AFTER RENOVATION

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RENOVATED BOYS HOSTEL – LOUNGE

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RENOVATED BOYS HOSTEL – COURTYARD

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THANK YOU!