Oct 25 - 31, 1999
Hamdard University was awarded the charter by the Sindh Assembly in
l99l. As a priority project Hamdard Institute of Management Sciences (HIMS) was started in
May l994. Only four years after its first programs were launched, HIMS is now recognized
as one of the three leading business schools of Pakistan. With a faculty led by Dr. Matin
A. Khan, the most respected pioneer of business education in Pakistan, HIMS is now taking
the concrete shape of the vision of our beloved Hakim Mohammad Said (Shaheed).
Hamdard Institute of Management Sciences (HIMS), a constituent
institution of Hamdard University, is a nationally and internationally accredited
institute. It has now entered into its fifth year with its current enrlment of more than
1200 students. HIMS is offering BBA (Hons.) three Years, BBA Four Years (For the first
time in Pakistan after Matriculation), and MBA morning degree programs at its main campus.
Till now three batches (two batches are from MBA stream and one is through BBA stream)
have been graduated. Education at HIMS has touched all spheres of development —
intellectual, spiritual, emotional, social and cultural. HIMS is involved in grooming its
students as dynamic individuals capable of meeting the challenges of the 21st century.
Education system at HIMS includes project work, research reports, term papers, quizzes,
internships and co-curricular activities. To broaden the scope and knowledge of students
and to strengthen University-lndustry relationships, various seminars and programs
inviting practitioners, learners and scholars from local and multinational companies have
been organized by Hamdard Management Association, HIMS Marketing Society, HIMS PACE, HIMS
Business Research Society, HIMS Computer Society and HIMS Management Society.
HIMS has highly qualified and experienced faculty which comprises of 30
full-time and more than 50 adjunct faculty members. Most of them are qualified from
renowned business schools and universities of the world, like Harvard, Wharton, Cambridge,
McGill, London, Indiana State, California, Southern California, Oregon State and The
Hague.
The Hamdard University Campus, spread over 178 acres, includes a
library with more than a million books, journals, communication network, and a large
stadium. The HIMS campus at Madinat al-Hikmah has air-conditioned modern classrooms, state
of the art computers, communication laboratories and a large library in picturesque
setting.
Hamdard University, City Campus was established in 1997. This campus
was specifically established to cater the growing needs of professionals, managers and
executives. While offering courses in other areas also, the City Campus is offering BS
(Honors) in Business Informatics, BS in Finance & Accounts (for ICAP students
completed Foundation Courses), MBA (Evening) and MBA (Executive) degree programs with the
specialization offered in the areas of Management, Marketing, Finance, MIS, Hospital
Management, Banking, Operations & Quality Management and Quantitative Methods. HIMS MS
(particularly in Business Informatics), M.Phil. and Doctoral Programs are providing
opportunity to professionals and academicians to excel in the field of research. The
present strength of students at City Campus is about 800.
Hamdard University at this critical juncture is setting a trend of
rendering educational services to all, irrespective of caste, color or creed. Yesterday's
dream is becoming reality today. The world marching towards the unknown will have Hamdard
graduates all equipped, all collated and all prepared to confront the challenges and
crisis of the future. Hamdard University city campus is built with a view to train
generations of employed and working persons in disciplines that will help them advance
their career in business, information and technology. Accordingly, Hamdard University is
preparing a breed of expertise to rejuvenate and channelize the system which are fast
deteriorating. We even inculcate creative abilities in students and enable them to carve a
niche for themselves in the future world of business.
The Hamdard University Center of Excellence for Training and
Development (CEATD) has established one year before and making rapid progress under the
dynamic leadership and vision of Prof. Col. (R) M. Wali Khan Durrani and Prof. Dr. Ahsanul
Hasan Khan. This Center of Excellence has been organizing different workshops and seminars
on the burning issues of national and international importance, for the development of
professionals, managers and executives in the field of Marketing, Management, Finance, IT
and Banking. Some of them are Stuck Up Loans; Sales Tax Management; Role of Current
Competitive Environment in Pakistan; Oracle Certification Program; Awareness of IT and MS
Access/VB; Time Management; Effective Supervision by the SBP and New Role of Audit in
Banks & Financial Institutions; Series of 6 One-day interactive IT Seminars; Banking
Conference in Islamabad and currently organizing Series of interactive Marketing Seminars
and a short term course on Linux. To develop highly technical professionals in the field
of Computer Technology, the center is very soon going to start One-year diploma in
Computer Technology.
1: Overvlew of the present business education system
Business education in Pakistan is a sub-system of the overall system of
education. It effects and gets effected by the irmumerable variables which are directly or
indirectly associated with it. Business Administration is a specialized area, which is
gaining its importance day lay day. Consumers' preferences are rapidly changing and their
increasing quality consciousness is leading demand of high quality goods and services.
This change of preferences needs highly educated executives, managers,
workforce and professionals capable to cope with the rapidly changing business
environments. This has lead to the development of more and more institutions offering
business education. The present business system is characterized by many institutions
offering business education in both the public and private sectors. There are many
institutions, which claim to be affiliated with the foreign universities.
2: A constant increase in the number of business schools
justification for the supply-demand factor
Although there has been a mushroom growth of business schools in the
country, but still the number of business schools offering quality education is not
sufficient. We, as a country, are not only under-developed but also under-managed. The
need for well-qualified managers, professionals and executives will continue to rise, as
mismanagement, at its height, is what we generally find in the organizations.
As a matter of fact that a rapid rise in the number of business schools
has led to a severe competition among the business graduates. It is good since it will
lead to the recruitment and selection of highly competitive individuals who are bright
intelligent problem solvers and innovators.
3: The government's policy on business education,
recognition/registration of the institutes and other problems
The government is encouraging the private sector to take part in the
promotion of business education in Pakistan, which is obvious from the govemment's policy
of granting chaster to different institutions.
The government grants the chaffer to only those institutions, which
fulfil all academic and physical requirements as per the rules, regulations and the law.
Sometimes institutes do not fulfil those requirements and that is why they are not
registered. The government conducts a thorough inspection before granting the recognition.
The govemment's recognition thus provides a feeling of trust and credibility to the
students applying for admission to that institute.
4: The role of University Grants Commission
University Grants Commission (UGC), is the only body in the country
with the responsibility to ensure quality education. UGC supervises the overall
functioning and the grant of funds to all the public sector universities in Pakistan.
There are many regional offices of UGC all over the country There are many inspection
teams of the UGC, which inspect the institutes, and then give them the letter of
recommendation or vice versa.
The role of UGC has to be enhanced with more coordinating activities in
all the universities of Pakistan so that over national objectives may be achieved.
5: Common platform for the private institutions
This is a fact that there has been no such platform till now. But with
the increasing number of private business schools the need of such a forum continues to
grow. Such a forum will be highly beneficial for the private institutions in pooling their
resources and being benefited from mutual cooperation.
6: Campuses of foreign universities in Pakistan
There are many universities, which claim to have an affiliation with
the foreign universities. But majority of them does not have the required facilities
available.
7: How to distinguish genuine institutions from money making
organizations
Genuine institutions have a long term planning and justify their
existence in terms of their contribution to the human resources requirement of the country
in a very positive manner They have a complete set-up of all activities related to
academic administration right from the admission till the student leaves the institute.
They provide comprehensive education, tailor made to the requirements of the society.
8: Business curriculum and the national needs
As a matter of fact the curriculum of most of the institutes is not in
accordance with the national needs. It is a very big responsibility of the renowned
scholars and academicians to restructure the business cuniculum in our country. The UGC
must come forward and provide a proper policy on the issue.
Hamdard University has taken this initiative and has started
tailor-made courses. For example, Business System in Pakistan has been designed and being
taught. The course of Entrepreneurship has been completely modified according to local,
regional and national requirements and the students of Business Administration are
prepared to run their own small level businesses to apply acquired knowledge to practical
situations. Business Ethics is given maximum weight, stress and priority while designing
and delivering courses.
9: Outlook of business education in Pakistan
Apparently the business education area seems to be saturated but in
fact the need of good quality managers and individuals will continue to increase so the
need for more business schools will increase. More and more capable individuals are needed
to face the challenges of the business in the years to come. Efforts should be made to
cater for rural areas too. Also at primary secondary and intermediate levels the
disciplines of business and management should be introduced.
