The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi, Aga Khan University (AKU) and Habib University (HU) have agreed to work together on artificial intelligence in teaching and learning. The three institutions co-hosted the Annual Teaching and Learning Symposium 2026 at IBA’s Main Campus.
Titled “AI in Pedagogy”, the event drew academic leaders, educators, researchers and teaching professionals from Karachi, other parts of Pakistan and abroad. Participants examined what AI offers higher education and the difficulties it creates.
Speeches and leadership panel at the symposium
In her welcome remarks, Dr Sana Tauseef, Director of the IBA Karachi Office of Academic Quality and Excellence and Conference Chair, stressed that institutions must cooperate to address AI’s effect on education. She also thanked the leaders of all three universities.
AKU Institute for Educational Development Dean Dr Farid Panjwani called the event an important milestone for teaching, achieved through shared effort. A leadership panel, moderated by IBA Karachi Executive Director Dr S Akbar Zaidi, asked what universities should stop, start and continue doing in the AI era. Its members included AKU President Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin, Habib University President Wasif Rizvi, Durbeen CEO Salma Aslam and Beaconhouse National University Vice Chancellor Dr Moeed W Yusuf.
Memorandum signed and keynote on critical thinking
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between IBA Karachi, AKU and HU was a key highlight. The document reaffirmed the three institutions’ commitment to joint academic work and new approaches to teaching and learning.
The keynote was delivered by Professor Dr Fazilat Siddiq of the University of Oslo, Norway. She focused on critical thinking, learner agency, and technological, pedagogical and content knowledge in higher education.
Showcases and closing remarks
The programme also included interactive sessions, an EdTech Innovation Showcase, Visual Voices and a student performance. An awards ceremony followed.
Closing remarks were given by Dr Jane Rarieya, AKU Quality, Teaching and Learning Vice Provost, and Dr Mohammad Shahid Shaikh, HU Vice President for Academic Affairs. Both reaffirmed the importance of academic collaboration in advancing higher education.
