Development & Growth of SZABIST University

(Sameer Ali Domki, SZABIST University, Karachi)

Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology is a fully Chartered Institute established through a Legislative Act of Sindh Assembly (Sindh Act No. XI of 1995) and is approved and recognized by Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, as a degree awarding institution. SZABIST has campuses in Karachi, Islamabad, Hyderabad, Larkana and Dubai (UAE) and JSTC in Nawabshah. SZABIST is a registered member of the International Association of Universities (IAU), Paris; Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), London; Association to Advance Collegiate School of Business (AACSB), Singapore; Federation of the Universities of Islamic World (FUIW), Rabat; Asia University Federation (AUF), Seoul; Asia – Pacific Quality Network (APQN), China; and Management Association of Pakistan, Karachi.

Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology is a private research university and its main campus, is located in the residential town of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Founded in 1995 with an efforts led by its founder Benazir Bhutto, the university is honored and named in the remembrance of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Financial endowment and research funding are coordinated by the leadership of the PPP. The university offers undergraduate, post-graduate and doctoral studies in various academic programmes. It is the member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities of the United Kingdom as well as the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and among other international education associations. It is regarded as one of the notable private research institution of higher learning in the country and ranked among top-ten institution by the HEC, as of 2013.

In addition, its business management programme is notably listed in top ranking by the Business Week and ranked among noticeable science institution by the CNN & Time and Asiaweek. The university is identified as a major and one of the largest private universities in the country as an area-wise by the HEC.

Business Week, the leading international business magazine, has listed SZABIST among the best business schools of the world for six years (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 &. 2008).
Asia Inc, a leading Asian Magazine, has ranked SZABIST among the top MBA Schools of South Asia in its Asia's Best MBA Schools Survey for two consecutive years (2003, 2004). SZABIST is one of the top 15 business schools from South Asia ranked in Asia Inc.
SZABIST is also ranked among the best Science and Technology and MBA schools in Asia by the CNN-Time publication, Asiaweek. SZABIST is also listed in the CNN Executive Education Schools, 2009. SZABIST, thus, has the unparalleled honor of being the only Pakistani Institute to be recognized internationally by Business Week, Asiaweek, Asia Inc. and CNN.
SZABIST has signed articulation agreement with the University of Wales, UK. SZABIST has also signed MoUs with the State University of New York, USA; University of London, UK; Universal Academic Management Organization, UAE; EMC Computer Systems Austria GmbH, and the Asian Academy of Film &. Television, India.
SZABIST today is identified as a major university comprising of five campuses (including one foreign campus) Four ZABTech (iTVE) Units and four intermediate colleges. Over 7000 degrees have been awarded by SZABIST to date.

Slogan
“Learn to live with modern Technology”

Vision
To build a sustainable future for the youth through skill development thereby significantly improving their quality and standard of living.

Mission
To enhance global competitiveness, through a quality and productive workforce by developing demand driven, standardized, dynamic and integrated technical education and vocational training service.

The prime aim is to provide technically trained human resources to the Industry in the province, as per their demand. This will ultimately lead bridge the Skill Gap which will lead to a quantum jump in the exports of the country, by value addition and responding to technological shift in the manufacturing & facing the challenges of Globalization.
Objectives
• To create a growing force of skilled workers through technical & vocational education with a positive mind-set and a strong work ethics.
• Promote and provide demand driven technical education & vocational training.
• Develop & regulate centralized online examination & Certification System to ensure uniformity of Education & Training Standards.
• Enhance the participation of World of Work in training activities and support OJT (On Job Training) to trained trainees.
• Develop a dynamic technical and vocational training system to ensure horizontal and vertical mobility.
• Establish close relationship with various sectors of economy namely industry, Services and Commerce.
• Motivate the local entrepreneurs to patronize the training programs of ZABTech (iTVE) institutions and provide on-the-job training facilities and employment to the graduates.
• Set up regular Monitoring/Evaluation & Feedback system for the vocational training and teaching education to respond efficiency to the existing and changing demand of the market.
• To help place trained youth in local and regional organizations, which in addition to enhancing their earning capacity, will also generate foreign currency remittances for Pakistan.
• Establish a staff development system to offer demand oriented teacher & instructor training and upgrading performance. (Competency Based Training).
• Organize and conduct seminars & workshops for various types of personnel associated with vocational training and technical education.
• Establish Data Banks for skilled workers and technicians.

HEC ranking
SZABIST is ranked amongst top three universities for 2014 in Business and Information Technology by the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

Global recognition
SZABIST is the only Pakistani Institute to have been recognized internationally by BusinessWeek, Asiaweek, Asia Inc. and CNN.
• BusinessWeek, the leading international business magazine, has listed SZABIST among the best business schools of the world for six years (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 &. 2008).
• Asia Inc, a leading Asian Magazine, has ranked SZABIST among the top MBA Schools of South Asia in its Asia's Best MBA Schools Survey for two consecutive years (2003, 2004).
• SZABIST was also ranked among the best Science and Technology and MBA schools in Asia by the CNN-Time publication, Asiaweek.
• SZABIST is also listed in the CNN Executive Education Schools, 2009.
Academics
The school offers programs in management sciences, computer sciences, media sciences, law, economics and social sciences. Some of the programs offered are external programs offered in collaboration with universities in the UK. Following is a list of offered degrees:
• Management Sciences: Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science (MS) in Management Sciences and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Management Sciences.
• Computer Sciences: Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Sciences, Master of Science (MS) in Computer Sciences, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Computer Sciences.
• BE Mechatronics Engineering: Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Mechatronics Engineering
• Social Sciences: Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Media Studies, Bachelor of Sciences (BS) in Social Sciences and Economics, Master of Science (MS) in Social Sciences & Economics and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Sciences & Economics.
• Media Sciences: Bachelor of Science (BS) is offered in Media Sciences with majors in Production and Advertising.
• External programs: Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology offers external programs in Law (LLB) and Economics and Development (BSc) in collaboration with the University of London.
• Intermediate program: SZABIST offers Intermediate at SZABIST Intermediate Larkana in affiliation with BISE Larkana.

Research & Development
SZABIST comprises a host of research centers that provide practical and sustainable solutions to the issues of a developing country such as Pakistan.
Stem Cell Research Centre (SCRC) Stem Cells and related fields are said to become a force to reckon in the future especially as far as bio-medicine and technology are concerned. This kind of research will enable the programming of cells towards specific organs that can breathe new life into damaged tissues of the body. Thus, SCRC hopes to establish laboratories that focus on the tissue culture of human tissues/cells, with particular focus on cancer.

Centre for Renewable Energy Research (CRER) A need for a renewable energy is imperative now more than ever. In a country like Pakistan, where the energy crisis remains unabated, a renewable energy source would prove to be highly beneficial. Therefore, the CRER is geared towards creating energy from natural sources such as sun, wind, water, geothermal, and biomass resources.

Sustainable Development Research Centre (SDRC) has been developed for research on a variety of policy initiatives for the promotion of renewable energy in the country along with generating awareness about the same.

Scholarship programs
SZABIST provides a wide range of financial assistance to meritorious and needy students. The Scholarships available at SZABIST are financed through SZABIST'’s own resources, as well as, those funded by donor agencies. For instance;
• SZABIST Need-Based
• SZABIST Merit-Based
• Sindh Endowment Fund
• Balochistan Endowment Fund
• HEC-USAID Need and Merit-Based
• National Information and Communication Technology
• Ihsan Trust Qarz-e-Hasna Facility
• Various Community / Sponsored Scholarships

All scholarships cover full or partial tuition fee, however, in some cases scholarships also cover books, boarding, transportation, monthly stipend and admission fee. A fair and transparent process is adopted to select the students for these scholarships. The process entails shortlisting of candidates on the basis of objective criteria, followed by a panel interview to assess the candidates’ financial eligibility. In case of scholarships funded by external donor agencies, the selection process also includes physical verification of student’s information prior to award of the scholarship. Students are eligible to apply for financial assistance after admission.

Faculty & Staff
SZABIST has highly qualified faculty and staff that are facilitating students with the high international standard and quality education.

Alumni
Executive Development Center (EDC) at SZABIST facilitates students in the completion of their degree requirements, personal grooming, job placements and keeping in touch with the Alumni for relation building, corporate networking & profile update. In collaboration with the industry, EDC arranges on-campus recruitment drives and management trainee programs at reputable local and multinational companies. Annual job fair is also held at campus where leading companies are invited to discuss their recruitment policies and criteria, current and future vacancies, exploiting the opportunities to interact directly with the students. To bridge the gap between classroom and work situation, SZABIST has instituted a mandatory internship program.

Sameer Ali Domki
About the Author: Sameer Ali Domki Read More Articles by Sameer Ali Domki: 11 Articles with 11031 views IT Professional.. View More