The National Outreach Programme (NOP) searches for the country’s top talent and facilitates it to qualify for admission into LUMS while providing full financial support including tuition, board and lodging expenses, as well as living and book allowances to ensure that talented students are not denied a world-class education just because of financial circumstances. Many prestigious organisations have come forward to contribute to this great initiative, which has produced a range of ripple effects that have contributed to a more equitable higher education landscape within Pakistan.
Faysal Bank Limited has also come forward in support of the NOP. The top leadership of the Bank presented a donation cheque in support of the Programme at a meeting arranged by the Office of Advancement at LUMS. Faysal Bank leadership, Mr. Yousaf Hussain, President accompanied by Mr. Tariq Yaqoob Bhatti, Head Retail Banking and Mr. Saqib Mahmood, Head of Distribution Retail Banking, met the LUMS team which was led by Mr. Shahid Hussain, Member Management Committee and Board of Trustees, LUMS. Representatives from LUMS included Dr. Shahid Masud, Dean, Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering (SBASSE) and Acting Vice Chancellor; Dr. Saad Azmat, Associate Professor, Suleman Dawood School of Business (SDSB); Dr. Naiman Jalil, Director Undergraduate Programmes, SDSB; Syed Aoun Raza Zaidi, Associate Dean Undergraduate Programmes, SDSB; Ms. Nabiha Shahnawaz, Chief Operating Officer; Ms. Nuzhat Kamran, Director, Office of Advancement, and Mr. Zunair Zafar, Chief Financial Officer.
Mr. Shahid Hussain gave the guests a detailed view of recent achievements and future plans of the University. Mr. Yousaf Hussain appreciated the upward strides that his alma mater had made in the past few years and lauded the commitment of the dedicated leadership of the University, which has made LUMS one of the premier higher education institutions in the region. He stressed on the need of communicating the achievements of LUMS within business and academic circles of Karachi in a more elaborate way and advised a strong focus on the efforts of establishing linkages with alumni and corporates in Karachi. He also gave practical suggestions to enhance engagement with LUMS alumni and corporate leaders in Karachi.
Dr. Naiman Jalil, explained the experiential learning aspect recently inculcated in the MBA programme at LUMS and explained how the concept of industry analysis, entrepreneurship and design thinking prepares the students in resolving the problems that they may encounter in real lives. SDSB faculty also explained how senior industry leaders and prominent alumni are invited at SDSB to mentor graduate and undergraduate level students.
Dr. Shahid Masud gave the guests a brief overview of the Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering at LUMS and explained research studies undertaken in various centres including the Centre for Water Informatics and Technology, Big Data Centre and the recently established Energy Centre. Significant achievements of the School’s faculty and students were also a part of the discussion. Dr. Masud also shared that LUMS faculty has recently won the highly competitive 'Facebook Integrity Foundational Research Award.' Mr. Hussain appreciated the research initiatives of the University and advised to engage progressive corporates with research outcomes.
The visitors were given a detailed tour of the National Incubation Centre (NIC) and the Biology Department. NIC staff briefed the guests about the history, induction process and functioning of the Centre. The guests visited the plug-N-play area where they met a few students from a recent cohort and discussed in detail the ideas and projects they are working on.
Dr. Aziz Mithani, Chair, Department of the Biology gave the guests a detailed tour of the various research labs and facilities at the Department and briefed the visitors about breakthrough researches and ongoing projects undertaken by faculty and students. The guests were also given an overview of the state-of-the-art research equipment, which facilitates faculty and students in producing cutting edge high-impact research.
