The Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) hosted a grand event on Sunday, October 22, 2017, at Movenpick Hotel, Karachi to introduce the academic programmes offered at the University to prospective students, their parents, counsellors and faculty from various schools and colleges. This second, grand day-long event in a series of LUMS Open Days 2017 was full of information and activities where LUMS faculty, staff and alumni were available to answer all queries from potential applicants.
The day-long information sessions, that ran simultaneously, for the wide range of programmes offered at LUMS provided the audience an excellent opportunity to know what LUMS is all about. While addressing a session, Dr. Shahid Masud, Dean, Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering said, “LUMS provides the best on-ground research active opportunities in Pakistan. Our multifaceted 21st century curriculum provides students adequate breadth and depth in their education, and positions them to pursue rapidly evolving areas that interface with other disciplines. LUMS graduates are much sought after by leading academic institutions as well as world renowned organisations. Every year our graduates are accepted in MS and PhD programmes on full-scholarships in top-tier international universities while others are recruited by well-reputed corporations in Pakistan and abroad.”
Representatives from the Admissions Office, Financial Aid Office and Marketing and Communications were available to answer all related questions. Prospective students glanced through the programme specific publications shared with them on the spot and asked relevant information regarding their areas of interest. The highlight of the day was the one-on-one career counselling provided by the Deans, the faculty and the admission office representatives to the prospective students who wished to know about the specific programmes that were of interest to them. The whole day served as a great opportunity for the guests to network with the faculty and the alumni to get a real feel about the University; the academic as well as the extra-curricular opportunities available. "I believe that prospective students should give LUMS a serious thought becasuce it is the best option for students in Pakistan and give a lot of attention to preparing their application materail for a successful review of their applications," said LUMS almnus Alhani Khwaja, to the prospective students as he actively engaged with them.
Alumnus Irfan Ahmed Khan, MBA Class of '98 and currently CEO Nova Care said, "I reiterated the fact to the MBA prospective students in the session that you need not worry about the financial aspects of studying at LUMS. First and foremost, make sure you get admitted to LUMS. Finances are secondary and LUMS takes care of these for the brighter students."
The sessions for the graduate and post graduate programmes at LUMS were scheduled during the first half of the day. These included presentations on MS, PhD and MBA programmes. Meanwhile, the second half covered sessions for undergraduate programmes and one on MPhil in Education Leadership and Management by Dr. Mariam Chughtai, Associate Director, LUMS School of Education. Each session concluded with a question-answer round, where students were able to get comprehensive answers to their queries by the LUMS faculty, staff and notable alumni.
Qiyam Zia, a prospective student who attended the undergraduate session was very hopeful. He said, "What I have learnt today is that LUMS values students with good academics and merit is all that matters at LUMS and one can get scholarships as well as financial suppport at the University. I plan to apply this year and will give it my best shot."
Notable alumni for each programme were engaged to share their experiences about life at LUMS and how a LUMS degree helped shape their careers. Prominent alumni included Alhani Khawaja, Director, Intertrade Distributors Pvt. Ltd., Abbas Sajjad, Head of Marketing Sales and Investor Services at Atlas Asset Management Ltd.; Jawad Amjad, Chief Executive Officer, Optimus Capital and Ayesha Karamat, Faculty Member at IBA among others.“The event was very well organised and the fact that high powered faculty and people showed up is very encouraging and it will go a long way in establishing LUMS as the leading brand of MBA in Pakistan," commented LUMS alumnus Alhani Khawaja.