IBA Karachi hosts symposium on AI in education
The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi, in collaboration with Aga Khan University (AKU) and Habib University (HU), hosted the Annual Teaching and Learning Symposium 2026 at its main campus under the theme “AI in Pedagogy,” bringing together academic leaders, educators and researchers to discuss the opportunities and challenges artificial intelligence presents for higher education.
In her welcome remarks, Dr Sana Tauseef, conference chair and director of IBA Karachi’s Office of Academic Quality and Excellence, emphasised the importance of institutional collaboration in addressing AI’s impact on education and acknowledged the leadership of the three universities.
Dr Farid Panjwani, dean of AKU’s Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED), described the symposium as a significant milestone in advancing teaching and learning through collective efforts.
A leadership panel titled “Teaching for Today and Tomorrow: What Should Universities Stop, Start, and Continue in the AI Era” was moderated by IBA Karachi Executive Director Dr S Akbar Zaidi.
The panel featured Aga Khan University President Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin, Habib University President Wasif Rizvi, Durbeen CEO Salma Aslam and Beaconhouse National University Vice Chancellor Dr Moeed W Yusuf.
A key highlight of the symposium was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between IBA Karachi, AKU and Habib University to reaffirm their commitment to academic collaboration and innovation in teaching and learning.
The keynote address, titled “Critical Thinking and Agency in the Age of AI: Time to Re-think Higher Education?”, was delivered by Dr Fazilat Siddiq, professor at the University of Oslo, Norway. She highlighted the importance of critical thinking, learner agency, and technological, pedagogical and content knowledge in higher education.
The symposium also featured interactive sessions, an EdTech Innovation Showcase, Visual Voices and a student performance.
It concluded with an awards ceremony and closing remarks by Dr Jane Rarieya, vice provost for quality, teaching and learning at AKU, and Dr Mohammad Shahid Shaikh, vice president for academic affairs at Habib University. Both reaffirmed the importance of academic collaboration in advancing higher education.