DR. Izhar Profile

It gives me great pleasure to inform you that SZABIST has made tremendous progress over the past 14 years to become one of the leading educational institutions in Pakistan. The journey has been both challenging and exciting for students, faculty and staff. The memorable moments spent at SZABIST will linger deep inside us forever. What is it about SZABIST that is so different? I am sure every one of us can compile one’s own special list of past events and unforgettable moments. I will share a few items from my list, which I compiled in the last six months that stick out more vividly.

On top of the list is the inauguration of cutting-edge ‘R&D’ facilities at SZABIST. Currently the focus is on the areas of stem cells and the design of indigenous high powered wind turbines. Timelines have been defined, milestones have been set and deliverables identified. Does that mean the pressure is on? No. And this is exactly where SZABIST’s R&D model is unique – it imposes no pressure on our researchers, they are involved because they want to be involved and be challenged. Well now they have both. We have reduced the teaching load to provide ample time for original thinking and innovation. Also bearing in mind that today’s ‘hard’ scientific and challenging problems generally cannot be solved by a single discipline and hence SZABIST boasts a vibrant multidisciplinary team of researchers comprising of engineers, computer scientists, medical practitioners, mathematicians and MBAs. In a nutshell we can say that SZABIST is truly poised to make a significant difference in the global scientific community with its aggressive and robust R&D drive.

The second item on my list is ‘Institutional Research’ (IR). IR is rather different from the academic research mentioned earlier. SZABIST is the only education institution in Pakistan implementing its QC/QA under a dedicated IR office. As you know, IR provides the framework to ensure that the institution fulfils its aims and objectives as setout in its founding vision. It uses various instruments to assess qualitatively and quantitatively the ‘health’ of the institution and its social responsibility to the general community. At the same time, IR allows academic freedom to all its employees whilst placing non-intrusive checks & balances to ensure the institution maintains its integrity and fulfils its obligations. This way SZABIST has been able to measure its ‘efficiency’ and hence improve its products and services across its four campuses.

The last item on my list is cleanliness. Health problems, quality of life, pollution, diseases, premature deaths are all symptoms of being unclean. We have started the process of beautification of SZABIST and its neighborhood; launching awareness campaigns; conducting workshops, seminars and conferences. Perhaps the most strategic part of the cleanliness drive will be to ensure its sustainability and the means of measuring the success of the drive.

We all understand the value of education in contemporary society and especially in the interconnected global economy. So we vigorously pursue this and in the process perhaps ignore many other components that provide a balanced and more contented individual. At SZABIST we instill and encourage students, faculty and staff to spend time with family, take part in sports and exercise the mind with recreational activities. This philosophy allows one to be more effective, productive and creative in their professional work. The mantra goes something like this ‘look good, feel good and do good’. With such a holistic view on education, the students at SZABIST have excelled in their respective fields of specialization.

Dr. Izhar Ul Haq
President SZABIST