Special editorial feature 
 

Special Editorial
Feature

School of Business Studies (SBS)

IBA’s Legacy of Leadership in Business Education

IBA stays ahead of the curve and sets the tone when it comes to business education in Pakistan.

By Dr. Abdullah Zafar Sheikh | August 2025


In an era of rapid technological advancement, global interconnectivity, and complex societal challenges, business education must evolve to prepare future leaders to succeed and create a sustainable, positive impact. At IBA Karachi’s School of Business Studies (SBS), we embrace this imperative by redefining how business knowledge is taught, researched, and anchored firmly in ethical leadership, innovation, and real-world relevance.

Founded in 1955, IBA Karachi has been a cornerstone of quality business education in Pakistan and the region. The formation of SBS in 2021 was a strategic evolution to unify core business disciplines - Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing, and Law into a cohesive, multidisciplinary school. This structure facilitates synergy in teaching and research and fosters holistic business acumen.

Our faculty members have PhDs from leading universities around the world. Our faculty members are not only educators but active researchers and consultants whose work influences policy, corporate governance, and entrepreneurship locally and internationally. Their diverse expertise ensures our curriculum remains cutting-edge, incorporating emerging trends such as fintech, behavioral economics, and sustainability. Attracting and retaining world-class faculty members is our top priority. We have also started hiring international faculty, and in the future, we aim to induct more international faculty with outstanding credentials.

AACSB Accreditation: A Milestone of Global Standards
A hallmark of our recent progress is the prestigious AACSB accreditation, which places SBS among an elite global network of business schools recognized for excellence in education, research, and impact. This achievement underscores our commitment to quality and continuous improvement. It also reinforces our focus on developing graduates who possess analytical rigor, ethical grounding, and leadership capabilities sought by industry worldwide. AACSB accreditation has strengthened our resolve. We now aim to go for the Triple Crown (AACSB, EQUIS & AMBA) and seal IBA’s top position in Pakistan as the leading premier business school.

Industry-Academia Linkages and Experiential Learning
At SBS, theory and practice go together. Our strong ties with Pakistan’s vibrant business ecosystem enable students to engage directly with real-world challenges through internships, consultancy projects, and case competitions. These industry collaborations foster experiential learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills that prepare students to navigate dynamic business environments confidently.
Our partnerships extend beyond Pakistan, encompassing multinational corporations, government agencies, and international organizations. We continuously bridge the gap between academia and practice through guest lectures, joint research, and executive education programs.

Research-Driven Insights for Policy and Business Strategy
Research at SBS is purpose-driven and multifaceted. Faculty are actively involved in applied projects spanning Islamic Finance, consumer neuroscience, entrepreneurial behavior, and financial technology. Our research informs policymakers and business leaders, driving innovation and sustainable growth in Pakistan’s evolving economy.

Moreover, SBS hosts centers such as the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Ed-Transformation (IBA-CILET) that nurture startups, support women entrepreneurs, and promote digital transformation. We contribute directly to economic development and social progress by fostering knowledge creation and dissemination. SBS also hosts the Center for Entrepreneurial Development (IBA-CED), a nationally recognized center of excellence.


Fostering an Entrepreneurial Mindset and Leadership
Recognizing entrepreneurship as a catalyst for economic dynamism, CED integrates leadership development and entrepreneurial training across programs. Our students learn to identify opportunities, manage risk, and build sustainable ventures. We cultivate resilience, creativity, and ethical decision-making, the hallmarks of responsible leadership. Beyond technical skills, we emphasize social responsibility and sustainability, encouraging students to consider the broader impacts of business decisions on communities and the environment. Another center of excellence SBS hosts is the Center for Excellence in Islamic Finance (CEIF). IBA-CEIF offers a platform for discovering, enhancing, and disseminating knowledge in Islamic Finance. It aims to be a world-class center that, through education and research, carries on IBA’s legacy of thought leadership in the Islamic Finance industry.

Navigating a Rapidly Changing Business Landscape
The future of business education demands agility and foresight. SBS is committed to continuously evolving its curriculum and pedagogy to meet emerging challenges from digital disruption and climate change to shifting geopolitical realities.

Our students learn to identify opportunities, manage risk, and build sustainable ventures. We cultivate resilience, creativity, and ethical decision-making, the hallmarks of responsible leadership.

Strategically aligned with IBA’s Vision, we aim to enhance faculty development, expand international collaborations, and deepen our engagement with industry and alumni networks. We are exploring new interdisciplinary programs and advanced research initiatives that address the complexities of the modern business world.

Our ambition is not just to respond to change but to lead it. SBS is a very student-centric school. We aim to empower our students to be innovative thinkers and become transformative leaders who contribute meaningfully to Pakistan and beyond.

Internationalization
Capitalizing on AACSB accreditation, we aim to build a stronger international network and footprint. This entails partnering with elite business schools globally. We believe SBS should be known by the stature of its global partners. Partnership modality may include launching global tracks such as the GLOBAL MBA/BBA. We strive hard to provide our students with international exposure and global perspectives. We also need to facilitate our students going abroad to pursue graduate education by securing prestigious fellowships, such as Fulbright, etc. – this entails providing Graduate School Advisory to aspirants. We also aim to identify faculty from prestigious universities during international visits. We need to ensure that our faculty can interact with faculty at top universities abroad by building academic linkages for faculty exchanges and curriculum internationalization. Our Executive MBA program has been switched to the block teaching modality – this will allow us to fly in leading faculty from around the globe. We envision our EMBA program to become a trendsetter regionally. We have recently set up a new office called “Accreditation & Internationalization Office,” which is tasked with looking after the internationalization efforts of SBS, potentially involving student exchange, faculty exchange, research collaborations, etc. Mahmood Nanji also be a focal point for submitting grant proposals to prestigious global bodies such as Erasmus.

Conclusion
As Dean, I am proud of the progress SBS has made and excited by the opportunities ahead. Our collective efforts of faculty, students, alumni, and partners are shaping a business school that is responsive, relevant, and responsible. Owing to our profound legacy and footprint, we constantly endeavor to stay ahead of the curve and set the tone when it comes to business education in Pakistan.

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