Institute of Business Administration, Karachi


The Institute of Business Administration , Karachi; is an independent university in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Founded in 1955, it is one of the oldest business school outside North America.
IBA was established as a business school in 1955 by Pakistani government with the technical support from the Wharton School and the University of Southern California. Several prominent American professors were assigned to the IBA to develop its curriculum. It remained a constituent school within the University of Karachi until, in 1994, when its status was elevated to an independent chartered university by the Sindh Government. Since 2003, IBA has expanded from a purely graduate business school to an interdisciplinary university with undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate programs.
IBA, today, is one of Pakistan's selective and highest-ranked institutes particularly known for its business program. It is one of the two Pakistani business schools to be awarded the coveted certification by the South Asian Quality System. IBA today has 2 campuses in Karachi, with a student body of over 6,000 students. IBA has collaborations with 15 institutions worldwide, which include Babson College, Indian School of Business, S. P. Jain Institute and the Northwestern University. It counts several prominent public figures and business leaders among its alumni, including the former Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain,renowned Pakistani actor Sheheryar Munawwar, former Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, renowned economist Mohammad Uzair, former Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue, and Economic Affairs Asad Umer and business leader Quentin D'Silva.

History & Timeline

History

It was in 1955 the Institute of Public and Business Administration was established, making it the oldest business school outside North America. Initial technical support was provided by the world famous Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania. Soon after the University of Southern California set up various facilities at the Institute and several prominent American professors were assigned to the IBA. The course contents, the curriculum, the pedagogical tools and the assessment and testing methods were developed under the guidance of reputed scholars from these two institutions. IBA has zealously guarded the high standards and academic traditions it had inherited from Wharton and USC while adapting and adjusting them with the passage of time.
In 1956 a two-year MBA morning program commenced as a constituent unit of the University of Karachi. Faculty was hired in the department of Public and Business Administration, in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania and assisted by United States International Corporation Administration, now USAID. In 1957, a two-year MBA evening program was launched to cater to the needs of numerous working executives and managers who were interested in furthering their careers through part-time business studies.
It was in 1965 the faculty of IBA, Dhaka University and Kelley School of Business jointly developed the two-year MBA program for former East Pakistan. The first computer course, Electronic Data Processing was offered in 1966.
After the complete construction of the institute's two campuses, morning and evening classes commenced at the main campus in 1965, and at the city campus in 1967. In 1968 a two-year BBA program was introduced, followed by the launch of a three-year BBA program in 1982, which has now been upgraded to a four-year BBA program.
The Faculty of Computer Science was originally established as the Center for Computer Studies in 1983 with the collaboration of IBM, Pakistan. It initially offered a PGD in System Analysis along with a two-year MBA program to overcome a shortage of software professionals in the country. It now offers BS, MS, and PhD programs. It was in 1989 the PGD program was upgraded to a two-year MBA program.
At the start of a new decade, a two-year MBA program was launched in collaboration with ANZ-Grindlays Bank. In 1993, two programs, a two-year MBA Executive and a three-year BBA Executive were started at the city campus.
Till 1994, the University of Karachi awarded degrees to the graduates. In that year, the Sindh Assembly elevated the institute's status to that of a degree-awarding institution.
In 1997, a three-year BBA honors program was announced to cater to the increasing role of information technology in business. The MIS program was renamed to Management Information System and Sciences program in recognition of the fact that it covers both Information Systems and Computer Sciences.
The PGD evening program was offered to part-time students in 1998. In the same year, a three-year Bachelors in Computer Science honors program was announced, along with a three-year BBA program, and a three-year BS program.
At the start of the 21st century, in 2002, all undergraduate programs were upgraded to four-year degree programs. In the same year, was established.
In 2004 the was launched.
In 2005 PhD's in CSE, MIS and ICT were offered.
In 2008, a two-year MS in Computer Science, Information technology and Software Engineering were offered along with a BS in Software Engineering and Information Technology. In the same year the four-year BCS degree title was renamed to BS Computer Science.
In 2009, IBA introduced its first weekend of 2.5 years, focusing on the needs of the mid-career professionals, serving in the Corporate Sector, Banks and Government departments. The curriculum, methodology and course material have been developed in consultation with industry experts and lead resource persons. The Center for Computer Studies was renamed to Center for CS and MIS. In the same year, two MoU's were signed: a 10-year MoU was signed with Babson College, USA for setting up the ; and another with the CFA Institute.
The Center for CS and MIS was renamed to Faculty of Computer Science in 2010. M.S. program was introduced, along with the Dean's List and Best Final Year Project awards. The use of Enterprise Resource Planning was also implemented in the same year.
The MBA curriculum was revamped in 2011, with the new program of study requiring a minimum of two years of relevant work experience. PhD was launched in the course of that year. The IBA was awarded South Asia Quality Assurance Systems accreditation by AMDISA. The Departments of Mathematical Sciences, and Social Sciences and Liberal Arts were established marking the institute to be more than a business school. During the same year, the IBA received membership of the European Foundation for Management Development.
In 2012 the Learning Management System was put into effect. A number of undergrad, grad post grad programs were launched, including a four-year BS Economics and Mathematics program, MS Mathematics, PhD Mathematics and MS programs leading to PhD. The Institute signed MoUs with the University of Malaya; the Indian School of Business, to promote executive education in Pakistan; and with the SP Jain Institute of Management and Research.
The IBA was registered as an education provider of the Project Management Institute, USA. It was in 2012 the institute's alumni crossed the 10,000 graduates mark.
The Institute offered four-year undergraduate programs in the , and in the . To facilitate student and faculty exchanges along with research collaborations, the was established. The Social Sciences and Liberal Arts Department set up the for students to explore creative avenues through prose. MoU's for the BS Accounting and Finance Program were signed with the and the .
In 2014 was established through an agreement between the IBA and the US State department. CEJ is a collaboration between the , the IBA Karachi and the . In the same year, PhD in was offered. Two more MoUs were signed for the BS Accounting and Finance Program with the , and the .
The was established in 2015 at the Aman Tower, city campus with the objective of providing a platform for discovery, enhancement and dissemination of knowledge in the field of Islamic Finance. It aims to be a world class Centre which, through education and research, carries on IBA's legacy of thought leadership in the Islamic Finance industry. PGD in Supply Chain Management, Human Resource Management and Healthcare Management was also introduced during the year.
In 2016 an MoU was signed with the for cooperation with the IBA-CEIF followed by the launch of a two-year MS in Islamic Banking and Finance program offered by the Center in 2017.
2018 saw a one-of-its-kind portal introduced by the institute, the which was conceived and designed in-house by the ICT department in collaboration with the and the . This portal enables alumni and students to create their profiles and find jobs/internships, while employers can post vacancies and search profiles for hiring purposes. The job portal will be the most effective tool in streamlining the placement procedure and building a network of students, alumni and employers.
The CEJ-IBA introduced the MS Journalism program in 2018. The same year saw the launch of BS Economics, along with an approval of the MS Management program by the Higher Education Commission.
In 2019 MS Management program was launched and its first batch was inducted. The same year also saw the establishment of a neuromarketing lab at the main campus.

Timeline

2019

PhD in CSE, MIS and ICT was offered

2004

The National Talent Hunt program was launched to facilitate talented and needy students from all over Pakistan.

2002

The IBA became independent from KU after it received a charter, declaring it to be a fully autonomous, degree awarding institution

1993

A two-year MBA program was introduced in collaboration with ANZ-Grindlays Bank

1989

PGD program was upgraded to 2-year MBA program

1987

The IBA laid down the foundation for the Centre of Excellence with the help of USAID

1983

A three-year BBA program was launched

1968

A two-year BBA program was introduced

1967

Construction of both the campuses was completed; morning and evening classes commenced at the main campus in 1965, and at the city campus in 1967

1966

First computer course, Electronic Data Processing, was offered

1965

The faculty of IBA, Dhaka University and Kelley School of Business jointly developed the two-year MBA program for former East Pakistan

1961

Planning and construction of both, main and city campuses commenced

1957

A two-year MBA evening program was launched

1956

Admission

IBA Karachi accepted 17.7% of undergraduate applicants in Fall 2018.
Admission to IBA Karachi is based on Entry Test, SAT/ACT and Interview. During 2018–19, financial assistance in the amount of PKR 280 million was provided to 896 students and qarz-e-hasna was arranged for another 110 students.

Programs Offered

At undergraduate level, IBA offers degrees in Business Administration, Accounting and Finance, Computer Science, Economics, Economics and Mathematics, Social Sciences and Liberal Arts.
The graduate programs offered by the IBA include degrees in Business Administration, MBA Executive, Computer Science, Economics, Islamic Banking and Finance, Journalism, Management, Data Sciences and Mathematics.
The doctoral programs offered at the Institute include degrees in Computer Science, Economics and Mathematics.

Affiliation

Co-curricular activities

*
List of prominent alumni can be accessed here: https://alumni.iba.edu.pk/booklet.html