IBA CED and Oxfam collaborate to conduct a Faculty Development Program

The Deans, Program Directors, faculty members, managers and senior officials of entrepreneurial/incubation centers from various universities across Pakistan attended a workshop organized by the IBA-Aman Center for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) and Oxfam in Pakistan.

The objective of the workshop was to help universities in establishing entrepreneurial centers, while sharing the latest and relevant literature of entrepreneurship and pedagogy with the participants.

Program Director IBA-CED, Dr. Shahid Qureshi explained the difference between causation and effectuation theories of entrepreneurship and highlighted their advantages and disadvantages. He emphasized that the effectuation theory is more relevant in the Pakistani environment because it advocates experimentation and bootstrapping by leveraging minimum resources. He also shared success stories of entrepreneurial ventures which followed the same theory and became sustainable businesses within 4 to 5 years.

The Guest of Honor at the workshop, Mr. Asim Shehryar, CEO Ignite, elaborated that the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Pakistan has evolved at a fast pace and has huge untapped potential. He also ensured his full support to the universities and faculty in providing long-term entrepreneurial opportunities.

Former VC LUMS, Dr. Zahoor Hassan, discussed the role of faculty members and top management in establishing university based entrepreneurial ecosystems. He said that now we are living in unprecedented times due to Covid-19 and that things are constantly changing on the technical, financial, social and environmental fronts.

The Chief Guest of the closing ceremony was CEO Artech Pvt. Ltd. Mr. Naeem Qamar. Mr. Qamar narrated his own entrepreneurial journey. He commended the concept of IBA-CED's Effectuation plus model, as his business journey follows almost all its principles.

The workshop was part of the collaboration between the IBA CED and Oxfam to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Pakistan by helping SMEs, MSMEs and Startups.