Chaired by the Rector, Prof. (Meritorious) Dr. M. Abuzar Wajidi, the Council reviewed and approved key academic recommendations emerging from the Boards of Faculty and Boards of Studies. Major decisions included the adoption of HEC’s revised Business & Management curriculum framework, updated schemes of studies across undergraduate and postgraduate programs, introduction of new specializations, launch of the PhD in Management Sciences, establishment of the Department of Computer and Information Sciences with BS Computer Science and BS Data Science programs, revision of PhD credit-hour structures in line with HEC Graduate Education Policy 2023, inclusion of Fehm-e-Quran coursework, and approval of the Internship / Field Experience / Field Work Policy.
The meeting was enriched by the active participation of distinguished external members, including Prof. Dr. Tariq Rahim Soomro (Rector, Institute of Business Management – IoBM), Prof. Dr. Javed Chandio (Dean, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Sindh, Jamshoro), and Prof. Dr. Nadeem Mehmood (Former Chairman, Department of Computer Science, University of Karachi), Prof. (Meritorious) Dr. Nasreen Aslam Shah, Former Dean Social Sciences, University of Karachi. Their expert insights contributed significantly to the quality of deliberations.
As the highest academic body of the Institute, the Academic Council provides the final layer of academic oversight and institutional endorsement. It ensures that all program developments, policy frameworks, and quality enhancements align with HEC requirements, national priorities, and global standards of higher education.
Recommendations flow systematically from the departmental Boards of Studies, through the respective Boards of Faculty, and ultimately to the Academic Council. This tiered process guarantees rigorous scrutiny, academic coherence, and institutional accountability before any major academic decision is finalized.
The successful conduct of the 4th Academic Council Meeting reaffirms HANDS-IDS’s commitment to excellence, regulatory compliance, and the continuous strengthening of its academic portfolio.
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