KARACHI - The Habib University will formally begin its operations here in the fall of 2014.
The project has been taken up by the Habib University Foundation (HUF) in collaboration with the Texas A&M University at Qatar and the Carnegie University, USA. The Habib University will be an institution of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Pakistan and will set new standards of excellence in learning in the region, says a statement here on Friday. It will provide a well-rounded education to outstanding students from Pakistan and the region.
The ambitious project will be completed at a total cost of US$60 million.  The university will be formally beginning operations in fall 2014, from a state-of-the-art seven-acre campus in Karachi. Envisaged as a world class center of learning, Habib University has signed formal partnership agreement with Texas A&M University at Qatar and is collaborating with Carnegie Mellon University, USA for reciprocal sharing of institutional experience.  Together, its award-winning campus design, international faculty, global partnerships, academic and student life programme will offer students a complete higher educational experience.
Habib University will be offering four undergraduate degree programmes to its first incoming class in Fall 2014: Electrical Engineering, and Computer Science; Social Development and Policy, and Communication Studies and Design, through its two Schools. The statement further pointed out that the Board of Governors, overseeing the entire academic and institutional affairs of the University, hosted their first meeting in Dubai.
Bringing together national and international members who have rich leadership experience in higher education, business and industry, the members attending were: Rafiq Habib, Lt General (r) Tariq Waseem Ghazi, Ali Suleman Habib, Muhammad Ali Rafiq Habib, Dr Arvid Nelson, Dr Gohwer Rizvi, Wasif Rizvi, Dr Ron Robin, Dr Chuck Thorpe and Dr Mark Weichold.
Chairman of the Board and Chancellor of Habib University, Rafiq Habib, thanked the board for committing their time and expertise to the University.
He said, “It is a great privilege to have such distinguished leadership represented here today and is indicative of Habib University’s vision of being a global institution. We hope that in time Habib University will be the institution of choice in Pakistan,” Rafiq Habib added.
Wasif Rizvi, President, Habib University said, “Habib University is linked to leading higher education institutions from around the world for collaborative advancement of new knowledge and to ensure we meet the highest international standards from the very onset.”
Habib University has hired faculty from the top international academic institutions such as Harvard, Columbia, Cornell and UPENN.
Habib University also plans to offer more disciplines in future and build a residential campus as well, aspiring to attract a large number of students from the region.