The Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) has formalised a collaboration with Enablers to promote Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, entrepreneurship and industry-oriented learning among students and faculty. The Department of Data Science under IUB’s Faculty of Computing signed a Letter of Intent with Enablers, an organisation involved in entrepreneurship, e-commerce, digital skills development, training, mentorship and industry-focused learning. The agreement was signed by IUB Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Muhammad Kamran and Enablers CEO and Co-Founder Saqib Azhar during a ceremony held at the university on September 25, 2026. Dr. Faheem Mushtaq Bajwa, Chairman of the Department of Data Science and focal person for the collaboration, facilitated the partnership.
The collaboration is intended to improve industry-academia connections and provide students with greater exposure to professional environments. Under the agreement, IUB and Enablers will work on opportunities including internships, industry visits, expert talks, mentoring, professional networking and professional development activities. The partnership will also support learning in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Generative AI, Data Analytics, Business Intelligence and Data Visualization. Workshops, boot camps, seminars, guest lectures and practical training sessions are planned as part of these activities, giving students opportunities to apply academic concepts through industry-oriented learning.
Entrepreneurship and innovation are also key areas covered by the collaboration. The two organisations plan to conduct startup awareness sessions, hackathons and innovation challenges, while providing mentoring and support for business-model development. The agreement also includes cooperation on joint research and applied projects, including Final Year Projects, capstone projects, case studies and data-driven solutions for industry and societal challenges. In addition, the partnership covers capacity building and knowledge exchange in emerging technology areas such as responsible AI, data ethics, privacy, cybersecurity awareness and digital safety. These activities are designed to connect classroom learning with practical applications and professional requirements.
IUB and Enablers will also explore collaboration on conferences, seminars, technology summits, career events, exhibitions, competitions and awareness programmes. The organisations are expected to work on industry-relevant learning resources and practical case studies while supporting broader industry engagement and digital transformation initiatives. The signing ceremony was attended by senior university officials, including Dean Faculty of Computing Professor Dr. Dost Muhammad Khan, Dean Faculty of Chemical and Biological Sciences Professor Dr. Muhammad Saleem, Chairman Department of Statistics Professor Dr. Zawar Hussain, Associate Professor Department of Computer Science Dr. Humaira Arshad, along with faculty members, university administration and representatives of Enablers from Karachi and Bahawalpur. The collaboration establishes a framework for IUB students and faculty to gain further exposure to emerging technologies, entrepreneurship, applied research and professional development, particularly in Data Science and related disciplines.
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