Fall’21 carried a lot of fun and excitement along with some issues to the people of IBA. Let us look back to Fall’21 in a nutshell:
Sophomores at Main Campus
Fall’21 was the first semester for the sophomore batch at the main campus. They were missing the vibe of campus life at the main campus the whole year. Although the unplanned jamming sessions on the fifth floor of Aman Tower did try to fill the gap. The football ground at the main campus has the most mesmerizing view of aesthetic sunset. Sophomores might be missing the breeze on the ground floor of the Aman Tower and the lunch of Cafe Mubarak. But I think the cricket ground, Courtyard, and Nawab Dynasty has a lot to offer to them.
Physical Classes
Fall’21 was the first semester after the pandemic that happened completely physically. Students found it exciting and fun to take interactive on-campus classes after almost two years. Physical quizzes and presentations required a lot of effort. As online classes compromised on learning so the grade was an easier thing there. So here they had to bear those shocks. Sitting in Library after having classes became part of the schedule of many students.
Reopening of Societies 2021-22
In fall’21 Societies were actively engaging the campus life. Clubs and Societies recruited their Host Teams and Management Teams actively on both campuses. Then there were amazing and exciting launches of some societies. It set the bars of events happening at IBA so high. It all started with the launch of the IBA Music Society, where the Khudgharz Band performed. And then it went to many launches of many other societies. IBA Dramatics Society organized the concert of the Kashmir Band. Then Community Welfare Society organized the concert of Bayan-the band that became controversy on its own.
Townhall meeting 2021
Fall’21 was for the first time that IBA chose to go for the option of town hall meetings. The purpose of this meeting was to listen to student issues and empower students. Meanwhile, some issues were hot topics around social media regarding defamation of IBA. The honorable Executive Director of IBA Dr. Akber Zaidi discussed all the major and many minor issues with the students. He considered the issues and took proper steps to overcome the lag between the students and the admin. He listened to the student’s voices and discussed the solutions and sensitivities of different matters with them
Classes in Tents
Something that went quite viral among the memers of IBA during Fall’21. It was the classes in tents at the beginning of the semester. Program Office pitched tents in the open air at different places on the whole campus. Office tried to provide all the possible facilities in the tents to make the classes happen physically. But the administration had to remove tents, considering weather conditions and the leniency on SOPs by Sindh Government.
Elections of ISC 2021-22
The election of the IBA Students Council was the event when the whole campus environment heated in Fall’21. All the political wings created Some troubles in different places and times. But there were not as serious issues happening as it happens around Pakistan in other universities and institutions. Although the issues were discussed in the Townhall meeting as well. It was good to see how politically aware our youth is. But it is something that is based on the interest of the people. There were people at the campus who showed no interest in elections. The result of the elections told that Bismah Akhter has become the elected Vice President. Zeeshan Niaz has become the elected CFO. And Haris has become the elected General Secretary of the IBA Student Council for the period of 2021-2022. Meanwhile, Govinda Malhi and Ahmed Vohra took oath as elected Campus Coordinators.
Convocation 2020
IBA did not organize a virtual convocation for the batch of 2020 due to COVID-19 like many other universities. So IBA organized a convocation of batch 2020 in Fall’21 to engage the students physically following the SOPs of COVID-19. British-Pakistani actor, producer, director, and television broadcaster, the legend Zia Mohyeddin was the chief guest there. Additionally, IBA invited Global CEO of KFC Sabir Sami, an IBA alumnus; and CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah, who is a member of the board of governors of IBA as honorable guests. IBA organized it beautifully and the batch of 2020 graduated with a lot of memories at convocation. This could not be possible in a virtual setting.
