KARACHI, May 10: The Commecs Institute of Business and Emerging Sciences (CIBES) organized a seminar on the topic ‘What They Don't Teach You at Business Schools’ at a local hotel, said a statement of the institute on Wednesday.

The Dean of the Institute of Business Administration, Danishmand, was the chief guest. A number of guests from the corporate, education and development sectors attended the event along with students of BBA and intermediate classes.

Other speakers were Chairman of CIBES Omer H Karim, Prof Abdul Ghani Saeed, Chief Executive EDC Network, Zahir Alam Kidwai, CEO BITS, Shabbar Zaidi, President ICAP, Vaqar A Khan, GM Training and Organizational Development, PSO and Mehmood Nanji, Director Sales and Marketing Tapal Tea Limited.

The Principal of CIBES, Commander Abdul Razzaq, presented the keynote address, which was followed by a brief history of the Commecs Educational Trust narrated by faculty member Kehkashan Iqbal.

In his speech, Prof Abdul Ghani Saeed quoted 13 suggestions that he and his colleagues had come up with back in 1980 to overcome shortcomings at business schools.

He continued his presentation highlighting the aspects of successful business people that should be developed.

These included active listening, thinking, analyzing, negotiating and decision making skills, social and supporting skills and ethics.

Zahir Alam Kidwai, a school dropout, yet a versatile man captivated the audience while focusing upon ethics, job etiquette and passion.

Competition, he suggested, resulted in corruption and, therefore, co-operation was a better choice.

Questioning entrepreneurship and applied knowledge was Syed Shabbar Zaidi. He said business schools could do a better job by including research and practical examples in their syllabi.

Vaqar Ahmed Khan applauded the current education system, saying it was better than that of his times.

He said that individuals from the corporate sector should have a role in the academia.

A rather short presentation by Mehmood Nanji revealed that several things were learned out of experience, which otherwise could not be learned form teaching.

He believed that anticipation was what needed to be developed in business graduates. Skills like time management, leadership and entrepreneurship are more of common sense and observation, he said.—APP