Habib University recently held a naming ceremony for the Jaffer Family Foundation Institute of Design Thinking, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership (IDEAL), made possible by a significant endowment from the Jaffer Family Foundation. This initiative aims to integrate leadership, innovation, and problem-solving into the undergraduate experience, addressing the current leadership crisis by promoting ethical leadership.

President Wasif Rizvi emphasized the need for educational models that cultivate leaders with good judgment and the ability to engage with complex realities. IDEAL’s curriculum combines design thinking, entrepreneurship, and ethical leadership, preparing students for real-world challenges through project-based learning and industry collaboration.

Mohamedtaki Mustafa Jaffer, Chairman of the Jaffer Family Foundation, stressed the importance of fostering critical thinkers who challenge assumptions to serve society. The ceremony included remarks from Syed Sardar Ali Shah, Provincial Minister for Education, who advocated for IDEAL’s model to be adopted by public institutions.

Keynote speaker Shannon Randolph praised Habib University’s progressive educational model and its commitment to social responsibility through IDEAL. Manahil Huda, Director of IDEAL, highlighted the importance of connecting education to societal needs. The event concluded with a Memorandum of Understanding between the university and the foundation and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque for IDEAL.