IBA CEE's One Year Journey with UNICON: A Transformational Experience
In December 2023, IBA's Center for Executive Education (CEE) took a bold step forward by becoming a member of UNICON (The Global Consortium for University-Based Executive Education).
Over the past year, this membership not only strengthened IBA-CEE's position in executive education but also provided invaluable global exposure, strategic insights, and networking opportunities.
Expanding Global Networks: Learning from Hong Kong to Lisbon
A significant highlight of this journey was participation in the UNICON conferences in Hong Kong and Lisbon, where the team engaged with top executive education leaders worldwide. These visits offered:
- Exposure to cutting-edge trends in executive education, including innovative learning, hybrid leadership programs, and immersive experiences.
- Opportunities to benchmark IBA's offerings against global best practices, ensuring alignment with the evolving needs of corporate and government leaders.
- New collaborations and partnerships reinforceing IBA's position as a leading player in university-based executive education.
Access to Focused Literature & Thought Leadership
One of the most practical benefits of UNICON membership has been access to focused literature on executive education through regular insights, reports, and case studies. This steady stream of knowledge has helped IBA CEE:
- Stay updated with emerging global trends in executive education.
- Understand best practices in program design, delivery, and faculty development.
- Refine its approach to digital transformation in learning, ensuring its programs remain relevant in a rapidly changing business environment.
Applying UNICON Insights to IBA-CEE
IBA CEE has not just consumed knowledge from UNICON—it has actively applied it to transform its programs and offerings:
- Redesigning Boards and Leadership Programs
Based on UNICON insights, IBA revamped its Directors' Training Program and customized leadership development programs for corporate clients like OGDCL, Telenor, SECP, PPRA, DHA Quetta, BAFL, Sprint, Ordinance College Pakistan Army, FFBL, FFC, FFCL and ENAR to incorporate more experiential learning, simulations, action learning and coaching elements.
- Strengthening ADR & Mediation Training
The knowledge gained through UNICON helped refine IBA's ADR training approach, positioning it as a regional hub for mediation in collaboration with institutions like SIMC, MIMC, Sage Mediation, CLDP and many local bodies within Pakistan.
- Enhancing Faculty Development
UNICON's best practices on faculty training inspired new initiatives at IBA CEE, such as train-the-trainer programs, ensuring that executive education instructors remain at the forefront of current and future learning trends.
- Expansion beyond Karachi
Inspired by discussions at UNICON forums, IBACEE enhanced its satellite office operations in Islamabad, making an accelerated effort to make executive education more accessible to professionals across Pakistan.
The Road Ahead: Strengthening IBA's Regional Position
The journey has only begun as IBA-CEE completes its first year with UNICON. The exposure, knowledge, and connections gained have already positioned IBA as a key player in executive education in Pakistan. Looking forward, our focus will be on:
- Expanding collaborations with global business schools and industry leaders.
- Integrating AI and data-driven decision-making into executive learning.
- Hosting thought leaders and faculty to enrich the learning experience.
Through its strategic use of UNICON's resources, global networking, and applied learning, IBA-CEE continues to set new benchmarks in executive education, driving governance and leadership development and industry impact in Pakistan and beyond.