2025 was a landmark year for Habib University, marked by bold strides in innovation and excellence. The University inaugurated IDEAL, the Institute of Design Thinking, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership, a pioneering hub dedicated to fostering agile problem-solving, entrepreneurial mindsets, and collaborative leadership among students and industry professionals. The year also witnessed a memorable convocation, where President Wasif Rizvi delivered an inspiring address to the Class of 2025, urging graduates to embody Yohsin and lead with purpose.
Habib achieved NECHE candidacy, a significant milestone on its journey toward global accreditation, and became the first university in South Asia to earn EDGE Advanced certification from the IFC for its commitment to sustainability. The University paid a heartfelt tribute to its founding Chancellor, honoring his visionary legacy, and celebrated a record-breaking Zero Week, awarding the highest number of scholarships in its history.
Here are some of the top stories from around the Habib community this year.
Paying tribute to the University’s visionary founding chancellor
Titled, “A Life of Purpose: Honoring Rafiq M. Habib’s Legacy,” the Habib community celebrated the life and contributions of its Founding Chancellor, the late Rafiq M. Habib, who passed away on the 3rd of September. The solemn and inspiring afternoon was attended by his wife, Mrs. Jamila Rafiq M. Habib, members of the Habib family, the University’s Board of Governors, faculty, students, donors, and friends and partners of the institution.
Student Awards and Alumni Impact
As is every year, undergraduates from the Dhanani School of Science and Engineering and the School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences swept accolades for their exceptional academic performance in the Awards and Honors Ceremony. The event celebrated students who appeared on the Dean’s List, as well as those who finished in the top three of their class. Additionally, six students were awarded the prestigious High Academic Achievement Scholarship. Additionally, the High Academic Leap Scholarship was awarded to four students in each class year.
Mahrukh Usmani (Social Development & Policy, Class of 2026) received the Outstanding Diplomacy Award in the DISEC Committee at Harvard WorldMUN 2025 held in Manila, Philippines. Usmani was part of a seven-member delegation along with other talented Habib University students.
In other stories for excellence, Muhammad Saad (Computer Science, Class of 2026) was accepted into the Google Summer of Code (GSoC) with Google DeepMind. This competitive organization brings together a global community of developers and researchers advancing the open-source ecosystem.
Habib University graduates once again made strides, with one Computer Science graduate and HUTOPS scholar from the Class of 2020, Osama Yousuf, completing his PhD in just four years from George Washington University. His extensive work in AI and Intelligent Systems earned him a role as Principal Engineer at Western Digital in San Jose, California, United States. Another alumna and HUTOPS scholar, Novaira Khan, passed her CSS exam on her first try and is now working as a Civil Service Officer in the Pakistan Audit and Accounts Service.
Commencement
At convocation, Iman Ashraf (Comparative Humanities, Class of 2025) delivered a moving speech, urging her peers to “carve out space – not just to give back, but to give forward.”
Dr Shamshad Akhtar, world-renowned economist, encouraged graduates to pursue excellence with humility: “What you become by achieving your goals is more important than what you get.”
President Wasif Rizvi, in his stirring address, reminded the graduates about the duty they carry into the world where Yohsin will be a guiding light, “Yohsin is not just a philosophy; it is a portal to living with beauty, passion, and purpose.” President Rizvi also shared that 83% of the Class of 2025 received financial support – a testament to the generosity of the Mohsineen, the University’s esteemed donor community.
Most Scholarships Awarded
Habib University welcomed its largest incoming class to date – the Class of 2029, with a record number of fully funded scholars and the most substantial undergraduate scholarship and financial aid awards in its history.
In his address to the new class and their families in attendance, President Rizvi emphasized the profound responsibility of education in shaping consciousness in a crisis-ridden world.
Becoming a certified Green Campus
Habib University became the first university in the South Asia region to receive the EDGE advanced certification from the International Finance Corporation, recognizing its sustainable campus and measures that equal 48.01% energy savings, 24.59% water savings, and 100% embodied carbon reuse, exceeding all EDGE benchmarks. The University has become a demonstrable model for how existing educational infrastructure can transition to low-carbon operations while lowering costs and improving comfort.
Receiving NECHE Candidacy
Habib University has been granted “Candidate for Accreditation” status by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), the federally recognized accrediting body for some of the world’s most distinguished universities, including Harvard University, MIT, Brown, Dartmouth, Amherst, and Williams College.
This marks the culmination of a multi-year process of institutional self-study, peer review, and external evaluation. The decision affirms the University’s mission, governance maturity, academic coherence, and its sustained commitment to global benchmarks of quality.
Inaugurating IDEAL – Institute of Design Thinking, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership
In April, Habib University launched IDEAL, a groundbreaking initiative that marks a significant step in the University’s commitment to promoting agile problem-solving, entrepreneurial thinking, and collaborative leadership among students and industry professionals.
“Our very credible grounding within design thinking acts as a great catalyst for the industry to look at us as a key partner. It inspires the core pedagogical practices at Habib University. We wish to have a continuous platform for our students and many participants from the industry to work together to solve their mutual problems,” said President Rizvi in his keynote address at the launch ceremony held at the new space.
Welcoming new faculty from around the world
Habib University expands its academic community with a distinguished cohort of new faculty joining this year. The incoming scholars, from both within Pakistan and beyond, bring diverse expertise spanning computer science and AI, philosophy, political science, environmental engineering, history, design, gender studies, and more. Many hold advanced degrees from leading global institutions and bring strong research portfolios and industry experience. Their arrival enhances opportunities for students to engage in innovative, socially grounded learning and research.
Dr Marcia Hermansen was welcomed as the Lady Fatima Endowed Chair in Women and Divinity, who serves as a Professor of Theology at Loyola University Chicago. Dr. Hermansen teaches courses on Islamic Studies and World Religions and directs the Islamic World Studies program.
Ascension to full professorships for the first time
Nine distinguished faculty members were appointed to senior academic positions in recognition of their outstanding contributions to teaching, research, and service. Among the promotions, Dr. Shah Jamal Alam becomes a Full Professor of Computer Science, the first ladder faculty member to rise from Assistant Professor to full professorship at the University.
Other appointments include new Associate Professors in Comparative Humanities and Computer Science, as well as senior lecturers and professors of practice across disciplines such as Communication & Design, Social Development & Policy, Integrated Sciences & Mathematics, and more.
Engaging the global community
In 2025, Habib University deepened its global footprint through community gatherings across North America, including New York, Chicago, Houston, and Canada. Alumni, supporters, philanthropists, and thought leaders joined conversations on widening access to higher education, the power of community-funded scholarships, and the role of liberal arts in navigating global fractures.
These events honored Habib’s mission, celebrated student success stories, and strengthened partnerships committed to shaping ethical, future-ready leaders while expanding international engagement and support for transformative education.
New Scholarship Initiatives for expanding access and opportunity
Habib University launched several major scholarship initiatives in 2025 to broaden access and support student success. The Muhammad Wadood Distinguished Endowed Scholarships, established by Ms Zainab Wudood in memory of her late father, will provide sustained aid to students from underserved backgrounds. The Amtul Hafiz Habibullah Scholarship Fund, established by Ashraf Habibullah, offers full undergraduate tuition for 50 women in STEM and humanities. Additionally, the Muhammad Rafi Scholarship Grant honors the legendary artist’s legacy by supporting students inspired by music’s enriching power. The Sultana Siddiqui Distinguished Scholarships were launched to support talented women in its Communication and Design program, empowering them to pursue creative careers with confidence. In September, the University marked this partnership with a special event, “Not the Exception – The Standard,” honoring a shared commitment to inclusive excellence.
Interdisciplinary Dialogue
Habib University hosted a range of events celebrating intellectual dialogue, creative inquiry, and entrepreneurial thinking. The lecture ‘Imam Ali (A.S.) and the Charismatic Paradigm’ delivered by Dr Teena Purohit, in the Imam Ali (AS) Lecture Series, explored leadership, spirituality, and inclusive scholarship. The Entrepreneurship Talent Program (ETP) empowered students with interdisciplinary skills to build socially impactful ventures. Meanwhile, the Daayra دائرہ series fostered decolonial pedagogy and cross‑disciplinary conversations among students and faculty, enriching Habib’s academic culture.
Exploring AI, Innovation, and Future-ready work
From starting Digital Drives to exploring AI across disciplines, Habib University engaged in conversations around the rapid advancement of emerging technologies. The Dhanani School hosted Dr. Adeel Razi’s NeuroAI talk, with discussions with JJ Zhuang highlighting the blending of Humanities and STEM for ethical, future-ready AI skills.
Under the Digital Drive, the Office of People & Culture led “Future-Ready Productivity: Leveraging AI for Everyday Impact”, where staff built chatbots using Claude and n8n. The Chatbot Showcase demonstrated practical automation, sparking conversations about AI’s role in shaping work and learning at Habib.
Learn more…
Additional top stories from around Habib University in 2025 include Pedagogical Development Week, Summer Tehqiq Research Showcase, the Summer Experiential Learning Project showcase, Imagining Futures Conference, community fundraisers, and brilliant student work.
