Dr. Siraj’s visit to National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST)

National University of Sciences & Technology ( NUST) is a top-ranked university in Pakistan. Dr. Sajid Siraj of the Centre for Decision Research (CDR) visited NUST to discuss collaboration with Knowledge and Data Science Research Centre (KDRC) in their NUST College of Electrical & Mechanical Engineering. He had a number of meaningful discussions at multiple levels on enhancing cooperation between NUST and the University of Leeds. Dr Siraj met Naweed Zaman, the Rector of NUST to discuss the potential for both universities to work together, specifically in the fields of business analytics, decision science and artificial intelligence. They shared some interesting applications of these emerging technologies in the private/corporate sector as well as in public sector.

Dr Siraj then met with Professor Asif Raza, Pro-rector (Academics) NUST discussing the emerging trends in business analytics and decision support systems. They also shared their views on bringing business school and computer science together to update their curricula in order to prepare students for better career prospects. Dr. Siraj mentioned about the importance of degrees in Business and Data Analytics described as 'The sexiest job of the 21st century' in the Harvard Business Review. Leeds University is already offering courses in Business Analytics at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

He also met with the faculty in NUST Business School and the Principal of School of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Science (SEECS). The faculty discussed their degree programs as well as on-going research projects and looked for possible areas of collaboration with Leeds University Business School and the Centre for Decision Research in Leeds.