We believe that the time has come for relationships between India and Pakistan to reach a more personal level. Political diplomacy helped in ironing out past differences; Sports were the means by which the multitudes across borders expressed a common passion, and now it is the turn of Higher Education to be the new face of diplomacy.
The FMS delegation has the potential to go beyond the realms of Indo-Pak relations. And in an attempt to forge closer relationships with our counterpart B-schoolers in Pakistan, the FMS trailblazers have been handpicked from the creme-de-la-creme student population to represent the diversity and the vibrancy that FMS is all about.
November 20th is the Big Day, and the itinerary for the following two weeks is choc-a-bloc! The Delegation will be staying at the Lahore University of Management Sciences itself. What better way to understand the life of a management student in Pakistan, than to experience it? And so, the students will be attending classes at the University, participating in Debates and Group Discussions, just like any regular student.
“Is the outlook of a student at LUMS really so different from a student’s at FMS? What about ambitions? Hopes? Beliefs? How does an MBA in Pakistan which focuses more on Family Business Management compare to what is learnt in India?”
These are questions that we can only wonder about at present. The Delegation would have at least some of the answers after the visit.
After staying at Lahore, the Delegation will also visit the International Islamic University, Islamabad. To soak in the culture of Pakistan, a country which shares a rich heritage with India, the students will also visit Rawalpindi, Harappa, Taxila, Murree, the Katasraj Temple and many other historical and cultural sites. No wonder that the students can’t wait for the Adventure to get started!
This foray into uncharted territory encapsulates what FMS believes in, pushing the boundaries, constant innovation and an addiction to excellence. The tie-up with LUMS has given the students here a wonderful opportunity to get a holistic education. Apart from this, at a macro level, it epitomizes a coming together of the business communities of India and Pakistan, and is, perhaps, a sign of times to come.