Wednesday, 13th May 2026

The Faculty of Computing (FC) at Riphah International University, I-14 Main Campus, successfully organized an industry-academia bridge session aimed at strengthening collaboration between academia and the technology industry while preparing students for professional careers in emerging computing domains.

The session brought together distinguished academic leaders and experienced IT professionals who shared valuable insights, mentorship, and practical guidance with students from the 6th semester of Software Engineering, Cyber Security, and Computer Science programs.

The event featured renowned academic experts including Prof. Dr. Naveed Ikram, Director of RISE and former Dean of the Faculty of Computing, along with Prof. Dr. Saad Zafar, member of RISE and former Dean of the Faculty of Computing.

Industry experts participating in the session included Shahzad Rafiq (Enterprise Business Solutions Architect) and Aurangzeb Ahmad Qureshi (Founder & Lead Strategist – ERPbeyond), who engaged students through technical discussions, mentorship opportunities, and professional career guidance.

During the session, Prof. Dr. Naveed Ikram highlighted the importance of industry-linked learning by discussing ongoing live projects, internship opportunities, and strategies for securing high-impact Final Year Projects (FYPs) in collaboration with corporate clients. His discussion emphasized practical exposure and industry engagement as key components of student success in the modern technology sector.

Prof. Dr. Saad Zafar explored the growing role of technology in the healthcare domain, particularly within HealthTech innovation, encouraging students to develop technology-driven solutions capable of addressing real-world healthcare challenges through impactful research and FYP initiatives.

A major highlight of the session was the two-hour one-to-one mentorship interaction between students and the industry consultants, allowing participants to gain direct professional insights into enterprise technologies, project execution, client engagement, and workplace expectations.

One of the most significant outcomes of the session was the immediate professional placement of four students, who will now work directly with the consultants on a live client project over the coming year. This achievement reflects the Faculty’s commitment to bridging the gap between academic preparation and industry requirements through meaningful collaboration and experiential learning opportunities.

The Faculty of Computing extends its sincere appreciation to the distinguished professors, consultants, and faculty members for their valuable time, mentorship, and dedication toward empowering students and strengthening industry-academia partnerships.