LUMS Celebrates Faculty Achievements with 2024 Triple E Awards Honours
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LUMS is thrilled to announce that two distinguished faculty members have been honoured with the 2024 Triple E Awards at the ACEEU Asia-Pacific Forum, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from September 2-4, 2024.
Ms. Saima Mujtaba Rana, an Adjunct Faculty member, former Head of Operations at the LUMS Centre for Entrepreneurship (LCE), and MBA ’96 alumna, received the ‘Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year’ award. This recognition highlights her substantial contributions to fostering entrepreneurial education at LUMS. Ms. Rana has played a pivotal role in making entrepreneurship knowledge accessible across Pakistan. Under her leadership, LCE developed a comprehensive programme that delivers foundational content to a diverse range of individuals, particularly those from underserved communities. Her efforts also led to the creation of a hybrid pre-incubation programme and a unique collaboration with the Stanford Seed Spark programme, further extending LUMS’ impact in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Commenting on her achievement, Ms. Rana said, “This award is truly a reflection of LUMS’ support, and it is as much the University’s as it is mine. The LUMS Learning Institute (LLI) shaped my teaching approach, while my time at LCE and entrepreneurial coaching at Suleman Dawood School of Business fuelled my passion for entrepreneurship. My role as Head of Operations at LCE over the past three years has been a very transformative journey.”
Dr. Murtaza Taj, Associate Professor and Co-PI of the NCRA-Agricultural Robots Lab at LUMS, was named runner-up in the ‘Impactful Research Team of the Year’ category for his groundbreaking work on the ‘Low-Cost Early Warning System for Forest Fires.’ This project, developed in collaboration with WWF-Pakistan and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Forest Department, addresses Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change by providing a cost-effective and scalable solution for early fire detection. The Forest Fire Detection and Early Warning System (FFD-EWS) integrates AI-powered real-time IoT cameras, remote sensing, and predictive modelling to deliver timely alerts and comprehensive fire risk maps. This innovative system enhances disaster response capabilities and supports sustainable environmental management.
Dr. Taj emphasised the significance of their work, stating, “Climate change is a reality unfolding before our eyes, putting everyone at risk. Early warning systems lead to early responses, ultimately saving lives. Our mission is to develop accessible, low-cost technology that makes a meaningful impact in safeguarding communities and our planet.”
The Triple E Awards celebrate excellence in entrepreneurship and engagement in higher education, emphasising the vital role universities play in driving positive societal change. The recognition of Ms. Rana and Dr. Taj not only reflects their individual achievements but also highlights LUMS’ commitment to excellence and innovation in education and research.
