1. What is ELP?

The Experiential Learning Project (ELP) is a 6 credit-hour management consulting assignment designed to apply academic learning to real-world business challenges. Under this program, students work in small groups (3–4 members) and are assigned to corporate organisations to develop practical solutions to organisational problems.

ELP not only provides students with valuable industry exposure but also enables them to apply their classroom learning in a comprehensive and integrated manner. By working closely with corporate clients, students gain hands-on experience in problem-solving, critical thinking, and strategic decision-making.

2. What is the eligibility criteria for enrolling in ELP?

Courses and Credits left for Completion of Degree
3 Courses + 1 ELP (15 Credit Hours)	Can take the ELP in Spring 2026
4 Courses + 1 ELP (18 Credit Hours)	Can take the ELP in Spring 2026
5 Courses + 1 ELP (21 Credit Hours)	May be allowed to take ELP in Spring 2026 subject to approval from the Program Director, if all requirements for graduation are met.
6/7 Courses + 1 ELP (22 TO 27 Credit Hours)	Can take ELP in Spring 2026 but can only take maximum 18 credits (4 courses + 1 ELP). The remaining credits will have to be completed in the subsequent semester.
8 or more Courses + 1 ELP (More than 27 Credit Hours)	Students cannot enrol in ELP during Spring 2026, as they are required to complete their courses first. They may take ELP in Fall 2026 instead.
*Only students enrolled in the BBA or BS-ACF programs are eligible.
* Social and corporate internships must be completed.
*Students are responsible for ensuring their eligibility before enrolling.

3. What is the duration of ELP?

ELP projects are typically conducted over the course of a semester (28 Weeks). However, in certain cases, a project may be completed earlier or extend beyond the designated timeframe.

4. How many students can be part of a group?

A minimum of 3 and a maximum of 4 students can collaborate to carry out their ELP project.

5. How do I register for the ELP?

Please follow the registration process outlined on the homepage under the Student section.

6. Can students bring a project through their own contacts? How can they do it?

Students may bring in projects through their own warm contacts. They must connect the appropriate company contact(s) with the ELP coordinators or the CDC office, to ensure they are properly briefed on the ELP modalities and the procedure for submitting a project proposal.

7. Can we bring more than one project or projects from multiple organizations?

Yes, you are encouraged to connect us with your point(s) of contact at multiple organizations. All submitted projects will be subject to a thorough screening process by the ELP Steering Committee.

8. Can I choose a project based on my interests/majors?

Yes, students can take on projects that align with their skills and expertise, subject to project availability.

9. Can we form a group with a combination of BBA and BS-ACF students?

Yes, you are allowed to form a diverse group to enhance collaborative learning

10. Which days will I need to allocate for ELP?

You must remain available to companies for at least 15–20 hours per week. Some companies may require students to attend the office five days a week, while others may prefer a once-a-week or fortnightly arrangement — this is entirely at the company's discretion.

11. Do I need to go to the client premises every day during the ELP?

The nature of work and the frequency of visits to the client company vary by project and depend entirely on the requirements of the client organization.

12. Will there be any remuneration for the work I do?

Since ELP is a mandatory requirement of your curriculum, there is no mandatory requirement from IBA for companies to offer remuneration.

13. Will the cost of traveling be covered by IBA or the company?

IBA will not cover any travel or related expenses, nor are companies obligated to do so.

14. How many evaluations will be part of the project?

There will be a mid-evaluation and a final evaluation.

15. How is the ELP grade divided?

The grading is shared among three evaluators: 50% by your faculty advisor, 30% by your company supervisor, and 20% by the ELP department.

The ELP department’s 20% is based on the final ELP report and its overall quality and submission.

16. Does IBA require documentation from student groups?

Yes, students are required to submit their Terms of Reference (TOR), final reports and presentations, and any other supplementary documents to the ELP office via LMS, following endorsement by their faculty advisors and company supervisors.

17. What if my client does not want the data to be disclosed?

If your client wishes to keep certain information confidential, an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) will be used to protect their data. The NDA ensures that any sensitive information shared with your group is used only for academic purposes and not disclosed publicly. You should inform the ELP department and your faculty advisor so that the NDA can be processed and attached to your project record.

18. My client only requires a presentation and not a report. In that case, do I still have to submit a report?

Yes, submission of the ELP report is a mandatory requirement, regardless of the client’s preference. The report is an essential academic component of the course and carries 20% of the total grade, assessed by the ELP department. Even if your client does not request it, you must submit the report by the deadline to fulfill the course requirements.

19. Who will sign the NDA?

The NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) will be signed by the client, the student group members, and the faculty advisor, since all three parties will have access to the project data. This ensures that all individuals handling the information are bound to maintain confidentiality. The ELP department will facilitate the NDA process once confidentiality is requested by the client.

20. How much similarity and AI-generated content is acceptable in the ELP report?

The maximum acceptable similarity index is 20%, as per IBA’s plagiarism policy. This includes all quoted or referenced material. Reports exceeding this limit may be subject to review and penalty.

The use of AI tools (such as ChatGPT or Grammarly) is permitted only for language improvement, formatting, or idea structuring—not for generating core analysis, findings, or client data. All content, insights, and recommendations must be the students’ original work. Misuse of AI or plagiarism will be treated as a violation of academic integrity.

21. Where else does the ELP report need to be submitted?

The final approved version of the ELP report must be uploaded to LMS and to the IBA ELP Repository (https://ir.iba.edu.pk/sbselp/). The group leader is responsible for creating an account on the repository portal and uploading the final version once all revisions are complete. This ensures that the report is officially archived.

22. What are the contents of the ELP report?

The ELP report must strictly follow the prescribed format in both content and formatting. All required sections must be included as outlined in the ELP Report Template. Deviation from the approved format or guidelines will result in a deduction of marks from the 20% report component of the overall grade. Students are therefore advised to carefully review and follow the ELP report format shared on email and LMS.

23. How will students be assigned faculty advisors?

Once student groups have confirmed their projects, they may approach full-time faculty members to request project supervision. Please note that visiting faculty cannot be approached at this stage.

If a faculty member agrees, the group should share the faculty’s consent with the ELP department via email.

Students who are unable to secure a faculty advisor do not need to worry — their projects will be included in the faculty bidding process, where full-time faculty members select projects based on their expertise and interest.

All faculty members evaluate fairly and independently, so there is no need to rush or feel pressured to secure a particular advisor. Once all full-time faculty have been assigned, the portal will open to selected visiting faculty for remaining projects.