Zia ul Islam is serving as Head of Undergraduate Programs and Assistant Professor at the School of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Professional Development (SBEPD), PAF-IAST, Haripur. He earned his PhD in Finance from the Capital University of Science and Technology, Islamabad. Earlier, he completed his MSc in Accounting and Finance from Durham University, England, and his BBA in Finance from the Institute of Management Sciences, Peshawar. Over the course of his career, Dr. Zia has taught at eight different universities across Pakistan since 2013, developing expertise in finance, accounting, and entrepreneurship. He has also supervised 10 MS theses and published 8 research papers in reputable journals.
In addition to his academic contributions, Dr. Zia has significant professional and entrepreneurial experience. He served as Finance Manager for the SSAPI Project, an Erasmus+ CBHE initiative involving 6 countries and 11 universities, where he successfully managed a fund of 1 million euros. Beyond academia, he co-founded a startup in adhesive tapes in 2024 and played an active role in expanding his family’s fertilizer business, providing him with practical business insights that enrich his teaching and research.
His research interests lie in finance, entrepreneurship, and applied business practices, where he bridges academic rigor with real-world applications. With a blend of academic leadership, international exposure, research contributions, and entrepreneurial ventures, Dr. Zia continues to shape the learning experience of undergraduate and graduate students while contributing to the broader field of finance and business development.
