ISLAMABAD: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has not only been transformed into superbly ideal educational institution and a training faculty but also education has been made accessible to disadvantaged and poor segments of society for whom education has remained a distant dream because of financial constraints.
This was said by AIOU vice chancellor Dr Shahid Siddiqui in an interview with daily Morning Mail here.
Listing the achievements made by AIOU in surmounting literary peaks, , he said 17 research journals were published by the university during the last three years to prove its worth in terms of its magnitude, unprecedented net and repute.
Dilating upon the big strides made by the university in research domain, he said 30 national and international conferences were organized and 26 new M.A, MPhil and Phd educational programs were launched during this period. 3 new departments were also opened .
When I took charge of my office, he continued, what was felt extremely deficit was the lack of research. Research is not only a necessity but it is also a lifeline of university
Keeping in view this objective, not only 17 research journals were published but also vital measures were taken for establishment of new laboratories in science faculty to promote research culture, he remarked.
Dr Shahid Siddiqui who has studied in the known universities of world and has been bestowed upon with several international awards of excellence in recognition of services rendered by him in education field said that education has been made free upto matric class in FATA and Balochistan which remained neglected and were outpaced by other areas in the arena of education.
Eunuchs and transgender who are ridiculed and disgraced in our society have been provided free educational facilities to make them a respectable and dignified part of citizen, he remarked. Education has also been made free for the disabled persons, he stated.
We have gone to such an extent in our passion for educating every member of society that the prisoners and drop out girls have also been brought in the ambit of education so that no segment of society remains deprived of ornament of education, he underlined.
We have not only initiated steps for to make a few offices of university or its Sadar camps eye catching and attractive but also 90 percent work has been completed to harmonize them with modern requirements. Online supply of admission forms of all programs, expansion of FM radio to keep the students informed with educational activities, launching of E mail service and SMS service to provide immediate information about admissions and examinations to the students, establishment of complaint centre to address online complaints and introduction of training system to extend information about admissions, examinations, books and verification of degrees are also such vitals steps which have been taken by university to facilitate the students, he underscored.
To a question AIOU vice chancellor told that no institution can be made effective unless facilities and promotions are provided to its all employees particularly teaching staff. We are doing it in befitting manner, he added.
We are fully focusing on character building and provision of quality education rather than distributing degrees, he declared.
