ISLAMABAD:Allama Iqbal Open University has expanded its access to the whole world as a result of the recent digitalization of its system.
In the last semester, a good number of students from America, Africa, Germany, Japan, Canada, United Kingdom, Turkiye, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates enrolled themselves in different programs of AIOU.
Moreover, in the last few years the University has laid special focus on signing MoUs regarding faculty and students exchange programs, and joint degree initiatives with national and international institutions including universities and research organizations from the United Kingdom, Turkiye, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and others in the last four years.
Another important initiative taken by Vice Chancellor, AIOU, Prof. Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum was the agreement with Turkiye and United Kingdom regarding the professional development of AIOU’s faculty and staff and now university is sending small cohorts of faculty and staff for training.
International students studying at this national university is not only a source of pride for the university but also for the country.
Among the 16 other major initiatives of Dr. Zia Al Qayyum are the e-registration of tutors, provision of information to students under one roof and establishment of a facilitation center to solve their problems, expansion of university infrastructure, providing internet packages to students at discounted rates for AIOU students, the launch of email and SMS service for immediate notifications for students, call centers for students’ problems and provide prompt response and establishment of “Online Complaint Management Center”, tracking system for information of books and verification of exams, and degrees.
AIOU has also established a Center of Excellence. To explore and research on Seerat Un Nabi SAWW, Sufi traditions in Pakistan and South Asia, and explore Iqbal’s political, philosophical and academic thoughts, three different chairs have also been established.