AIOU regional directors’ conference concludes

Islamabad
Three-day Regional Directors’ Conference of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), which concluded here on Tuesday, adopted a comprehensive strategy to promote quality education, while increasing its admissions in various programmes and strengthening the university’s role as a research-based organisation.
It was decided to pursue a pro-active policy at all levels to provide best possible services to the students in term of admissions, issuances of certificates and degrees and timely mailing of books and allied material. The conference was attended by 44-Regional Directors (RDs) from various parts of the country. Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Shahid Siddiqui who presided over the conference announced that an action plan will be prepared to implement the conference’s recommendations.
It was further decided that regional campuses will be further strengthened for bringing affordable quality education at the door-steps of the people through an effective students’ support system and It-based working network at administrative level. Directors were advised to come out with at least ten percent increase in the new admissions which are going to start from February one. The vice chancellor announced that proper reward, both in cash and commendation certificate will be given to the regional director who achieved this target in his respective district.
It was also decided that the new academic programs will be initiated soon to meet the contemporary needs and the students’ demands. M.A and M.Phil English degree course will be introduced next year. While responding to the demand of the Regional Directors, the VC announced that the Selection Board will meet next month to consider promotion cases of officers and staff. The employees’ strength will be increased at the regional level to handle the growing workload. In this connection, existing vacant vacancies will be filed soon.
Dr. Sididqui said that the officers and staff should work with an innovative and pro-active approach to maintain the University’s leading position in the distance learning system. While referring to competitors in the field of distance education, he said the AIOU enjoys rich capacity, both in term of infrastructure and academic excellence to uphold its leading position.
The conference also discussed ways and means to bring qualitative improvement in the University’s overall system, particularly enhancing its role as research-based organization. Addressing the concluding session, Dr. Shahid Siddiqui shared four areas of priorities set by him that includes: promotion of research culture, professional development, revision of text-books and strengthening students’ support system. Professional development should be given high priority for the capacity-building of the employees, enabling them to deliver the best.
Underlying the importance of students’ support system, he said it is the backbone in distance education system. Keeping in view the priority areas, the University has already undertaken series of activities including Skill-Based Lecture Series, Distinguished Lecture Series, Book and author series, Research colloquium, Awareness and advocacy series and Media Dialogue.
Dr. Shahid Siddiqui hoped that the regional campuses could lay special focus on maximum utilisation of the available technology for meeting the requirements of distance education. They should also work hard for the development of knowledge, skills and attitude to bring about qualitative improvement in the university’s working. A process is underway to launch a new students’ friendly website of the University, the first ever-issue of quarterly newsletter will be published from this month to reconstruct and rebuild the University’s image among the people home and abroad.
The vice-chancellor appreciated the efforts of regional directors developing AIOU as one of the world’s mega universities, imparting education to around1.3 million students. He advised them to take great care in appointing the tutors. He directed RDs to set-up complaint management centre at their regions as well for promptly addressing the students’ queries.
Earlier, AIOU Registrar Professor Dr. Nowshad Khan and Director Regional Services, Professor Dr. Rashid A Naeem said the regional campuses which work as frontline of the university will receive full cooperation from the head office for further development of the University.
During the conference, a training course on “Management, Accounts and Information Technology was also conducted for the capacity-building of the participants.