Islamabad
Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) will soon start research work on early childhood development to fulfil its academic responsibility in the nation-building for a better future. A research journal on early childhood will be published by the end of this year.
Besides this, the university will host national conference on the related subjects on annual basis as part of its consistent efforts of contributing to the country's socio-economic development.
This was announced by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Shahid Siddiqui while addressing a meeting of officials and academicians held here Friday to discuss the arrangements of a national conference on Early Childhood, scheduled to take place by the end of this month.
The conference is being arranged by the Ministry of Education and Professional Training in collaboration with AIOU. The Vice Chancellor also announced the University will soon offer special certificate courses on early childhood.
It has also been planned to introduce this subject at BSc level. The AIOU as a mega varsity in the public sector wished to fulfil its basic responsibility of creating and constructing knowledge in the areas of national importance.
Senior official of the Ministry of Education Rafiq Tahir, who also attended the meeting, appreciated the AIOU's huge academic and infrastructure network for promoting quality education in the country.
He noted the University had made a big headway in expanding its educational network and bringing about qualitative improvement in the academic activities under the leadership of the incumbent Vice Chancellor.
Dr Shahid Siddiqui told the participants nine research journals were published and fourteen national and international conferences were arranged by the University during the last two years to promote research culture in the country.