AIOU, HEC to join hands for ODL system

Islamabad: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) and Higher Education Commission (HEC) will join hands to prepare a unified national policy on Open Distance Learning (ODL) system.

In this connection, a high-level conference is being convened next month to seek suggestions from the institutions which are involved in imparting education through ODL or online system.  

Such a policy is need of the hour to make the ODL system more effective, said Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Shahid Siddiqui while reviewing the arrangements of the conference. AIOU being the pioneer in Asia following this mode of education wished to play a leading role in preparation such a policy. 

“Since some other institutions have also come up to educate the people through the ODL, we are required to adopt a unified system”, he added.

The institutions’ representatives from all over the country and an expert on ODL from Commonwealth Canada will be invited to attend conference.

The proposed policy will also help to institutionalise the ODL and promote coordination and exchanges among the relevant institutions to ensure quality of education and provide best possible services to the students. The AIOU will provide its academic and professional support in preparation of the draft policy.

They need to cope with the new changes in ODL system, through a better strategy and coordinated approach. The conference recommendations will be presented to the federal government for the approval and implementation, Dr. Siddiqui added.