AIOU sets platform to promote multidisciplinary and holistic approach in educational pursuits

Islamabad

Multidisciplinary and holistic approach should be adopted in undertaking academic research that helps the society in socio-economic development. This task should be fulfilled through collaborative efforts and team work.

Minister of State for Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training Engineer Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman on Wednesday, stated this while addressing inaugural session of the two-day ‘First National Graduate Conference,’ arranged here by the office of Research Innovation and Commercialisation (ORIC) of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU).

AIOU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Shahid Siddiqui in his opening remarks said the conference was arranged to provide a platform to young researchers to showcase their research work and interact with each other to make their job more effective for society’s overall benefit. He announced that the university will host such a event on annual basis, so that young scholars and researchers keep up their efforts to do the best in their respective disciplines.

The students of twenty-five universities from all over the country attended yje conference. During the two-day of its deliberations, around 175 research papers will be presented to promote the concept of interdisciplinary approach in the research process.

Baligh Ur Rehman eulogised the AIOU’s consistent efforts of promoting community-based applied research and bringing about qualitative improvement in its overall academic pursuits. In this connection, the personal initiatives of incumbent vice chancellor are highly commendable, he added. He noted that the University has made a great way in further strengthening its research-based activities by publishing research journals and holding national and international conferences. He also praised the University’s efforts providing free education to prisoners, disabled persons and drop-out girls.

The minister called for developing linkages between the academia and the industry for proper use of the research. The research, he added must be effective for the reformation of the society. He also stressed for the maximum use of new technology to achieve the stipulated targets.  

He also spoke in detail about the government’s achievements in various sectors. The country, he said was moving ahead on a right track with fast growth to bring positive change in the life the common people. Various international rating-agencies have recognized Pakistan’s repaid economic growth in the recent years.

The minister mentioned about the government’s focus on education and health sectors. There is a tremendous increase in budgetary allocation to serve the interest of the people, he added.

While appreciating the academic achievements, the minister underlined the need to promoting moral values, ethics and character-building for construction of a healthy society.

Dr. Shahid Siddiqui thanked the Minister for his support in further developing the University’s academic network both quantity and quality-wise. The AIOU that started journey its in 1974 has now emerged as trend-setter in distance learning system and online education.

The inaugural session was also addressed by Chairman Council of Science and Technology Dr. Professor Anwar -ul-Hasan Gilani who endorsed the idea of serving the cause of education through interdisciplinary approach. He lauded the efforts of the AIOU of providing educational services to marginalized section of the society.

Earlier, in her welcome address, Dean Social Sciences and Director ORIC Dr. Naghmana Rashid highlighted objectives of the conference, assuring that it will be made a productive platform to strengthen the research-based activities.