AIOU’s regional directors conference begins

Islamabad
Three-day Regional Directors’ conference of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) began here on Saturday to adopt ways and means to bring qualitative improvement in the university’s overall system, particularly enhancing its role as research-based organisation.
It is also aimed at strengthening regional campuses’ role in providing best possible services to the students and to ensure quality education. Altogether 44 regional directors of the university’s campuses across the country are participating.
Addressing the opening session, Vice-Chancellor Prof. 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 is being attached 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, he said the University had 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.
To encourage research work, he said a committee has been constituted for preparing incentives package, which will be implemented after the approved in the Executive Council, he said adding, in 2015 the University would publish at least four research journals.
Dr. Shahid Siddiqui reiterated that the students’ support system will remain the top priority area in their on-going efforts of bringing qualitative improvement in the University’s overall system. A comprehensive complaint management center is being set-up for quick response to the calls and queries received from students. In addition, he said that the University is in communication with the postal departments for more efficient delivery system.
It will discuss new strategies for improving educational delivery, examination, communication methods, adoption of new technology, students care, appointment of tutors, problems, solutions and future plans and future planning