Allama iqbal open unevrsty!
Allama Iqbal Open University,
Islamabad
The University, with the name of
People's Open University was
established in June 1974 under
an Act of the Parliament assented
to on 22nd May 1974. It was the
first institution of distance
education in Asia.
The University was renamed as
Allama lqbal Open University
(AIOU) in 1977 on the occasion
of the centenary celebrations of
the birth of the great
Philosopher and national poet
Allama Muhammad lqbal.
The University was established
as a distance education
institution with the purpose to:-
- Provide educational facilities to
the people who cannot leave
their homes and places of job;
- Provide facilities to the masses
for their educational uplift;
- Provide facilities for the
training of teachers; and
- Provide education to all without
any discrimination.
The Philosophical foundation of
the Allama lqbal Open
University lies in its "OPENNESS".
This University, as a unique
institution in the country,
reaches the doorsteps of those
who wish to broaden their
horizons of Knowledge or
upgrade their occupational skills
while in conventional and formal
system the students go to the
University for Studies. Moreover
this is the only university of
Pakistan whose Jurisdiction
touches the geographical
boundaries of Pakistan.
Distance
Education in Pakistan particularly
suited to the female population
as it provides them an
opportunity to study at home.
Similarly, people living in the
tribal and far-flung areas where
the formal education system has
not reached as yet, also get an
opportunity to be educated. This
system is flexible in terms of
age, and even time.
The University develops
specialized textbooks and
reading material to enable the
students to study on the basis of
self-learning in general
education programme. To help
them study at home, however,
the university provides supports
of radio and television
programmes. University's
Institute of Educational
Technology produces high
quality educational audio and
video-cassettes, which enable
the students to study at home
more effectively.
Recent innovations in the field of
Information Technology are
making the system of distance
Education even more effective.
As more and more students get
access to the Personal Computers
and learn to use the internet,
teaching through Distance
Education is becoming more
effective. Study Centers have
been set up throughout the
country to enable the students to
acquire applied Training in
technical and professional fields.
Similarly, in the field of Teacher
Education, Teaching Practice is
provided in selected schools.
Practical training for science
students is arranged in well-
equipped and well reputed
laboratories of Pakistan like
these of Pakistan Atomic Energy
Commission (PAEC).
The outreach system of the
University in the form of its
Regional Campuses/Centers is
the backbone of its
methodology.
The President of the Islamic
Republic of Pakistan is the
Chancellor of Allama lqbal Open
University. The Federal Minister
for Education is the pro-
Chancellor and the vice-
Chancellor of the University is its
Principal Executive and Academic
officer.
The University has produced
hundreds of credit and non-
credit courses for various levels
of learners and are sent to the
students. The provision of the
specially compiled instructional
material at postgraduate level is
recent addition. The learning
packages are not only being
used by AIOU students but also
those of formal system. The
University has till recently, been
concentrating on programmes
upto degree levels it is now
increasing its programmes in the
field of science and technology
and at postgraduate level.
The Allama lqbal Open University,
being a distance education
institution, relies heavily on all
varieties of available media to
reach its students in an effective
manner, which include
Correspondence materials, Radio
and television, Satellite
transmission, Non-broadcast
media, Tutorial instruction, Face
to be teaching, and Group
training workshops.
Up to 2003 the university has
offered 1130 courses opened
112 regional centers, register
36000 tutors and 1900 tutorial
centers and enrollers 245,018
students.
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