Government will encourage and support Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) and Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) to work jointly for the improving living conditions of the people of Asia through skill and technology-based quality education. This was stated by the Minister of State for Education, Engr. Muhammad Baligh-ur-Rehman while inaugurating the 27th annual conference of AAOU here on Wednesday at the University’s main campus. The two-day conference was being attended by nearly 200 delegates from home and abroad. The countries being represented at the conference included U.K. China , Japan , India , Malaysia , Iran, Bangladesh, Korea , Indonesia , Turkey , Australia and Canada. The inaugural session was also addressed by the Vice chancellor AIOU Prof. Dr. Nazir Ahmed Sangi and AAOU President Prof. Anuwar Ali. Vis Naidoo, Vice President Common Wealth of Learning also attended the opening ceremony. Dr. Wang Tat Meng of Wawasan Open University, Penang, Malaysia was conferred upon meritorious services award on the occasion for his outstanding contribution to the development of distance learning system. The Minister underlined the importance of distance learning system which he said could help to achieve the UN millennium development goals in the education sector. The Minister called for setting up Pakistan-chapter of AAOU in collaboration with AIOU and Higher Education Commission. He also proposed for establishment of a ‘Research Centre of Excellence’ in AIOU for promoting technology-based education. The Minister appreciated the efforts of vice chancellor Dr. Sangi and his team for arranging the mega event in excellent manner, which he hoped will lead to further collaboration and interaction among the member countries for addressing the future challenges in the education sector. Baligh-ur-Rehman asserted that distance learning system of education has proven its strength in quick dispensation of quality education. The efficiency of the system is evident from the fact that only in about forty years more than sixty open universities have been established in the world. In Pakistan, AIOU has made a big contribution in dissemination of education through distance learning. And now they are striving to do more in reaching-out the poor and the needy that lack access in formal education system, the Minister added. He further said that the distance learning programmes enable the students to update their qualification without living their homes or work-places. AIOU, he added have a particular strength in the area of teacher education, computer sciences and business education. These efforts can help the government to achieve the targets set under the millennium development goals. The AIOU, he said have a vital role to play to improve the life-learning skills of the people. “We also want to equip our generation to fight social ills such as corruption and terrorism. The distance learning is one very effective tool in our system to achieve these targets. In this context, the Minister said that AIOU has already made big strides in catering the educational needs for the masses. Its yearly enrollment exceeds 1.4 million which proves that it enjoys trust in every nook and corner of the country as an institution providing quality education. The AIOU has extended nation-wide excess to education even in the remote area of the country, he said adding the commonwealth of learning has validated the high standard of methodologies of open distance learning mode of education employed by the University. This university is installing high-quality information and communication technology infrastructure in various part of the country. Earlier, while welcoming the guests, Dr. Nazir Ahmed Sangi said that the AIOU being the 2nd open university of the world has guided and supported by many of open universities of the Asia. Hallmarks of achievements has been tremendous increased in enrollment, enhance participation of women, access to quality education, students’ support services and improvement the image of the AIOU in home and abroad. The AIOU, Dr. Sangi further said extending substantial support to the federal and provincial governments to achieve their future targets in the education sector.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Oct 2013 10:03:25 +0000
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