ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) at its Academic Council meeting held here on Thursday decided to introduce number of new academic courses of M.Phil and Ph.D-level to meet the county’s socio-economic needs.
Some courses of specific nature were also approved by the committee relating to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), said a news release.
The courses deal with international trade, logistics, entrepreneurship, Insurance and E-commerce.
Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Shahid Siddiqui who presided over the meeting said the AIOU being the Mega University in public sector wanted to give positive respond to CPEC through its academic pursuits.
About the other courses, he said it aimed at serving the national cause and to bring about qualitative improvement in their educational programs.
The committee attended by senior faculty members from AIOU and other higher educational institutions recommended schemes of studies and outline of courses, that would be finally approved later by the University’s Executive Council, keeping in view the policy and rules of the Higher Education Commission.
The committee also gave approval for the revision of some existing courses. It approved the University’s plan setting up three new departments relating to Psychology, politics and international relations and Translation of study material.
It also approved the University’s proposals regarding implementation of GPA, CGPA system.
The new academic programs related to teachers’ education, Arabic and Islamic studies, Gender and Women Studies, Library and Information Sciences, Commerce and Business and Administration, Chemistry and Biology and Mass Communication.
Registrar AIOU Professor Dr. Muhammad Naeem Qureshi briefed the committee about the future academic plan, that was separately presented by Dean of Social Sciences and Humanities Dr. Syed Abdul Siraj, Dean Sciences Dr. Naghmana Rashid, Dean Arabic and Islamic Studies Dr. Ali Asghar Chishti and Dean Education Dr. Nasir Mahmood.
It was the joint meeting of Research and Educational technology, Academic Planning and development and the Academic Council.
Dr. Shahid Siddiqui told the meeting that the University will soon launch special M Phil (Professional track) degree program for the young practicing journalists from next semester.
Senior media practitioners will be invited to share their knowledge and skill with their fellow colleagues. This will enable the on job professionals to enhance their working capability.
Besides this the University’s Department of Mass Communication has developed short-term courses in various media disciplines that will also be introduced from next year.
All the proposed courses are well-thought and have already been sorted out by Committee of courses and the Faculty Board, he added. He hoped these will meet the contemporary needs and students’ requirements.
