AIOU to ensure compliance with COVID-19 SOPs come what may

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: A meeting of Deans and Principal Officers of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) held in Islamabad to ensure the application of guiding principles outlined by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to combat COVID-19 and to minimize risks of its further spread on the resumption of routine educational activities in HEIs and universities throughout the Country on September 15.

The meeting was presided over by the Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Zia Ul Qayyum, and all Deans and Principal Officers of various administrative and servicing departments attended the meeting.

It was unanimously decided that AIOU would strictly follow the guiding principles delineated by the government of Pakistan and HEC and continue its academic activities.

It was, further, decided that workshops for all academic programs offered on Open and Distance Learning mode (ODL) including Ph.D., M Phil/ MS, and MSc would be conducted on-line through LMS Aaghi.

On the other hand, the classes for face to face programs of faculty of sciences including Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, etc. would be conducted online; however, practicals or the laboratory work would be carried out within the premises of the university and the students would be invited in the form of groups.

With respect to students’ accommodation at the university hostel, it was decided that students from far-flung areas of the country would be allowed to avail this facility only.

However, they would be required to submit a health certificate.

It was, also, decided that COVID-19 SOPs would be strictly followed during all academic activities.

Professor Dr. Zia Ul Qayyum said that though COVID-19 is a serious challenge, however, the university is fully prepared to continue its educational activities throughout the Country.

The university has, further, strengthened its Aaghi LMS and the students have been attending workshops from the safe zones of their homes throughout the country, he added.

It was, also, decided during the meeting that all those departments who would invite students to the main campus of the university for any academic purpose like practicals, etc. would keep the record of the same and would seek prior written approval justifying purpose of any such activity.