ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood visited the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) in Islamabad on Friday, and inaugurated the University’s key projects of digital transformation and Iqbal Gallery.
Shafqat Mahmood also visited the AIOU’s Institute of Educational Technology and examined the facilities available for Tele School.
In his remarks during his visit, the minister lauded the AIOU for providing high-quality educational services by incorporating the use of the latest information and communication technology throughout the Country.
The minister said that the AIOU is a prestigious national institution that is taking key initiatives to enhance quality standards of education imparted and by facilitating underprivileged and marginalized segments of the society.
وفاقی وزیر تعلیم @Shafqat_Mahmood نے علامہ اقبال اوپن یونیورسٹی کی ڈیجیٹل ٹرانسفارمیشن کا افتتاح کیا ۔
یونیورسٹی میں اصلاحات کا عمل دیکھ کر خوشی ہوئی ۔ ٹیکنالوجی وقت کی اہم ضرورت ہے اور ٹیکنالوجی کی مدد سے ہم تعلیم کے شعبے میں انقلابی تبدیلیاں لا رہے ہیں ۔ وفاقی وزیر تعلیم pic.twitter.com/TFpst8NXAn— Ministry of Federal Education/ProfessionalTraining (@EduMinistryPK) September 10, 2021
While inaugurating the digital transformation project, the minister commended the educational contributions of the AIOU under the able guidance of the Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum during the turbulent phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The minister greatly appreciated the University for taking this key step in the right direction at the appropriate time. He also suggested to bring further improvement in the system to ensure transparency and efficiency in the academic and administrative operations of the university.
Shafqat Mahmood said that the Vice-Chancellor AIOU has brought a revolutionary transformation in the University’s key systems. He further added that the University should collaborate with other universities to adopt this model.
While addressing the participants of the inaugural ceremony, Professor Dr. Zia Ul -Qayyum said that he is proud of the fact that Allah has enabled him to successfully achieve his mission. He congratulated both faculty and administration for their consistent support in realizing this goal.
Furthermore, Shafqat Mehmood inaugurated Iqbal Gallery established in the AIOU Library. He said that this would serve as a rich resource for Iqbal’s scholars as well as researchers. This would be enlightening for Pakistani youth as well to familiarize themselves with Iqbal’s philosophy and ideology.
The VC AIOU Professor Dr. Zia Ul -Qayyum said that Iqbal Gallery would serve to be a national asset to promote and strengthen research on Iqbal.
The Gallery has maintained very rare archives about Iqbal’s life and his poetic marvels.
The inaugural session was also addressed by the Director and Project Consultant of Oracle Corporation while the Registrar AIOU Raja Umar Younis hosted the session.