AIOU introduces online system for its PhD, M.Phil programs

Islamabad: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has decided to slowly but surely adopt the online mode of education to run its PhD and also its M. Phil programs.

The aspirants of these levels will be able to get their study material through electronic or digital devices (CDC) rather than the form of books.

There are almost nineteen PhD programs which would be possibly  shifted to the online system till the end of this year, said Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Shahid Siddiqui while giving a briefing to the delegation from UK on the future development plan of varsity.

Likewise, the efforts are being made shift M.Phil programs to online system before the end of next year. In all there are 32 M.Phil programs in various disciplines. “We wish to improve our share of online academic programs taking the benefit of the fast-growing technology,” he said.

In the country, Allama Iqbal Open University will be the first to adopt the huge open online courses (MOOCs) system, which begun as a famous mode of learning internationally in 2012. He moreover said that the main aim is to facilitate large number of aspirants, especially those who are living abroad”.

While combining the present techniques of teaching, the University is in the procedure of adopting the latest educational trends. The facility to be delivered through web will have virtual classroom, besides the availability of online interactive study material. The complete learners’ support system and the continuous assessment would be web-based.

Under the innovative arrangements, the aspirants will also be able to submit their assignments online. They would have regular interactive sessions along with the teachers by text chatting, video conferencing or desktop and the white board sharing.

The VC moreover said that at first the online educational contents delivery facility was being offered to the aspirants of five academic programs. The main attention will be on the development of electronic content, which is necessary for online learning”.

He also said that a new foreign and e-learning website along with its Urdu version was also being introduced.

As an important step forward, the varsity has also started the procedure of capacity-building training on the online content development and delivery to the M.Phil and PhD-level courses planners under the supports of the Directorate of Overseas Educational Programs and e-Learning (DOEP&EL).

“For this reason the special funds have also been allocated in the present budget” he added.