Peshawar, The University of Peshawar (UoP) Tuesday decided to start distance learning education from the current academic year.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the faculty presided over by Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Azmat Hayat Khan. The program would be made available for the postgraduate students from September 2011. Initially, admissions would be given in Masters in Economics and International Relations.

Later the distance learning program will be extended to all the departments of the university and also made available to bachelor’s students in due course of time. Prof Dr Azmat Hayat said the university had decided to start it at the master’s level to facilitate private candidates who cannot afford to study as regular students. He said the program would also improve the quality of learning and enhance the success rate in examination for the private students.

Director for Distance Learning Education Taimur Khan said the mode of learning would be virtual-online and mix mode. He said the university wanted to make use of the campus radio and the proposed TV in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication to deliver learning material to the students.

The meeting was attended by Registrar of University of Peshawar Dr Syed Fazle Hadi, Director Admissions Dr Hizbullah, Director Quality Enhancement Cell Dr Imtiaz and faculty members and staff of the university.