‘Over 3.7 million students have graduated from AIOU so far’

Islamabad: Over 3.7 million students have graduated from Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) since its inception.

This strength is highest in number as compared to any other university in the country and the Asian region as well, providing education under distance learning system.

The contribution of AOU in education and fighting out illiteracy is something unprecedented, said Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Shahid Siddiqui while addressing an ‘Open House’ held here on Thursday at the University’s main campus, which was specially  organized to provide information and guidance to students on eve of on-going admission (semester spring, 216), to be continued till March 4.

A large number of AIOU’s graduated students made them prominent holding important positions in various public and private sector departments. The pride of this university is that mostly graduated are females, Dr. Shahid Siddiqui added. There are other marginalized groups of peoples benefited from this mega university, which was established in 1974 under an Act of the Parliament.  It was succeeded in its main task of enhancing literacy rate in the country, mainly in the remote regions at the peoples’ door-step. With affordable fee structure, it introduced around 1,200 academic programmes to meet the educational needs of the people.

The university provided access to the millions of those people particularly females who were unable to join formal educational system due to financial constrains of social problems.  It also proved most beneficial for on-job section of society, as it facilitating them to continue their education while earning their livelihood. ‘We provide flexible education, covering all segment irrespective of their age and living-distance,” Dr. Siddiqui said students’ support system has been strengthened that include an Access Centre for visually impaired students and special facilities for prisoners.

There has been all-time record of admissions in the last semester, which reflects the confidence and trust of students.

He hoped that the new and continuing students would take benefit of the educational facilities being provided by AIOU. He assured they would be fully facilitated in the admission process. This time, students could have the opportunity to get online admission. 

Earlier, Director of Admissions Zia Hussanain Navi and Director of Students Advisory & Counseling Services Tariq Rana briefed the students about the admission process. Similar an ‘Open House’ will also take place on February 25 and March 3.