Over 700,000 enrolled with AIOU for spring semester

Islamabad

Over 700,000 students got themselves enrolled with Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) in recent admissions (spring 2016-semester) that is the highest enrolment in the university’s history, says a press release.

According to the director of Admissions, the total admissions during the semester were nearly 710,000. As the University opens the admissions twice a year (spring and autumn semester), the annual admission figure is likely to cross 1.4 million. The autumn’s admission will begin from August 1.

There was upward trend of students’ enrolment in most of academic programs. This was result of some far-reaching academic and administrative steps taken during last one and half year under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Shahid Siddiqui.

In the efforts of reconstructing the soft-image of this mega university, greater focus was laid on strengthening delivery system, ensuring timely availability of books to the students, while improving quality of education.

Qualitative improvement was brought about in the process of admissions, examination and announcement of results and issuance of degrees, mainly through technology-based automation system.

Special attention was also paid on consolidating students’ support system that brought very positive results in term of admissions, enhancing the trust of the students in the University’s teaching system.

On the directives of the Vice Chancellor, students were facilitated in the admission process and it was for the first time that the admission forms were made available at the University’s website. With well-coordinated multi-media support, the prospective students were kept informed about the admission process.

A number of scholarships schemes were launched to accommodate the students who were otherwise unable to carry on their education due to financial problem. A special budget of Rs10 million was allocated for the purpose.

On the initiative of the Vice Chancellor, some new academic programs were introduced to meet the specific needs of the students. The most significant part of the University’s achievement is the strength of its female students that is around 57 percent of total enrolment.

Mostly students belong to poor segments of society or less-developed regions who could not join formal system of education due to financial and social-cultural constraints.

The AIOU is the only University in the country which has made the education accessible to all segments of society through open distance learning. Around 44 campuses are functioning around the country bringing the education at the door-steps of the people.