ISLAMABAD: Master-level 162 enrolled students of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) Rawalpindi-Islamabad region at a ceremony held received laptops under Prime Minister ‘s scheme Phase-III.
The distribution of the laptops, took place according to the merit-criteria laid down by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). A transparent mechanism was adopted while implementing the scheme, said Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Shahid Siddiqui while chairing lap-tops’ distribution ceremony. Congratulating the recipients, he said it was reward of their hard work and talents.
He hoped that they will use the facility to do their academic research that helps to bring positive change in their individual and collective life. He asserted that the education should be made beneficial for the society, and with this spirit, he added, the AIOU focused on research-based activities and linked these with the society, addressing its socio-economic issues.
He noted that as many as 2500 M.Phil and PhD students of the University have already received the laptops, on country-wide basis. They are proud of their talented students, and expecting them to serve the society.
The University, he said had special distinction among the country’s educational institutions in term of enrollment that reached to 1.3 million, among those 56 percent are females, mostly belonged to remote regions.
Dr. Shahid Siddiqui shared with the laptops’ recipients the University’s academic achievements in the recent years, particularly developing it as research-based institution. They have published fourteen brand new journals and arranged twenty-seven national and international conferences during last the last three years.
Special focus was also laid on professional development, students’ support system and revision of curriculum. Qualitative improvement was brought about in admission, examination and books’ mailing system. He also told them about community’s welfare projects undertaken in the recent years that included provision of free education to all categories of disabled, prisoners and drop-out students.
The ceremony was attended among other by Dean Social Sciences Dr. Samina Awan, Dean Education Dr. Nasir Mahmood, Director Regional Service Dr. Arif Saleem Arif and Director Students affairs Rana Tariq Javed. NNI
