IN view of the importance of distance learning especially in the context of Pakistan where the youth especially females from remote areas find it difficult to move to urban centres for studies, Allama Iqbal University (AIOU) is rendering a great service to satisfy the quest of the people of different age groups to get education in different disciplines through a network of forty-nine regional campuses spread across the country.
It is heartening to note that under the incumbent Vice Chairman of AIOU Dr Zia-ul-Qayyum, the institution is turning to a technology-based university through a gradual process. It has now been reported that the university is on the path of rapid digitalization which indeed will go a long way in bringing transparency and efficiency in its overall working as well as providing best possible services to its around 1.4 million students. Given the revolution brought by digitalization in every sector of life, it is important that our universities also take full benefit from the latest technology in order to train and educate the youth as per the modern day requirements as well using it to facilitate the students. We are confident that the complete digitalization of all the processes of the AIOU will really help make the distance learning for the students more effective and an enjoyable experience. The process of automation should not confine only to admission and examination systems but should also see up-gradation of academic discipline by introducing students’ friendly digitized teaching and learning system as is the case in other countries. For achieving the task, the AIOU may also examine learning practices of other open universities of the world as well. Today our youth have access to internet in the rural areas. Such arrangements be made that the youth can take their tutorials from their own homes. We also expect that the federal government and the HEC will provide all the necessary resources to the AIOU for successfully implementing this project of great importance.
