Allama Iqbal Open University

Allama Iqbal Open University
Motto 'Education for All'
Type Public
Established 1974 (1974)[1]
Endowment Government of Pakistan
Chancellor President of Pakistan
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Shahid Siddiqui[2]
Academic staff
 2899
Students 1,326,266
Location Islamabad, Pakistan
Campus Urban
Colours Sky blue, Orange, White            
Nickname AIOU
Affiliations Higher Education Commission (Pakistan)
Website aiou.edu.pk

The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) is a public university in Islamabad, Pakistan.[3] The university is the world's fourth largest institution of higher learning, with an annual enrollment of 1,121,038 students (as of 2010), the majority are women and course enrollment of 3,305,948 (2011).[4] The university has 32 regional campuses and centers throughout Pakistan.[1]

Allama Iqbal Open University is an attractive option for common people who can not afford highly expensive education in Pakistan's private universities. Online learning is mostly offered free or at a minimal cost to the consumer.[5]

Objectives and mission

Established in 1974, it is Asia's first open university with a strong emphasis on providing distance education in philosophy, natural science and social sciences.[1][5][6] It is considered the most attractive university in the country and has the most applicants per year.[7]

AIOU offers extensive undergraduate and post-graduate programs in academic disciplines.[8] After witnessing the success of Open University in the United Kingdom, AIOU was established as a public university in 1974.[4]

AIOU is noted for its cost-effective policy to provide higher and lifelong education to people learning from their homes and places of work at a minimum cost through a specialized fund managed by the government.[1][4]

AIOU is open to everyone and provides education to all without any discrimination.[1]

Administration and governance

  • Chancellor (President of Pakistan)
  • Pro-Chancellor (Federal Minister for Education, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training)
  • Vice Chancellor (Chief Executive Officer/Head of the institution)
  • Executive Council (Governing Body)

Faculties and departments

Faculty of Arabic and Islamic Studies

Established in 1974, the faculty was upgraded as the Faculty of Arabic and Islamic Studies in 1998, with the following departments:

Faculty of Education

Established in 1984, the Faculty of Education's origin predates the university. A National Institute of Education was established in 1973 as a part of the Federal Ministry of Education, to improve education at school levels through in-service training of Master Trainers. This institute became a part of the university in June 1975.

The Faculty of Education has the following departments:

Faculty of Sciences

Renamed as Faculty of Sciences, the Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences was established in 1982. It comprises the following nine departments:

Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities

The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities was established in 1982. The 13 departments of the faculty are:

Commemorative postage stamp

On the university's 25th anniversary, Pakistan Post issued a commemorative postage stamp for it on 20 November 1999.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "25 Years of Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad (University Profile)". paknetmag.com website. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 News Desk (16 January 2017). "Education options: Nine new academic courses at Allama Iqbal Open University". The Express Tribune (newspaper). Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  3. ↑ google maps. "Location and address of Allama Iqbal Open University". google maps. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 "Brief history". Archived from the original on 15 September 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  5. 1 2 Fahad Malik (1 September 2016). "Online learning". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  6. ↑ "Listing programs". Listing programs. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  7. 1 2 Siddiqui, Shoaib-ur-Rehman (18 September 2013). "AIOU attracts large number of students". Business Recorder (newspaper). Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  8. ↑ "Education programs at AIOU". Education programs at AIOU. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
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