Islamabad : Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) intends to collaborate with national universities to advance modern digital learning, recognizing the rapidly growing importance of online education in Pakistan. “The shift toward digital education is transforming higher learning in the country” said Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Nasir Mahmood during the inaugural session of a five-day training workshop on the ODL (Open and Distance Learning) policy.
Dr. Mahmood added “As a leading institution, AIOU aims to guide universities in adopting modern digital education models and leveraging our state-of-the-art data center, Campus Management System (CMS) and Learning Management System (LMS) to build a cohesive, modern educational ecosystem.”
Addressing the participants he said, “During this workshop you will explore the university’s ICT infrastructure, campus management and learning management systems and evaluate how these tools can be adapted to benefit your own institutions.”
The workshop was organized by AIOU’s Directorate of Collaboration and Exchange with support from the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
In his remarks Nasir Shah, Director General of Quality Assurance at HEC emphasized, “Our goal is not to create degree mills but to promote quality education. Universities need AIOU’s guidance and support to successfully implement online education.”
The ceremony was also attended by HEC’s Deputy Director of Quality Assurance, Dr. Abdullah Anwar, Director General (Scholarships), Ayesha Ikram and AIOU’s Director of International Affairs, Dr. Zahid Majeed. Speakers highlighted the importance of the ODL policy, its implementation, and its potential to elevate online education standards across Pakistan.
Faculty members, IT experts, and focal persons from Quaid-i-Azam University, International Islamic University, NUST, Bahria University, and COMSATS—25 senior participants in total—are undergoing ODL training. This initiative is expected to significantly enhance the quality of education and strengthen digital learning capabilities nationwide.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
