Allama Iqbal Open University

The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) is a public university in Islamabad, Pakistan. 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 44 regional campuses and centers throughout Pakistan including in Faisalabad Millat Road, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan.[2][5]

Allama Iqbal Open University
Motto'Education for All'
TypePublic
Established1974 (1974)
EndowmentGovernment of Pakistan
ChancellorPresident of Pakistan
Vice-ChancellorProf. Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum [1]
Academic staff
2899
Students1,326,266
Location
Islamabad
,
Pakistan
CampusUrban
ColoursSky blue, orange, white
            
NicknameAIOU
AffiliationsHigher Education Commission (Pakistan)[2]
Pakistan Engineering Council[3]
Websitewww.aiou.edu.pk

Allama Iqbal Open University is an attractive option for people who cannot afford highly expensive education in Pakistan's private universities. Online learning is mostly offered free or at a minimal cost to the consumer.[6]

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.[5][6][7] It has the most applicants per year of any university in Pakistan.

AIOU offers extensive undergraduate and post-graduate programs in academic disciplines.[8] After witnessing the success of the 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.[5][4]

AIOU is open to everyone and provides education to all without any discrimination.[5]

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:

  • Adult and Continuing Education[5]
  • Distance and Non-Formal Education[5]
  • Educational Planning and Management
  • Science Education
  • Special Education
  • Teacher Education (Secondary)
  • Teacher Education (Elementary)

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 16 departments of the faculty are:

  • Business Administration
  • Management Sciences[1]
  • Commerce
  • Economics
  • English Language and Applied Linguistics
  • History
  • Iqbal Studies
  • Library and information sciences
  • Mass Communication[2]
  • Pakistan Studies
  • Pakistani languages
  • Sociology, Social Work and Population Studies
  • Gender and Women's Studies

Commemorative postage stamp
Allama Iqbal Open University Postal Stamp by Pakistan Post

On the university's 25th anniversary, Pakistan Post issued a commemorative postage stamp for it on 20 November 1999.[5]

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References
  1. "Education options: Nine new academic courses at Allama Iqbal Open University". The Express Tribune (newspaper). 16 January 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  2. Usama Fayyaz (22 July 2019). "Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) launches four-year BS programmes". Business Recorder (newspaper). Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  3. "Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) gets accreditation of BE Telecom from Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC)". Associated Press of Pakistan website. 1 May 2014. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  4. "Brief history". Archived from the original on 15 September 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  5. "25 Years of Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad (scroll down to this section with University Profile)". paknetmag.com website. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  6. Fahad Malik (1 September 2016). "Online learning". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  7. "Listing programs". Listing programs. Archived from the original on 19 September 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  8. "Education programs at AIOU". Education programs at AIOU. Archived from the original on 24 September 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
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