AIOU - Students Friendly University

Universities are responsible for developing and disseminating knowledge by conducting scientific research. The AIOU Faculty is fully equipped to take the post-modern knowledge to the door step of the people of Pakistan through the use of Hi Tech and high commitment. AIOU enrolls about one million students every semester to its various programs.
The very concept of imparting education through Distance learning System suits our country owing to the geographical and gender related hurdles in our society that limit the availability of formal system of education. The University has a flexible system and does not have restrictions of age, locality or gender. AIOU developed unprecedented growth in terms of students' enrolment, programme offerings, and physical infrastructure both at main campus and in the regions.
I wish all those who are taking admission in the Spring 2011 Semester of AIOU. Contrary to the formal education system, AIOU puts more emphases on the use of technology for learning of students. The university has a large number of student enrolled in its various programs, spread all over the country and Middle East is fully equipped to use hi-the for taking the post-modern knowledge to the door steps of people of Pakistan.
Students' Facilitation:
The AIOU Computer Center is facilitating students through its powerful data services in the following areas:
Admission Inquiry
The admission procedure of the University takes quite some time to finalise. During this period, the student is anxious to know whether he/she has been admitted or not and hence tries to contract the University again and again for confirmation of his/her admission. This feature facilitates such students to check the status of their admission online without actually coming to the University which saves their time and money. They can also check the accuracy of their particulars and the error, if any eg in name and address can be rectified immediately which can be helpful to avoid many problems eg mailing of books to wrong address etc.
Date Sheet
This facility allows the students sufficient time period for preparation of examination after study period. As soon as the date sheet for the examination is finalised by the University, it is made available on the web and the students are able to know their examination dates before the roll no slips which are dispatched through post, actually reach them. This helps the students to check the date-sheet for their course in time to help plan their schedule.
Roll No Slips with photographs
This allows the student to view and print his/her Roll No. Slip from the website in case he/she does not receive it through postal service. The superintendents at the examination centers have been instructed to accept Roll No. Slips. It also helps to control impersonation cases.
Results
The result of the semester is published on the website as soon as it is declared. It facilitates the student to view and print his/her results before the results intimation card reaches their address through postal service. In addition, the student can also view his previous results profile and contradiction, if any, can be communicated to the University through web facility ie complaint management system.
Tutor Information
In every semester, a large number of Tutors are allocated to AIOU students to check their assignments and to extend necessary guidance to them. Students were facing difficulty in receiving tutor intimation in time. With the availability of their tutor information on web, the student can get required information in time.
Tutors Registration Confirmation
In every semester, AIOU hires a large number of teaching staff called II Tutor for the purpose of teaching various courses ranging from secondary level to Ph.D degree. A tutor specific database is maintained by the University and the AIOU website has facilitated theses tutors to check their registration/particulars online.
Assignment marks
The student can view marks obtained in his assignments and in case of any problem eg wrong/missing marks etc can contact AIOU instantly for necessary correction in his record before declaration of results.
Important Information
The AIOU students can get important information regarding their studies which are displayed on web for passing timely information to them. The information usually notify Workshop schedules, Merit lists, Tutor information, Scholarships and Events at Campus & Regions etc.
Downloads
The student had to personally come to the main campus/regional office to get various forms for the desired purpose for which they had to travel long distances. The University has made available various necessary forms on web to eg various Admission Forms, various Certificate/degree Forms, NOC Form, etc.
The student can download these forms from web, fill it and submit to the University to get desired document. This facility has saved them from travelling to the campus for just a form. The admission forms for the continuing students are sent through post to the concerned students. In some Instances, these forms do no reach the student in time which create problem for these students in submitting the form before closing date causing the student to lose the semester. To take care of this problem, the admission forms for continuing students have also been provided on the website. The student can now download continuing form from the web, fill it and dispatch it to the University in time without fear of losing semester.
Complaint Management System
The above features of the AIOU website provide all the information about each area of the University but if a user or a student does not find his desired information, he/she can communicate electronically with the University through AIOU Communication Box to get his/her desired information from the concerned department. This is a very powerful feature of the website which allows two-way communication between the student and the University. The students are encouraged to use it for queries, complaints and to get their desired information.
Reduction in students' complaints and litigations
The use of hi-tech in the AIOU has greatly helped in eliminating the physical distances between the University and its students and thus made available needful information to the students. The Wi-Fi system also enhanced the communication and co-ordination among the faculty members, tutors and students. Students are being facilitated through its powerful data services in areas of admissions, conduct of exams, results, tutor registration & allocation, student queries, academic record, etc. Similarly with database at backend, the students can now get the desired information of the University or contact concerned departments for any query or complaint immediately without actually coming unnecessarily to the campus which saves their time, money and other resources. Due to these developments under the leadership of the present Vice Chancellor, Dr Nazir Sangi, 60 to 70 percent students' complaints and litigations have been decreased.
In-time completion of students' activities
Under the present dynamic leadership, the Allama Iqbal Open University is making milestone achievements in timely completion of students' academic activities including Admission process, mail study packages, classes, assignments, workshops, examination, evaluation of papers and declaration of results etc. This in-time completion of students' activity has not only save precious time of the students but has also increased admission percentage in various programs of the university.
Students Profile
It is a matter of great honour for Allama Iqbal Open University that it has provided basic to higher education to millions of students in which 70 percent are employed. The ratio of rural and urban students is 58 percent and 42 percent. Where as female students are more than 50 percent. The admission trend in secondary, intermediate, graduation and teacher training is comparatively higher. The University has given a special importance to higher education due to which teachers of other Universities are taking admission in the University's M.Phil and PhD programs.
Quite a large number of the University's graduates are serving at higher positions in the public and private sectors. Many of them are holding position as Federal Secretaries, Generals, bank presidents, politicians, etc. Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Honourable (Shaheed) Benazir Bhutoo had been student of the University by taking admission in the Pakistani languages Department. The University takes it a great pride.
Hi-Tech Facilities at AIOU
The University has installed a state of the art Wi-Fi Mesh network system to supplement the fiber optic backbone system and to provide interconnectivity with in the campus.
The Wi-Fi system enhanced the communication and co-ordination among the regional offices of AIOU, faculty members, tutors, students and researchers.
The Wi-Fi Mesh network system also facilitates the students and teachers through video conferencing in the academic workshops and lectures.
The University has also started using SMS service being provided by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to get fast connection with its students living in every nook and corner of the country.
AIOU has recently embarked upon a mega project strengthening of AIOU aiming at initiating a universal quality education out-reach to Pakistani public through satellite by establishing interactive information and communication infrastructure and quality conscious education delivery and support systems.
Modern Infrastructure & Facilities
-- Equipped with Student survey desk
-- Student project lab
-- E-learning labs
-- Workshop rooms
-- Training labs
-- Media library
-- Video conferencing
-- Digital library
-- Conference rooms
Media research center
Web-based online course offering and student data management facilities information sharing with regional offices to facilitate students.
AIOU Radio and TV Broadcasting
The reach all the nooks and corners of the country, the university is utilising electronic media, both broadcast and not broadcast for the leaning of its students. The University has established its own FM 91.6 Radio Channel for educational programs to its students. To pool knowledge and experiences in the field of education and research, AIOU has developed a platform of educational FM Radio stations of various Universities in the country.
AIOU is also broadcasting one hour television programs daily on PTV National. The newly constructed studios in the university are well equipped to produce TV Radio and broadcast programs. The AIOU is planning to launch its own TV channel which will be an historic advancement towards Virtual Education.