ISLAMABAD: The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) will launch a special M.Phil (Professional track) degree programme for young practicing journalists from the next semester. Senior media practitioners will be invited to share their knowledge and skill with their fellow colleagues. This will enable the on-job professionals to enhance their working capability. Besides this, the university’s Department of Mass Communication has developed short-term courses in various media’s disciplines that will also be introduced from next year, said Vice Chancellor Dr Shahid Siddiqui while briefing a group of columnists and writers. he said the AIOU, being a media-based institution providing education to the people through distance-learning, wished to serve the journalist community by meeting their professional requirements.