HYDERABAD: The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has launched six short courses with the objective to enhance skill and knowledge in the agriculture sector. According to announcement on Friday, the last date for admissions in these courses is September 5. The courses would teach about plant protection, oil seed crops production, farm machinery, dairy farming, poultry farming, advanced agriculture, improved methods of fruit production, home and farm operational management and farm income generating skills. AIOU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Shahid Siddiqui informed that these courses aim at providing higher education to the people in rural areas. He said that the curriculum of these courses was updated to educate the students about the latest techniques and methods in the field of agriculture. “We are laying greater focus on the socio-economic needs of the society,” he added. He informed that the university has set-up “prospectus sale points” at tehsil level across the country to facilitate the new applicants at their doorstep. Dr Shahid Siddiqui hoped that the people of rural areas would take advantage of the university’s academic programme. “We provide affordable and flexible means of education that facilitates all age groups,” he added. The vice chancellor said that these courses would benefit the women, who otherwise were not able to join a formal educational system, due to social and security constraints. The AIOU is also offering postgraduate diplomas in gender and women studies, human resource management (HRM), dietetics for dieticians and nutrition for physicians. An associate degree in commerce was introduced in nine different disciplines. These specialisations comprise accounting and finance, banking and finance, hospital management, hotel management, human resource management, IT management, marketing management and tourism management. The last date for the admission in these programmes is September 15.