ISLAMABAD: University affairs run better if the head of the body is permanent which is a symbol of ideal system but I will take pragmatic measures to run the administration of the varsity according to the requirements of the modern education domain, Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) Acting Vice Chancellor Dr Nasir Mahmood said. He said that the culture of ad-hocism ruins the systems in any organisation in any country, adding that all key slots in educational institutions should be filled on permanent basis. Talking exclusively to Daily Times, AIOU AVC Dr Nasir Mahmood said that he is trying his best to formulate and implement ideal policies in a short span of time for which he has been assigned the task of acting vice chancellor-ship. Established in 1974, the AIOU is the sole university in the country that provides distant learning education to its students. Dr Nasir Mahmood said that roughly, over a million students are enrolled at the university from across the country each year in different courses. Currently, the varsity offers around 2,000 courses, he said claiming it has established nine regional campuses, 33 regional centres and 41 approved study centres in various parts of the country to facilitate a maximum number of students. The post of AIOU vice chancellor became vacant on October 8 when Dr Shahid Siddiqui took retirement on completion of his four years tenure. The federal government initiated the process for selection of a new head of distant learning education institution. For this purpose, a search committed was devised which comprised of Minister for Federal Education & Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood as chairman while it includes Federal Education Ministry Secretary Arshad Mirza, Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Tariq Banuri, former federal minister Dr Sania Nishtar and Syed Javed Hassan. The eligibility of the search committee has been challenged in Islamabad High Court last week. A senior official of the ministry said that the selection process of the new VC may be delayed a little due to court intervention in the matter. He said that this is why the ministry appointed Dr Nasir on interim basis so that official affairs could be run smoothly. Dr Nasir resumed charge of acting VC last week. According to the notification, he will serve until the appointment of a regular person. The AVC has dual charge in the university as he is also the chairman of Early Childhood Education & Elementary Teacher Education Department. He has done his post doctorate from the University of Leeds and Melbourne University besides winning the HEC’s Best Researchers’ Award. Apart from all the staff, according to an official statement of the AIOU, the AVC has been warmly welcomed by all employee associations in the university. It said that representatives of all bodies of AIOU welcomed the government’s decision to appoint Dr Nasir as the university’s AVC. The office-bearers of Academic Staff Association, Officers Welfare Association and the Employees Welfare Association in a meeting with the AVC assured him of their support and cooperation in running the affairs of the university in the transition period. Published in Daily Times, October 18th 2018.