Daily Times

Islamabad: The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has completed the process of admissions for the semester spring 2016, and even uploaded the particulars of the students on its website www.aiou.edul.pk

The Admissions Director, Syed Zia-ul-Hasnain, announced this in his address to a ceremony. He said, “it is to facilitate the students who after the submission of admission forms are waiting for books.”It was also noted that objection letters have also been sent through registered post to applicants, who submitted incomplete admission forms so that they can remove the objection. All information on objectionable forms has also been uploaded on AIOU website. He also announced that the last date for the submission of duplicate form is June 20, 2016, after which, no form will be entertained and the students will granted admission in next semester, with an adjustment in their fee.

Dr Shahid Siddiqui, Vice-Chancellor, AIOU, said in his address at the meeting of senior academicians and services’ heads that over 6,90,000 students had entered into the educational net of the University in spring 2016 semester, which to date remains the highest-ever number of enrollments in the varsity’s long history, since 1976.

He said that this year, the students’ enrollment had been 50,000 over the last year’s figure. Since spring 2013 semester, there was a downward trend of students’ admission, which had now gotten improved in the last one and half years. This had resulted from strategies to streamline the admission, mailing, evaluation and examination system.

Siddique said that a greater focus was now being laid on the quality of education and the research-based activities.“Overall annual students’ enrollment would reach 1.4 million, with the start of new admissions that will take place from August 1 to September 5. And in comparison with the accumulated students’ enrollment figures of all the Universities of the country, the AIOU will be on the top,” he added.

Vice-chancellor said that the growing enrollment showed that the University had now reached peoples’ doorsteps in all parts of the country, through its well-organized multi-media support. There is a considerable increase in the students’ trust in the University’s open distance learning system as well.