A 12-member delegation comprising female students and Faculty’s members of Jamiah-Al-Azhar, Egypt (Urdu department) on Thursday visited Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) and showed keen interest in promoting collaborative partnership.
The visit was the part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed earlier between the two sides for promoting study of Urdu and Arabic languages at higher education level.
Led by Prof. Dr. Noha Mostafa, the delegation was welcomed by the AIOU’s Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zia Ul Qayyum, and other senior academicians and principal officers of the University.
The visit was arranged in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. It was noted that the two sides have already started mutual cooperation and students’ exchange program under the MoU.
On the proposal of the Vice Chancellor, it was agreed that the scope of the MoU will be further expanded having research-based faculty’s support for the students of each other Universities in learning the two languages.
During discussion, held on the occasion, it was agreed that the two mega Universities will work out further areas of cooperation in promoting Urdu-Arabic based research work.
Dr. Zia Ul Qayyum assured that the AIOU will extend necessary support to the students of Jamiah Al Azhar for learning the languages at M. Phil and PhD level.
He lauded the reputation and academic-ranking of Al-Azhar World over, particularly in the Muslim countries. It will be their pride to have close partnership with it in the educational sector.
The AIOU, being the country’s biggest educational institution, in term of its students’ enrollment and country-wide infrastructure network will be prepared for strengthening the mutual cooperation between two Muslim countries.
Earlier, Dean Social Sciences Dr. Samina Awan, Registrar Dr. Muhammad Zaigham Qadeer, Chairman Urdu Department Dr. Abdul Aziz Sehir and Director International Collaboration and Exchange office Dr. Zahid Majeed briefed the delegation about the working of the University, particularly its contribution in promoting Urdu language in the country.
Published in Daily Times, November 30th 2018.