Jail inmates: AIOU vice chancellor for launching free of cost education programmes

Vice Chancellor, Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), Dr Shahid Siddiqui said that they are focusing on the quality of education rather than quantity (of students) and various approaches and plans were being adopted to materialise it.
He expressed his views while talking on the occasion of his visit to Sindh province to seek suggestions from regional offices of AIOU to improve the system as the better education to be provided at gross level, especially at doorstep of poor students living in remote areas of the province.
"We are focusing on five areas where the research is very important area and the ranking of any university is based on research and its publications", VC said.
We are introducing research incentive of Rs 25,000 -30,000 for employees who have produced research paper and got it published in HEC recognised generals, Siddiqui said.
Besides, any employee produced any paper to present in the conferences and his travelling allowances and others expenses would be borne by the university, he said.
If the research is not disseminated to the people and it would be useless, he said adding we have re-launched some generals which could not be published since last two years. More important another way to disseminate such research is to organise the conference nationally and internationally where these research papers and other research material would be presented, he added.
Another core area which being focused is revision of curriculum because since last many years, the curriculum in university was not updated and we are working to update it, VC said.
It is necessary to revise the curriculum after every two years because such trends are being seen across the world, he said. Third areas are professional development of employees by enhancing their skills and knowledge, he said adding various trainings and workshops would be organised to enhance their skills and knowledge.
We are planning to organise the trainings with collaboration with HEC for Regional Directors at provincial level on the subject of governance, finance and audit, he told.
Aside from this, we are focusing to improve the management system where we set up complaint centre and call centre to address the issues of students as quickly as possible because the student is the asset of university, Siddiqui said.
I have already directed Regional Director to expedite the process for addressing the complaints of students and whatever query arises, it should be addressed in time without delay, VC said.
Delivery systems should be made effective because if the books were delivered in time and exams were held in time, it would improve overall the image of university, he said. More than 1.3 million are enrolled in the university and the enrolment would further increase because the trend of formal education is diverting to informal education, he said. The renowned universities across the World launched online courses for students living anywhere in any country and there is no age limit and geographic hindrance for such course, he said.
We are launching free of cost education programs for inmates of various jail across the country as they can get the degrees and contribute in better way after their release from jails, he said.
There are about 97 jails including women jails and jails for children who are in jails in minor cases, he said adding we want to educate them in jails and engage them in social activities after their release.
Apart from this, they would sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) with Sindh government to set up the one room office for providing information and other support to the students of remote areas at doorstep, he said. Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor Sindh Agriculture University, Mujeebuddin Memon suggested that MoU should be signed with Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam to launch short courses on livestock and agri-based course to support the income of farmers living in the far areas of province, he said.
Vice Chancellors SAU Mujeebuddin Memon, Professor Ismail Kunbhar, Regional Directors and Tutors were present on the occasion.