Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has established the first-ever Self Access Centre (SAC) in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) at University's main campus on Thursday. In this regard, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Professor Dr Sohail Naqvi, executive director, HEC and Professor Dr Mahmood-ul-Hasan Butt, Vice Chancellor, AIOU at a ceremony held here on behalf of their respective organisations.
The Centre will facilitate teacher training especially in the Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) and Internet Mediated Language Learning (IML). It will also enable the teachers to use latest tools of computer and internet in language classrooms and help the teachers and researchers update their knowledge about the latest trends in language learning and teaching.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Naqvi said that the centre will prove to be a role model for other universities to follow. He said that it has been realised at HEC that English language is an issue in the higher education sector.
"We have been giving special attention to improve the level of English language teaching in the universities and, for this purpose, special courses have been devised for training oof English teachers," he said. Dr Butt thanked the HEC for selecting AIOU for this model Centre and expressed full confidence in the University's English Department to run the Centre.
Noor Amna Malik, director general, Learning Innovation, HEC briefed the audience about the English Language Teaching Reforms (ELTR) project and said that it has imparted training to more than 1,350 teachers. She explained the need to establish SAC at AIOU and pointed out that the University is striving hard to strengthen the already existing distance education system.