Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), Department of Commerce is offering Associate Degree in Commerce with specialisation in Accounting and Finance, Banking and Finance, Marketing Management, Human Resource Management, I.T. Management, Hospital Management, Hotel Management and Tourism Management.
Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Professor Dr Abdul Hafeez informed that the programme has been designed in consultation with Higher Education Commission of Pakistan to develop professionally trained human resources for the specific needs of the industry.
The Associate Degree is primarily developed for those students who cannot join four years programme due to any constraint and want to seek jobs at early stages, he said.
Dr Abdul Hafeez said that after successful completion of the degree the students will not only be able get jobs in industry but may also join B.S. programme in fifth semester or M.Com programme at any time in future. He said that Associate Degree is equivalent to two year graduation adding that this Degree is skill oriented education and better as compared to general graduation.
He said that the Associate Degree has two-year duration and consists of four semesters. He said that criteria for admission is intermediate or equivalent having at least 2nd division (45 percent marks).
The programme will be offered at all Regional Centers of the University where a reasonable group of students is formed. At least 70 percent class attendance of students would be mandatory to qualify them for appearing in exams. Similarly, Department of Commerce will also offer the admissions of M. Com (Accounting and Finance) programme which will consist of four semesters (2 years).