Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has started free of charge 6-month-duration of Computer Training Programme for the flood affected youth of Southern Punjab.
Under this programme, total 2,000 students will be trained in four different phases. Well-equipped laboratory with the support of American Institute of Electronic Engineering has been set up for this purpose at DG Khan.
Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nazir Ahmed Sangi inaugurated the computer training programme through Video-Conferencing here from the main campus of the University, says a press release.
Dr Sangi said the university is also working on a plan to set a world-level computer training centre in the region.
Meanwhile, a follow-up project assisted by the government of Japan was launched here to help the AIOU to maintain and strengthen its audio-video system for providing equal quality education to its students across the country.
The government of Japan in 1996 under grant-in-aid programme entitled ‘improvement of equipments’ at the institute of Educational technology of AIOU had provided useful equipments included an out- door video van for making television programmes for the consumption of its students.
Under the follow-up project, the Japanese company JICA has agreed to replace the needed parts of the equipments and do their repairing work.
The launching ceremony, presided over by the vice chancellor was also attended by the head of Economic and Development section embassy of Japan Kaoru Magosaki and chief representative of JICA Takatoshi Nishikata.
While addressing the ceremony Kaoru Magosaki noted that the University successfully utilized the equipments since their installation and proved their worth for their students.
He appreciated the achievements of the AIOU in properly modernizing its educational system and taking it at the door-step of the people in the country’s remote areas. He assured that his government will continue to assist AIOU in enhancing its educational facilities.
The chief of JICA said they will fulfill their commitment for properly maintaining and updating the audio-video equipments including the outdoor broadcasting van for facilitating the students of the far-flung regions.
The vice chancellor thanked the government of Japan for its continuous support to AIOU for up-grading its technology-based distance-learning system. The equipments provided by JICA proved high beneficial for the students in achieving excellence in their respective fields. He also sought assistance of Japanese government and the JICA for implementing its some other important projects like open-schooling and drop-out students’ programme. He said the AIOU was in process of setting up 33 model student centres to be fully equipped with latest technology and video conference system, especially in the country’s remote regions.
