Agreement signed: AIOU to promote skill-based education

The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) on Wednesday signed an agreement with the Skill Development Council to promote skill-based education.

Under the agreement, the university will soon launch short-term technical courses for industrial workers and fresh graduates, while the council will lend technical support.

A well-equipped laboratory will be set up on the university’s main campus to help the students polish their skills in automobile and engineering.

Initially, it will be a one year pilot project that will facilitate people of Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Lahore regions.

The AIOU Vice-Chancellor Prof, Shahid Siddiqui, said that the university was engaged in promoting collaboration with national and international institutes for capacity-building of its students to meet challenges with hands-on skills.

Pakistan needs to overcome the gap between theoretical knowledge and skill. The educational institutes must provide opportunities for their students to get hands-on experience, he said.

Siddiqui said that technically well-equipped manpower could be an effective source for the socio-economic development of the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2016.