AIOU to open institute in Kyrgyzstan

Federal cabinet gives approval to MoU signed between Kygyz educational complex and AIOU


APP May 24, 2018
PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE

ISLAMABAD: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) got the approval of the federal cabinet to set up its distance learning institute in Kyrgyzstan.

The cabinet on Tuesday approved the proposal for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Educational Scientific Productive Complex International of Kyrgyzstan (ESPC) and the AIOU in the field of distance education.

The University has sought the approval of the cabinet through the Higher Education Commission (HEC) for signing the MoU. Vice Chancellor Dr Shahid Siddiqui on Wednesday termed the cabinet's approval a major step forward towards the establishment of its centre in Kyrgyzstan.

HEC provides free online access to AIOU

As per the proposed MoU, International University of Kyrgyzstan (IUK) and AIOU will establish a joint distance learning institute for the benefit of their students and academic staff. The proposed institute will be set up in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyz Republic, in support of government of Pakistan and HEC. Faculty members of AIOU will be engaged for the purpose.

Kyrgyz-Pak Institute of Distance Education will undertake academic research, publications, academic information, computational science and optimisation of applications performance on HPC systems.

AIOU will provide the technical expertise and academic support  and ESPC will arrange space, equipment, and staff to run the institute.

There will be joint delivery of programs in various disciplines through online or blended learning facilities.

The two sides will also collaborate in online offering Arabic, Urdu, Russian, Kyrgyz and English, linguistics courses or other programs and to establish linguistics studies centre;AIOU will train the master trainers in Arabic and English languages to cascade the same in ESPC.

They will also explore mutually interested fields and conduct cooperative research projects, such as ICT and e-Learning programmes applications in general education and science, technical and vocational education.

AIOU’s international collaboration and exchange office in-charge Dr Zahid Majeed said the necessary process for setting up the institute will be started soon, in light of the cabinet's approval.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24th, 2018.

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