ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) allocated Rs 160 million in its annual budget for providing scholarships to the deserving students, particularly those living in less-developed regions.
This was stated by the Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Shahid Siddiqui while addressing students of local schools and colleges at the “Open Day” held in Islamabad on Tuesday at the University’s main campus.
The day was arranged by the university’s directorate of students affairs to apprise the visitors of its more than 100 academic programs, many of them relating to the country’s socio-economic needs.
The budgetary allocation has recently been increased from Rs 100 to Rs 160 to ensure that financial constrains should not be a hurdle in the educational process.
The AIOU, as a mega University in the public sector wishes to fulfill its responsibility of meeting the educational needs of the people across the board, and to reach the people at their door-step through distance learning system.
It was their pride that 56 percent are females among the total 1.3 million enrolled students. Moreover, it takes special care for marginalized and less-privileged section of the society, he added.
The AIOU is providing free education to disabled persons as well as prisoners. The main target before the University is to enable it students to earn their livelihood through respectful means.
To this end, it has launched a number of vocational, technical courses and agro-based courses.
Hundreds of local students visited the “Open Day” and showed keen interest in the University’s ongoing programs. They were facilitated to visit the University’s facilities including Labs, Library and Institute of Education technology.
Dr. Shahid Siddiqui hoped they would take benefit of new academic programs and the educational services, recently undertaken by the University.
Director Admissions, Syed Zia-ul Hasnain and Director Students Affairs Rana Tariq Javed apprised the students of the ongoing admissions that will continue till October 10.
The scholarship package includes: Earn to learn scheme, Merit Scholarship Scheme, Outreach Scholarship Scheme, Final Year Project Gant Scheme, Scholarship for Communities, and Scholarship for Women, Fee Installment Scheme and Alumni/Sponsored Scholarship.
Besides this, Fee installment facility is also available, the officials said.
Merit scholarships scheme is an initiative to generate competition among students and encourage brilliant students. The scholarship is being offered to the fresh and continuing students of all levels scoring 75 percent and above marks in their latest results.
Three lucky-draws were also arranged on the occasion that covered the winners total fee of first semester in their respective programs.
