The Higher Education Commission in Pakistan (HEC) project of HEC convened the third conference of the consortium of 11 universities to develop high-quality asynchronous online courses at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU). These programs will serve as a part of the nation’s new undergraduate core curriculum.
Additionally, the collaboration was developed based on the knowledge and objectives of these universities. to develop and deliver robust online learning environments and courses. The universities included in the partnership are Balochistan University of Information and Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, Agha Khan University Karachi, and AIOU Islamabad (BUITEMS).
The consortium of universities
These universities’ expertise and excitement for developing and providing top-notch online learning platforms and in-depth online courses served as the foundation for the consortium’s formation. Vice Chancellors (VCs) and senior officials of all the following universities were part of the meeting and the consortium:
- AIOU Islamabad
- Agha Khan University, Karachi
- Balochistan University of Information Technology
- Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), Quetta
- COMSATS University, Islamabad
- Habib University, Karachi
- Hazara University, Mansehra
- Lahore College for Women University
- Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)
- National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST)
- University of Baltistan, Skardu
- Virtual University, Lahore
Dr. Nasir Mahmood, the VC of AIOU, welcomed everyone and pledged AIOU’s support. Dr. Mahmood Butt, Project Coordinator, HEDP, moderated the discussion and emphasized the importance of the universities contribution to creating PakistanEdX’s future courses.
In addition, HEC’s executive director Dr. Shasta Sohail chaired the session. In her opening remarks, she said, “As a woman, I am glad to be a part of his initiative as it will benefit all, irrespective of gender. Pakistan Edx will enable women to continue contributing to the economy without compromising their domestic and official responsibilities. Many women, especially in disadvantaged areas, will benefit as mobility can be an issue for women in many areas in our country”.
Dr. Nasir Mehmood, the BC of AIOU, also extended a warm welcome to everyone and vowed AIOU’s assistance. The conversation was conducted by Dr. Mahmood Butt, project coordinator for HEDP, who underlined the importance of the university’s contribution to developing future plans for ODL and Pakistan Edx.
In addition, 11 courses from five board categories of undergraduate policy at HEC will be included in the new curriculum.
Under the auspices of HEC’s HEDP project, Pakistan Edx is a fantastic initiative backed by the World Bank.
However, offering massive open online courses (MOOCs) in association with well-known international platforms is the major goal. The platforms, which include Edx and Coursera, seek to broaden the scope of top-notch education on a nationwide scale.
On the other hand, Pakistan Edx would help underprivileged youth since they can sign up for MOOCs made by prominent academics. The platform was created by the same company that made a substantial contribution to the creation of numerous other global learning platforms. The platforms include Wikimedia, UC San Diego Edx, MIT/Harvard Edx, and others.
Additionally, more than 55 million pupils worldwide have already benefited. The HEC PERN project enhanced the platform by giving all universities access to high-speed internet. These programs and initiatives are important for Balochistan-like provinces, the newly combined KP districts, interior Sindh, and Punjab.
A thorough discussion about quality assurance and sustainability was also had in order to ensure high quality and accessibility. Representatives and executives from the aforementioned universities offered their thoughts on how this activity should be carried out technically and financially. Each university decided to make a donation to Pakistan Edx.
Alas, the discussion ended with establishing the deadlines for accepting credit from online courses. Including minimum contact hours required, and developing Expressions of Interest for creating systems.
