AIOU introduces tracking system to facilitate students to check degrees’ status

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), Islamabad, has introduced a new computerized tracking system to facilitate the students to check status of their academic degrees and certificates.

For this purpose, a new website (ds.aiou.edu.pk) has been launched to enable the students to know position of their application for issuance of degree or certificate. 

Under the university’s policy, each student is required to formally apply for the degree or certificate of the qualified courses, with required documents. 

“The new arrangements are aimed at streaming and expediting the whole process of issuing degrees and certificates to the students. We are focusing on promoting students’ friendly environment in the University, providing them best possible services to the students in the educational pursuits,” Prof Dr Shahid Siddiqui, Vice Chancellor, AIOU, informed.

The students’ applications to this respect were being handled on the fast-track basis. It is pertinent to note that the university’s Controller of Examination issued 44, 899 degrees during the last five months. These are the record figures as compared to corresponding period during the last four years. Similarly, the process of issuing provincial certificates (PCs) has also been expedited. 

During the last five months, 2,26,435 certificates were dispatched to the students and the same were uploaded at the university’s website. For PCs, the students are not required to apply, except in the cases where they are some objections. 

The entire process is done through computerized system to facilitate the students. However, the issuing process of PCs is done manually where thesis is involved at the higher education level or in case of objections. 

According to Controller Examination, Sohail Rana, all backlog till the second last semester in case of issuance of degree to students has been cleared. Only those applications are pending where there some objections and the scheme of study was not followed. 

Dr Shahid Siddiqui remarked that the AIOU was actively working to bring about qualitative improvement in the university’s overall system. 

“Now there is considerable reduction in the students’ complaints in regard to the admissions and examination as well as delivery of books. Meanwhile, the students’ support system has also been strengthened with setting up online complaint management centre,” he added.

AIOU’s Complaint Management Centre activated

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

An Online-Complaint Management Centre of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), set up at its main campus in Islamabad, has got fully activated to attend students’ queries and complaints on fast-track bases. Queries are handled in real time, while the complaints or suggestions received through the Centre are given urgent attention by the relevant department. An average of 8,000 calls is received per month. 

The staff of the university’s Helpline and the Call Centre has been advised by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Shahid Siddiqui, to provide effective support to the students in addressing their queries and complaints, The queries are mostly related to admission, examination or the mailing books. 

Their prompt handling is being ensured so that students while sitting at their home and work places could pursue their study, without any inconvenience, he added. The students can feel free to call at its help-line (051-11112468) for any query or assistance. 

A software has been installed to record their complaints, whether received directly or through emails, letters or telephone. On receiving complaints, these are immediately referred to the relevant departments. As soon as complaint is received, an online ticket is generated through which a student can track the status of respective complaint. 

Meanwhile, an action plan has been prepared to strengthen students’ support system, providing them best possible facilities in their educational pursuits. 

“The AIOU being the mega university in public sector wanted to cater the educational needs of its around 1.4 million students through a well-managed system. He reiterated that the support system will remain the top priority in his on-going efforts of bringing about qualitative improvement in the University’s overall administrative system,” the Vice Chancellor revealed 

“A technology-based strong tracking-system has already been introduced to facilitate the students for having necessary information relating to their admissions, degrees or books mailing’s status,” he added. 

“The SMS service is also being utilized to communicate with the students that help them to check the status of their books or about their application for degree. A plan has also been prepared to revise the content and layout of textbooks, updating them according to recent developments and students’ needs,” Prof Dr Shahid Siddiqui further disclosed.