KARACHI, Aug 24: Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST) on Thursday announced offering its courses and degree programmes online, first ever in Pakistan through the internet.

Speaking at a press conference, Dr Javaid Laghari, vice-president and project director of the institute said that SZABIST Online University was meant for the students and professionals, who were geographically located away from any of the SZABIST campuses or from any other degree awarding institute.

He informed that it was also for those students and professionals who could not study full time for a degree in a conventional way. All courses were transferable into a regular degree programme, he added.

The cost of studying online is about half as compared to regular programme. All certificates and degrees awarded through online programmes would be equivalent to regular degrees of the SZABIST.

The quality of curriculum, instructions and assessment including assignments, test and exams would be similar to the regular programmes.

Students can directly register themselves for any programme without any placement test through internet. The final exams will be held at the authorised centres of SZABIST.—PPI