ISLAMABAD: Academic Council of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) on Wednesday approved several new academic programmes, courses, and schemes of studies, including offerings at BS, MS, MPhil, and PhD levels.
Along with these, some amendments to existing programmes and reforms aligned with HEC policies were also endorsed, according to a press release issued by AIOU.
It stated that the 68th meeting of AIOU’s Academic Council and the 52nd meeting of the Research and Educational Technology Committee/Academic Planning and Development were held jointly under the chairmanship of Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Nasir Mahmood. The meeting was chaired by Registrar Raja Umar Younis.
According to the press release, it was decided that in the first phase, only the Matric (science group) programme will be launched in the Spring 2026 semester, with FSc programmes to be introduced later.
Deans of faculties, departmental heads, principal officers, and esteemed external education experts participated in the meeting.
The council approved several new academic programmes, courses, and schemes of study, including at BS, MS/MPhil, and PhD levels, and also sanctioned amendments to existing programmes.
“On the occasion, the Vice Chancellor stated that the Academic Council is a highly important and responsible forum of the university. Therefore, in preparing and approving new programmes, the legal and policy framework of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) must be taken into account, and no substandard programme should be presented before the Council,” read the press release.
Director of Academic Planning and Course Production, Dr Zahid Majeed, presented the Matric (science group) and FSc (pre-medical, pre-engineering) programmes, which were approved by the Council. It was decided that, in the first phase, only the Matric (science group) programme would be launched in the Spring 2026 semester, with FSc programmes to follow later.
Deans of all four faculties and departmental heads delivered detailed presentations on the new programmes and a review of existing courses. The controller of examinations briefed the meeting on modern reforms in the examination system, while the director of the admissions department discussed further enhancements in the admissions process.
The director general of regional services also proposed measures to strengthen regional services. After thorough discussions, the Council approved all proposed programmes. The press release also noted that these decisions would be formally submitted for endorsement at the upcoming meeting of the executive council.
Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2025
