ISLAMABAD, June 19 (DNA): Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) and BF

technologies on Friday jointly launched short-courses for youth,

providing them income-generating opportunities for having a better life,

as well as to enable them to take part in the country’s socio-economic

development.

The launching ceremony held at the University’s main Campus, presided

over by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum. The two sides held

threadbare discussion on development of these courses as per

international standard through the use of new technology.

Through these courses, the concept of knowledge-sharing and E-Commerce

Skill development will be promoted. The program will be implemented

through the Center for Social Reconstruction, AIOU.

Those who participated in the discussion included Prof. Dr. Shoab Ahmed

Khan from NUST, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhry, Coordinator General

COMSTEC, Dr. Shahid Mahmud, Chairman Interactive Group, Dr. Ghazna

Siddiqui, Special adviser to UNHCR and Capt.(R) Bilal Hussain, Chief

Executive BF Technology.

As per the MoU signed by the two sides to this effect, the courses will

enable the youth to develop life-long E-commerce skills that promote

employment and assist in getting Pakistan’s economy back on tract on

post-COVID-19 period.

Under the concept of “Enabling GIG Economy from Home program”, the

courses will help the youth to generate income from home. It is hoped

that this program will contribute in eliminating poverty, generating

jobs and adopting technology skills as per the vision of the present

government.

While highlighting the significance of the proposed courses, Prof. Dr.

Zia Ul-Qayyum said that these courses are the part of the University’s

recent initiative and its consistent efforts of mobilizing community in

the country’s socio-economic development and providing institutional

support to the government for ensuring a better future for the new

generation.

The AIOU, he added is working for a viable mode of communication to

provide quality education to its around 1.4 million students across the

country. Emphasis is being laid on Online learning and distance

education with the quality assurance to meet the challenges, being faced

by the nation in wake of COVID-19 crisis, he added.DNA

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