Indonesia and Pakistan will work together to improve distance learning programs
On Thursday, a delegation from Indonesia’s leading open university, the University of Terbuka, made a significant visit to the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Islamabad, aiming to cultivate collaboration and delve into opportunities and obstacles within the domain of distance learning programs.
Chairing the meeting was Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum, the Executive Director of HEC. The University’s delegation, led by Rector Prof. Ojat Darojat, comprised faculty members from diverse departments and experts specializing in distance learning programs. Also, present were Dr. Muhammad Latif Gondal, Executive Director (Planning and Monitoring) of Allama Iqbal Open University, Awais Ahmed from HEC’s Quality Assurance division, and other department heads.
Established in 1984, the University of Terbuka stands as Indonesia’s prominent open university, offering accessible and flexible education through its comprehensive distance learning programs spanning various disciplines and academic levels.
The meeting’s primary objective was to bolster HEC’s initiatives in elevating the quality of higher education, fostering international partnerships, and addressing the evolving challenges confronting institutions engaged in distance learning.
Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum lauded the University of Terbuka’s credibility in achieving remarkable access to higher education through its distance learning initiatives. He stressed the pivotal role of robust quality assurance measures in enhancing trust and ensuring the quality of online education.
Highlighting Pakistan’s commitment to improving accessibility to higher education through distance learning, Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum reiterated HEC’s support to Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) to increase tertiary education enrollment in alignment with the government’s vision.
The discussions encompassed strategies to create an environment conducive to students’ success within the distance learning framework, addressing operational, auditing, and implementation challenges. Additionally, deliberations revolved around Pakistani students’ employability prospects in the University of Terbuka.
The delegation shared insights into the Management Review Committee (MRC) mechanism, aimed at aligning academic programs with contemporary educational needs and global standards. Specialized fields like agriculture and science studies, along with modalities for online management, were focal points of interest, seeking innovative approaches to elevate online education delivery.
Future collaboration modalities were outlined, emphasizing the forthcoming visit by representatives from HEC’s Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) to finalize collaboration details, indicative of a promising partnership between both institutions