AIOU Faculty Board Approves Different Programs Of Social Sciences

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Jul, 2025) Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has approved three new BS programmes, BS E-Commerce, BS Psychology, and BS Political Science, as part of its efforts to expand academic offerings in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.

The approval was granted during a meeting of the Faculty board held yesterday, chaired by Dean, Professor Dr. Abdul Aziz Sahir. In addition to the new undergraduate programmes, the Board also approved schemes of studies for various departments’ postgraduate, BS, MPhil, and PhD programmes. Key decisions were taken regarding curriculum reforms, including revisions to existing courses and the inclusion of new subjects, said a press release issued here on Monday.

Addressing the meeting, Professor Dr. Abdul Aziz Sahir emphasized that all academic programmes will be aligned with the contemporary educational and professional requirements in accordance with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) policies. He reiterated the university’s commitment to quality education under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Nasir Mahmood.

Dr. Sahir further noted that, following government directives, Fahm-ul-Quran and Seerat-un-Nabi courses have already been included in all degree programmes. In the next phase, the university will introduce courses focused on Pakistani languages, aiming to promote the country's diverse linguistic and cultural heritage.

He also instructed faculty members to ensure that all new academic programmes meet prescribed standards, including credit hours and policy compliance, before being submitted to the Academic Council for final approval.

The meeting also featured a detailed presentation by Lecturer Dr. Munir Khattak on the proposed Undergraduate Rules, Regulations, and Procedures (URRP) 2025. Developed with student needs and HEC policy in mind, the framework is designed to benefit both Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and on-campus students. The presentation received unanimous support from faculty members.

It is pertinent to mention that all decisions taken by the Faculty Board are subject to approval by the Academic Council and the Executive Council in their upcoming meetings.