EDUCATION WATCH.

The second batch of faculty from the Darunnajah Islamic Institute in Jakarta began a one month Arabic and English language proficiency course at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) on Thursday.

The eight faculty members are being taught under a memorandum of understanding signed in September 2016.

Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Ziaul Qayyum welcomed the visiting academics and said the university was proud to entertain international students, particularly those from the brotherly country of Indonesia.

He added that he hoped the mutual learning activity would further improve bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the educational sector.

Highlighting the importance of communication skills and learning common languages in today's diversified world, Dr Qayyum said AIOU would fulfil its responsibility to share its academic knowledge and experience as well as the infrastructural network with international educational institutions for mutual benefit.

The course's inaugural ceremony was also addressed by university registrar Dr Mohammad Zaigham Qadeer, Faculty of Arabic and Islamic Studies Dean Dr Shah Mohyuddin Hashmi, Department of English Chairman Dr Umar Farooq and International Collaboration and Exchange Director Dr Zahid Majeed.

They spoke about the growing cooperation between the AIOU and friendly countries in the higher education sector.

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