In line with the First National Open and Distance Learning (ODL) Policy and Toolkit, approved by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in March 2024, the HEC collaborated with Pakistan’s leading and most experienced ODL institutions, Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) and the Virtual University of Pakistan (VU), to implement the ODL Quality Assurance Framework, by collecting feedback from key stakeholders and strengthening HEIs’ capacity – aligned with the World Bank Project targets.

In this collaborative effort, the Virtual University of Pakistan (VU) and Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) organized a Joint Consultative Meeting on April 16, 2025 at AIOU. The session brought together key stakeholders including faculty members, students, parents, and instructional design team members.

The meeting aimed to gather ground-level insights and suggestions for improving the delivery and effectiveness of ODL in Pakistan. Focus group discussions were conducted by teams from both AIOU and VU to collect comprehensive feedback from participants. This collaborative initiative marks a significant step toward identifying critical areas where capacity building is needed for both learners and educators.

The consultative session reflects the commitment of both universities to continuously improve quality standards in distance education and align institutional practices with national educational goals.