AIOU-AGAHI signs MoU to set up Foresight Lab

Islamabad: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) and AGAHI, the country partner of the Millennium-Project here on Thursday signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up first Foresight Lab for strengthening research work through an effective multi-media communication, with new initiatives and ideas.

It also aimed at focusing on the country’s challenges and opportunities, through a foresight initiatives and developing better strategies.

The MoU was signed by the Chairman Department of Mass Communication Prof. Dr. Syed Abdul Siraj and Founder and President of AGAHI, Puruesh Chaudhary.

The AIOU’s Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Shahid Siddiqui who was also present on the occasion hoped that the Foresight Lab will help revisit the existing strategies and communication via-media to successfully meet the challenges of globalization and develop new ideas to effectively address socio-economic problems of the country. Underlying the need of promoting awareness of communication tools, the Vice Chancellor said these should be used for resolving indigenous issues and developing viable strategies in promoting research-based quality education.

Dr. Shahid Siddiqui also spoke about the importance of media, as a social institution and said that the AIOU was laying great focus on maximum use of multi-media resources to help its students to have a better understanding of objectives and purpose of study and their specific disciplines to achieve the desired results.

AGAHI’s President Puruesh Chaudhary assured they will provide technical and facilitation support in developing the Media Lab and help generate pool of experts in collaboration with AIOU. She appreciated the AIOU’s rich academic potential for monitoring research programs through the foresight media lab.   

The MoU was aimed at strengthening Mass Communication discipline and to develop research culture in media studies to meet the country’s Millennium goals. In Pakistan, AGAHI is currently on the forefront of devising foresight research and future scenarios work in the country, working with credible experts from around the world. Dr. Syed Abdul Siraj, while highlighting the objectives of the MoU said it will help develop training programs for media workers in order to improve professional competency.  

Staff Reporter

Published in The Balochistan Point on January 20, 2017