2 Pacing Into The Twentieth Century

Emporium Current Essays It was about three years ago that some educationists came up with the idea of setting up a 'virtual campus' in Pakistan. The idea, though now old, is a new one for us. It is already being practised in many other Asian countries. Briefly, a virtual campus is the one that provides the students with computer-managed communications' facility even at their own home-computer as well'. Some of the Pakistani educationists, industrialist and financiers are already n the process of communicating with Edith Cowan University (ECU) at Perth, which is famous for its international virtual campuses. The ECU, founded in 1902, is one of the largest universities in Australia with five campuses and 160 academic programmes at the graduate and undergraduate level. It believes in international networking and has faculty teaching world-wide with many students Jn East Asia. The LTV group and the Educational Foundation at Islamabad are in the process of coordinating a Board of Trustees which will include eminent industrial group. The Education Foundation include Justice K M Samdani, Majeed Nazami, Editorin-Chief The Nation and Nawa-i-Waqt; Saeed I. Qureish, former Secretary General Finance; and Inamul Haq, co-chairman LTV Group and other prominent personalities who wish to promote quality education. Australia and the Pacific countries were at one time considered as a remote part of the world. Not anymore. Networking is the key word. With communication technology advancing day by day, video conferencing, E-mail, telecommunication, and such other technologies, it has been made possible to be in constant touch with these countries. This networking is essential for intercultural and intellectual exchange beside opening up trade possibilities. Disappointe10 Emporium Current Essays full-Hedged university. It will have the facilities of a virtual campus in addition to full time tutors and a proper buildings to provide an appropriate environment of a university. Not everyone can afford to go abroad for further studies. Those who cannot go are left with no other choice but to study at the local institutes. The campus being set up with the help of Edith Cowan University will provide quality education in four disciplines: business and management, computer and information software development, nursing and agriculture research. Business and management studies will focus global outlook and research. A computer and information software development centre will focus on industry-oriented, professionally recognised export-oriented programme for the development of software skills in Pakistan. The nursing institute will have close links with the hospitals throughoutPakistan and impart latest methodologies in the field of

nursing. A research centre for agriculture research will emphasise cotton research in South Punjab. The degree and syllabi will come from the Edith Cowan • University. Tutors will be hired locally. There will also be visiting tutors fro the ECU. Islamabad is being chosen as a tentative city for the first campus. Professor Steve Hunter, Dean of International Development and Training of ECU and Roger Veila Bonavita, Executive Director SASTEC from the faculty of Science and Technology, ECU, recently concluded their exploratory tour of Pakistan. After investigating the possibilities, they feel of the infrastructure is there, the ECU can provide its educational services. They termed the visit as a successful one and felt that the programme has a potential in Pakistan. The Edith Cowan University has some 19,000 students. One of its particular strength is distance education. It believes in multi-campus approach to facilitate as many students as possible. Of the 19,000 students, some 2,500 study through distance education. Since they live in remote area, they have the convenience to communicate through computer. They are also provided with printed material as a part of the syllabi. The ECU has therefore developed an electronic system along with a traditional mailing system. The students just need a computer, modern, a telephone line and hen they have a 24-hour access, seven days a week, in which they can contact the University's library, submit assignments and receive information. Emporium Current Essays 11 Feeling of belonging is very important. That is why it has been decided that there should be proper campus in Pakistan where the students will be required to attend classes on a regular basis. The syllabi and examination papers will come directly from the Edith Cowan University. From time to time, visiting professors from the ECU will come to deliver lecture Classroom education will also come down the cost of electronic networking. The ECU supports a strong international outlook. International networking and development is one of the goals of the university. It already has international links with Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, China and Mauritius. Now it is interested in building up a network in the South Asian region. The time-frame being given for the virtual campus to be set in Pakistan is roughly six months; that is when the shape of things will become more focused. For now the team from Australia has gone back where they will further discuss the plan with their colleagues and the related faculty. Meanwhile, their counterparts in Pakistan will straighten out the path towards the virtual campus.

It is encouraging that the government's higher authorities have promised to give maximum support in the establishment of the university and removing any bureaucratic hurdles so that satellite networking can be established without any delay once the building for the university has been marked. Land has also been promised to construct.the university's own premises. Finances will be available for deserving students payable on easy instalments once they graduate. One needs to increase the educational facilities in Pakistan. The ones that are there require through redoing from primary to the top level. What we are producing right now are rote learners who are discouraged to think on their own, or students who are more expert in getting their numbers fixed rather than solving the question paper, using their intelligence. The students and teachers are in it together. One has to put a stop somewhere and come up with a foolproof system. It is about time to put our heads together and come up with an institution that meets the fast-changing demands of the communication age.d at the present deteriorating condition of our educational institutions, some like-minded people have got together and are in the process of finalising not just a virtual campus but a