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Preface

The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) is the first of its kind in Asia. It operates
as a distance learning institution, using human resources and multi-media to impart
education to its learners spread all over Pakistan, A.J.K and even in the Middle East.

Its cost effective education, potential and demand for ever increasing services is
destined to expand rapidly, which would automatically bring the University to a
concerning point. There is a high level of wastage/drop-out for all courses between the
start of enrolment and conducting the final examination.

Organization of tutorial support, supplementary study facilities, non-

broadcasting, audio visual support, slides and Internet, etc, are of immense value in the
Open Distance Leaning (ODL), while tutors are the fundamental source of motivation
and assistance to students in concept-clearance and development of study skills.
Tutorial Services are provided in accordance with the plans laid down by each course
team. The part time tutors may, however, need pedagogical training or guidance, to
operate in distance learning system.

A meaningful relationship between the Regional Directors, Part-time regional

coordinators and tutors is very important. Local institutions provide free of charge
physical facilities, i.e. study centers, and encourage their staff to serve as our tutors.

In order to utilize the services of highly qualified and experienced

educationists in various disciplines at different levels, it has been decided to invite
applications to prepare panel of experts for appointment as part time tutors. A proforma
is designed for academicians to consider themselves for appointment as part time
tutors, whenever required in the disciplines of their specialties.

Data of all the educationists, thus collected, is centrally pooled and made
available to concerned regional centers of AIOU. Tutors are appointed purely on merit.
This will improve the quality of teaching and shall boost the image of the University, its
credibility and recognition.

Recently the staff of regional centres have been strengthened to improve in

the area of student counseling, tutorial training, and monitoring. Besides, it is hoped that
competent tutors will play a major role in providing quality education to our students.

Thanks for your interest in AIOU academic activities.

Vice-Chancellor
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2. INTRODUCTION

The sole objective of Allama Iqbal Open University is to provide education for all. It
offers courses from Secondary to Post-graduate and Ph.D. levels. A range of professional,
vocational and functional (non-credit) courses are included. The University uses multi-media
teaching methods, tutorials and workshops, besides face to face component for imparting
education. An important feature of all our courses is an emphasis on updating knowledge, and
skills relevant to the need of a developing society.

The University programmes can be grouped in six major categories, i.e.,

(1) General Education

(2) Functional Education
(3) Teachers Training
(4) Educational Research and development
(5) Computer and IT education
(6) Engineering / Technical Programmes

There is a steady growth of courses at all levels. The University offers these courses in
Clusters/Groups, with a choice for the students to peruse studies according to their professional
and personal interest.

The award of certificate or degree is subject to qualifying of requisite number of course

credits at different levels. A course is reckoned as a full credit course or a half credit course, as
per its weightage assigned by the Academic Council. A student may follow up two full credits
and in some programmes up to three credits in one semester, which generally spreads over 6
months.

The Director, “Admission & Mailing” organizes all activities in respect of admissions
and maintains students admission record at the main campus.

3. REGIONAL CAMPUSES/OFFICES

The AIOU serves the whole population of Pakistan and its course Launching is
administered through its 32 regional campuses/offices & 85 Regional coordinating offices
established throughout the country. One of the most important services, organized by the
regional campuses/offices, is Tutorial Support, which includes correspondence teaching and
guidance by Part-time Tutors, together with facilities of face to face contact at study centers,
established in collaboration with local educational institutions.

4. STUDY CENTRES

The main teaching medium of the University is correspondance text. A study centre
provides supplementary opportunities to a student; to consult a tutor about academic difficulties
and to benefit from his/her face-to-face guidance; meet fellow student to participate in-group
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discussion. They are open in the evenings and during the weekends and vacations for specific
periods. Audio-visual equipment and course materials for reference purposes are generally
available at model study centers.

5. TUTORS

The University’s Part-time Course Tutors provide essential guidance to the students
in their learning. The tutor role is not mandatory to deliver a series of lectures but to guide, help,
through a dialogue in his / herself study of the course / unit/s. However, a discussion on common
course problems, concepts, phenomena and difficult topics at AIOU study centers helps the
students in understanding units or a course. Depending upon the limited time for tutorials, a tutor
can decide on his own how to conduct the tutorials. To assist tutors, Students Study Guides are
also provided. Guidance is provided through, (a) correspondence teaching (b) at study centre
tutorials, and (c) during workshops.

5.1 COMPONENTS OF TUTORIAL SUPPORT

AIOU Tutorial Support Services are organized by an ever-growing number of well-

qualified and experienced teachers of all levels and professionals on receipt of the list of
admitted students for a course. Tutorial Support for each student is organized for the specific
duration of the semester for which the following activities are ensured:
1. Students are arranged in viable groups; part-time tutors are appointed for each group of
students, they are provided details of their job and a Tutor’s Folder containing relevant
and appropriate materials, i.e. proformas, guide, etc for the accomplishment of their part-
time job with the University.

2. The tutor student’s contact starts with an introductory letter written by the Tutors to
each of his/her students, called as “tutor intimation letter”.

3. It is followed by correspondence, guidance and study centre mettings as per schedule.

4. The most important activity, however, is the academic instruction and guidance recorded
on a student’s home assignment as well as its evaluation for grading.

5. As soon as the semester ends, the Tutors are expected to deposit all student academic
achievements in it’s regional office alongwith their remuneration claims. The details of
job assignment and remuneration rates are available with the regional office.

5.2 ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION

The assessment of a student’s progress and achievement is made through (a) assignments at
regular intervals, and (b) examination at the end of the course.
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5.3 ROLE OF THE TUTOR

Generally Tutor is allocated a group of about thirty students, who are required to submit
written work to him/her in the form of assignments. The tutor evaluates them and offer his/her
comments on these assignments, as well as assessing each student’s performance by grading.
This essential teaching function is complemented by tutorial meetings at study centers. If the
enrollment is very low in any course in a particular then the tutor’s role will be solely that of a
correspondence tutor. He is required to guide the student in every respect if and when approaches
through correspondence.

5.4 BRIEFING SESSION

Briefing sessions are arranged by the concerned regional office before the start of each
semester to acquaint Part-time Tutors with their job assignment. Attendance of these sessions
and any subsequent meeting is obligatory.

6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. The effective period of appointment is approximately four months for all courses in
semester.

2. The Tutors conduct tutorials including practical at the specified study centers. The use of
laboratory/workshop facilities are made available in collaboration with the study
centre co-ordinator. To conduct practical for the prescribed duration, Tutor is assisted
by AIOU duly recruited part-time laboratory assistant/attendant who works under the
supervisor/guidance of the study centre co-ordinator.

3. The Tutor evaluates, comments and awards grades makes on all written/practical
assignments of the students allocated to him/her consciously and punctually and
returns them before the next assignment.

4. The part-time job of the Tutors will be limited only for a given semester and culminates
at the end of each semester. He/she shall not mark any assignment after due date
without being authorized by the Regional Director concerned/Director Regional
Services. The University will not be responsible for any assignment marked (got
marked) after the submission of cumulative result of all assignments to the concerned
region.

5. The Tutor shall submit result of individual assignment (single) and cumulative result (in
duplicate) on the prescribed forms to regional office within 15 days after the last date
given in the study schedule. In case of delay, deduction of Rs.20/- per day can be
made from the remuneration bill of the Tutor.

6. The Tutor will keep one copy of each of the individual/cumulative result in safe custody
for record and reference for a period of 2 years after its submission to regional
centre/campus.
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7. The University will remunerate the tutor for service rendered according to the prescribed
rates given below subject to change from time to time.

REMUNERATION RATES

Programmes Matric PTC/FA/ CT/BA B.ED M.A M.Phil. Ph.D

PTOC M.Sc.
Retention Fee(H/F) 750 800 1000 1000 1200 1500
Tutorial Metting 150 150 200 200 300 500
Marking per
10 12 15 15 20 25
Assignment
Contingency 200 200 200 200 200 100

Postage actual for all Programmes (with documentary evidence)

Tutorial Meetings technical Courses: Matric/F.A. Rs. 50/- (per Hour)
The rates are subject to revision.

7. ELIGIBILITY

The criteria for registration as Part-time tutors is given as under:

Programme Level Minimum Qualification Minimum

teaching
Experience in
relevant field
Matric/SSC, PTC, CT B.A, B.Sc, B.Com, BBA & B.Ed 05 years
F.A/HSSC or Degree Masters in the relevant subject 05 years
B.Ed M.Ed 05 years
M.Ed Ph.D/M.Phil 05 years
Master Ph.D/M.Phil 05 years
Post-graduate, M.Phil Ph.D in relevant field 05 years

Teaching/research experience only in Govt. recognized educational

institutions of the relevant level/discipline will be considered.

It is further added that after qualifying for registration as tutor, he/she will
not claim for appointment as tutor by the concerned region. However his/her
appointment will be made on the availability of position.