Virtual University of Pakistan

Virtual University was established in 2002 by the Government of Pakistan to promote distance education.[4] It is recognized by the Higher Education Commission (Pakistan)[5] and holds highest category 'W' by HEC. The Virtual University of Pakistan also holds a Federal Charter. It is Pakistan's first university based on completely modern Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and evolving their mode of education by using Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Virtual Reality, and Metaverse technologies. It is a future-oriented university in Pakistan and progressing gradually. The university offers undergraduate, post-graduate and doctorate courses in various disciplines. Due to its heavy reliance on serving lectures through the internet, Pakistani students abroad are also enrolled in the university's programs.[4]

Virtual University directs and records the lectures of the top renowned national and international professors, assistant professors, and lecturers (Adjunct Faculty) who are highly skilled, field experts and have practical experience in the relevant domain at their virtual reality studio.

Main ICT Building of Virtual University of Pakistan.

Mobile Labs of Virtual University.

Virtual University has two types of campuses. The first ones are its own campuses which are called its offices. Its head office is located in Lahore.[6] Second ones are called private virtual campuses (PVC)[7] and run by the private organizations (more commonly known as affiliated campuses).[8] Virtual University has more than 200+ campuses all around Pakistan and students can use the facilities of campuses i.e. internet, computers, premises and library to carry their educational activities.

Virtual University of Pakistan has developed mobile science laboratories-the mobile labs for students in the country that will give hands-on experience to students in research of bio-sciences and technology.[9]

Virtual University is one of two Pakistani universities which provide distance education (the first one is Allama Iqbal Open University). Virtual University provides quality education to its students and is equipped with the latest technologies to track the progress of each students. Students can get lectures through its AI based Learning Management System (LMS), YouTube channel, and online student-teacher interactive sessions.

The students are conventionally evaluated each semester through physical appearance in their Practicals, Mid and Final term exams at university campuses, and remaining activities i.e. assignments, quizzes, viva, presentations and graded discussions are conducted through AI based Learning Management System (LMS), and online (live) assessment sessions. Virtual University has transparent and highest-quality standards assessment schemes that are more strict, secure and difficult than other conventional universities.

The constitution of the Board of Governors as defined in the Virtual University Ordinance 2002 is as follows:

• First batch of 500 students starts classes. March 26, 2002
• Federal Charter granted by Government of Pakistan. September 1, 2002
• VU start broadcasts over its own TV channels VTV1 and VTV2. June 15, 2004
• VU selected as coordinating institute of multi-country IDRC funded project. March 1, 2005[10]
• VU upload its lectures on YouTube November, 2005[11]
• Launch of MCS, MIT and MBA programs. March 6, 2006
• University adds 2 more channels to its Television Network VUTV 3 & VUTV 4. September 26, 2006
• VU becomes an Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) member. November 7, 2006
• VU agreement with Ujala TV Dubai to telecast VU programs. November 30, 2006.
• VU agreement with the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences to offer joint BS Bio-informatics program. May 25, 2007
• Launch of MS program in Computer Science. Fall 2007
• Launch of a unique VU e-Examination System. August 25, 2008
• Launch of B.A., B.Com., B.Sc. (2-year programs). Fall 2009
• Enrollment exceeds 50,000 students. September 30, 2009
• VU launches its in-house developed LMS (Learning Management System) and other MIS(s) by IT Department. Spring 2009
• The Virtual University of Pakistan held its first Convocation on Tuesday 18 May 2010 simultaneously at Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Jamshoro, Karachi and Quetta.
• Launch of VU Open Courseware website. October 15, 2011
• VU Open Courseware website declared best website of the year. April 10, 2012
• Deployment of VU Examination Software to NUST for conduct of Entry Test. June 02, 2012
• Student enrollment crosses 100,000 mark. October 30, 2012
• VU offers its educational resources to other universities free of cost. November 20, 2012
• VU partners with University of the Punjab and Technical University Kaiserslautern, Germany to launch B.Ed. in Technical Education. September 10, 2014
• Deployment of VU Learning Management System (VULMS) to Concordia Colleges. September 12, 2014
• University starts Degree Programs in Life Sciences. Fall 2014
• Launch of VU Journal. September 20, 2014
• Launch of Global Languages website. November 20, 2014
• Initiation of Ph.D. Programs. Fall 2015
• The Virtual University of Pakistan holds Highest Category 'W' By HEC.
• HEC on May 28, 2013, has clarified the ambiguity created by some newspapers amongst VU students and the general public. HEC has, therefore, reconfirmed the status of the university as an online and distance education institution of the country.