Virtual University of Pakistan

Virtual University is Pakistan's first university based completely on modern Information and Communication Technologies. Established in 2002 by the Government of Pakistan to promote distance education in modern information and communication technologies as its primary objectives, the university is noted for its online lectures and broadcasting rigorous programs regardless of their students' physical locations.[5] It is recognized by the Higher Education Commission (Pakistan).[6] The university offers undergraduate and post-graduate courses in business administration, economics, computer science and information technology. Due to its heavy reliance on serving lectures through the internet, Pakistani students residing overseas in several other countries of the region are also enrolled in the university's programs.[5]

VU offers following degree programs:[7]

Since its foundation in 2002, VU has expanded operations to reach more than one hundred cities throughout the country with more than 190 associated institutions providing infrastructure support to students.

Virtual University has two types of campuses. First ones are its own campuses which are called its offices. Its head office is located in Lahore.[8] Second ones are called private virtual campuses (PVC)[9] and run by the private organizations (more commonly known as affiliated campuses).[10]

VU is one of two Pakistani universities which provide distance education (the first one is Allama Iqbal Open University). The students can get lectures y |access-date=2008-08-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003105336/http://www.dawn.com/weekly/science/archive/020713/science2.htm |archive-date=2008-10-03 |url-status=dead |df= }}</ref>

• 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[11]
• VU puts is lectures on YouTube November, 2005[12]
• Launch of MCS, MIT and MBA programs. March 6, 2006
• Launch of two new TV channels VTV3, & VTV4. 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 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 B.A., B.Com., B.Sc. (2-year programs). Fall 2009"
• VU launch its in-house developed LMS (Learning Management System)and other MIS(s) by IT Department. Spring 2009
• Virtual University of Pakistan held its first Convocation on Tuesday 18 May 2010 simultaneously at Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Jamshoro, Karachi and Quetta.
• 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 general public. HEC has, therefore, reconfirmed the status of the University as on-line & distance education institution of the country.