Costa Rica, The Virtual University of Pakistan has been honored with the prestigious 2023 ICDE Prize of Excellence at the 29th ICDE World Conference. This international recognition highlights the university’s significant contributions to the field of open, flexible, and distance learning.

According to the Virtual University, the award was presented by the Secretary-General and President of the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE), a Netherlands-based organization with over 200 institutional members worldwide. The decision to award the Virtual University was unanimous among an international committee of experts.

Prof. Dr. Arshad Saleem, the Rector of Virtual University of Pakistan, received the award at the National Convention Center of Costa Rica, hosted by UNED-San José. In his acceptance speech, Dr. Saleem dedicated the award to the university’s founding Rector, Dr. Naveed A. Malik, and the entire VU family. He emphasized that the recognition adds further responsibility to the university to continue delivering quality education.

Dr. Saleem also reflected on the establishment of the Virtual University in 2002 as a futuristic endeavor. He highlighted the university’s role in educating and skilling the youth of Pakistan and mentioned its readiness to harness the power of generative AI to enhance its educational offerings. He concluded by expressing gratitude to the Ministry of IT & Telecom and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan for their unwavering support.

The conference, attended by delegates from over 50 countries, served as a global platform for discussing advancements in open and distance learning, with the Virtual University of Pakistan’s achievement marking a significant milestone in the field.