Prevention
RULES AND REGULATIONS
ARTICLE I
Title
al- Sadiq International Virtual University (SIVU)
Objectives
A. These Rules and Regulations shall be known and cited as the Rules and Regulations for Implementing the e-learning modules by the SIVU.
B. The rules and regulations are procedural in nature and define the parameters of online courses offered by the al-Sadiq International Virtual University. They conform to the aspirations of the Board of Regents of IMI and aim to provide education of a high standard to its students. In due course of time, granting them universally recognized qualification, achieving its objective of enabling them to earn their living ethically, morally, and with due dignity.
ARTICLE II
Policy
A. The basic philosophy of SIVU is to promote education for all citizens of the world, irrespective of their nationality, beliefs, faith, race, color, or creed. This university will harness the best global faculty, latest technology, distant learning, freedom of availing courses, student centered Andragogical approach to provide sustainable, useful, contemporary, competence-based education to one and all.
B. To meet the desired goals, SIVU will provide the highest moral, ethical, and lawful education based upon the principles of equity, justice, and service with excellence to all its students.
ARTICLE III
Clarification of terms
A. Online Courses are offered through the process of distant learning, to all those who wish to earn a qualification from a University, without having to travel abroad, thus making the process of education feasible both economically as well as logistically.
B. Traditional Pedagogical classroom format of teaching is gradually being replaced by the Andragogic, distant learning methodology. It is, however, acknowledged by all educationists that the traditional educational strategies, including the classroom environment, continues to enjoy popularity; hence we plan to develop virtual classrooms in due course of time.
C. The al-Sadiq International Virtual University is an open university and is a perfect illustration of the definition given by Lord Crowther. ‘An open University is an academic institution that is open to people, places, and methods. Its main aim is to provide access to higher education to more people, to bring education to them, wherever they live, which in turn requires them to apply different methods because they cannot achieve their aims through traditional classroom teaching’.
D. It is the most innovative method of imparting education where both the teacher and the taught are located at different places, different continents, and different time zones, employing the latest technology duly supported by an establishment, administration, and IT experts.
E. Other non-certifying courses, lectures, seminars, debates, discourses, and YouTube videos will be available in other major languages such as Arabic, Persian, and Urdu.
ARTICLE IV
Eligibility for and process of admission
A. Any student applying for a certification course should at least possess a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
B. Further requirements will be posted as the SIVU launches its diplomas or degrees.
C. An applicant must submit the following requirements to SIVU through its administration, duly addressed to the registrar of the university:
1. Application form duly filled, electronically signed, and dated.
2. The candidate must send copies of certification demonstrating a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 or it’s equivalent (65% or First class) for admission to a certification course. The university would accept notarized copies of original transcripts cannot be presented.
3. A personal letter of recommendation from the head of the institution, Dean, principal, or senior faculty.
4. English is the medium of instruction at SIVU. The candidate applying for admission will be required to present a certificate of proficiency in English or a score of 7 at the English proficiency examination unless the original degree was studied in English.
5. Two recent passport size photographs.
D. Authentic proof of permanent residence and evidence of financial resources.
E. The Registrar of SIVU will assess the application and submit it to the Academic Council for approval or otherwise. The candidate will be notified of the outcome within a fortnight of the date received.
F. Each candidate will then receive a package of information about the course, password, fee details, teaching schedule, credits, assessment, and evaluation, etc.
ARTICLE V
Supervisors
1. Each subject/ department is headed by a Dean. Each course will be conducted by a dedicated faculty who will guide, advise, monitor, help, and assess each pupil during the period of the course. The Dean will oversee the development and maintenance of the course standards.
2. IMI Academic Council of Pakistan in consultation with the Global Academic Council will be responsible for all policy making decisions. All major decisions will be made by the Council and implemented by the Chair.
3. Each student is expected to complete the certificate course within the stipulated time. Anyone dropping the course for a genuine reason may remain in touch with the supervisor and rejoin the course later.
4. The Academic calendar with specific details of the course, timetable, etc. will be mapped out on the university web page.
ARTICLE VI
Academic program
1. SIVU online courses are designed with the utmost care, harnessing the best minds in the respective fields. Each course comprises of a series of instructional, educational exercises targeting the highest learning objectives.
2. Learning objectives will be clearly defined by the faculty at the commencement of each course.
3. Additions, modifications, alterations in the online courses will be advertised well in advance.
4. Fresh courses will be added as the university progresses, and diplomas, degrees, masters, doctorate courses will be added after due publicity and advertisement.
5. Each course will be allotted contact hours and credits following the standards and practices employed in American universities (Carnegie credit scoring). Details will be given by the Deans in consultation with the faculty.
6. For Pakistani students, national authorities for syllabi, the award of credits, and all other relevant matters will be strictly followed. SIVU shall follow the law of the land verbatim.
7. Non-Credit Courses will be allowed by the SIVU to the graduate students with a view to give them a taste of a properly accredited certificate course, or indeed as a prerequisite to entry to a credit worthy course.
8. Grading will be as follows:
A. 90%
B. 80%
C. 70%
D. Fail below 70%
9. Results and grade improvement will be allowed, with the approval of the Academic Council. Maximum attempts to qualify for the award of a certificate will not be more than three.
10. Distant Learning.
I. SIVU will identify and harness the latest technology to impart education through its distant Learning Management System (LMS). All courses will be uploaded and made available to the registered students and the faculty through a secure password.
II. Tutorial sessions will be conducted by the faculty on an individual basis.
III. Webinars will be arranged to encourage group teaching, with active participation of each participant.
IV. Online and internet teaching as well as telephonic consultation with the faculty will be the tools employed by the SIVU.
V. Various instructional strategies will be provided in the form of online packages for tutor-based teaching as well as for self-study.
VI. Assessment and evaluation will be carried out by the faculty through a double-blind method, thus avoiding any form of bias or favoritism.
11. Award of certificates, diplomas, and degrees.
i. Each candidate shall be awarded a certificate, diploma, or degree on successful completion of the course.
ii. It will be signed by the Chair of the Global IMI academic Council, the VC, and the Registrar of the university.
ARTICLE VII
Credit transfer from other universities.
Certificate courses from other recognized universities will be accepted for transfer of credits, provided the grades are not lower than C. The exact transfer credits will be calculated by the Registrar and the accreditation committee, based upon the transcripts submitted.
ARTICLE VIII
Addition or subtraction of subjects
A candidate may change, drop, or add a subject. An application, in this regard, may be filed with the Registrar within a period of four weeks from the first day of the course. The approval will be subject to the approval of the faculty and the supervisor.
ARTICLE IX
1.Board of Regents (BOR)
The Board of Regents of Imamia Medics International shall be the supreme body responsible for policymaking, planning strategies, overall management, and good governance of the University per se.
IMI Pakistan is the local executor of all local matters including hiring and firing etc. It shall appoint a University Syndicate comprising of men and women of repute nationally as well as internationally.
2.Academic Board.
The Academic Board shall comprise the deans and heads of the departments, chaired by the Vice Chancellor. A layperson of high moral integrity and a retired member of the judiciary will be co-opted members of this board.
This board will function as a bridge between the Academic Council and the Board of Regents. It may meet at an appointed date as and when needed.
3.Academic Council.
The IMI academic council shall include, amongst others, the Deans, heads of the department, and senior faculty members.
It will supervise the day to day activities of the faculty, courses, examinations, etc. It may meet periodically at an appointed date as advertised on the web page, giving sufficient notice for participation.
4. The Journal of Medics International (JMI) is our open access online journal. The SIVU is linked to the journal, hence its editorial board through its LMS (Learning Management System) pages.
ARTICLE X
Miscellaneous factors.
SIVU will retain the rights to develop, design, add, subtract, modify or do any such measure to its rules and regulations to help it gain a top position in the field of E-Learning in the future.
ARTICLE XI
Roles for students in an Online environment
Students will be expected to follow conventional etiquette required for an educational setting in the digital surroundings referred as Netiquettes. Certain rules of unspoken etiquette should be followed when using the discussion forums and webinar rooms.
1. Read the rules, guidelines, and FAQs established by the community before asking a question.
2. The most important rule of netiquette is, “Think before you post”. If what you intend to post will not make a positive contribution, do not post it.
3. Before creating a new topic thread, search to see if a similar topic already exists.
4. Follow standard grammar/spelling rules and try not to use slang.
5. Post in the correct section.
6. Include as much technical information as possible if posting a technical inquiry.
7. Stay on-topic.
8. Avoid double posting.
9. Do not reply to a post and change the topic within the thread. If your issue is a new topic and has not been covered already, start a new thread. If a thread is getting too long, it may be an idea to start a new thread with the same topic but add “Part 2”.
10. Avoid the use of all CAPITAL LETTERS in posts. (All CAPS is considered “shouting”)
11. Do not resurrect an old topic if you have nothing extremely significant to add.
12. Constructive or positive feedback on other student discussion postings should always be implemented.
13. Personal attacks, whether directed at individuals or groups of people, will not be tolerated.
14. Respect for online staff and other online students should always be displayed.
15. Try to refrain from lashing back at a poorly behaving member or participating in a flame war; instead, notify the message board’s staff by e-mail of the event. Do not post a follow-up to the offending post. Be polite. The author may not have realized his or her mistake.
ARTICLE XII
Academic Integrity
The prime objective of academic honesty and integrity in the code of conduct is to create a fair learning environment for students. Coursework completed must be your own work. For example, you cannot pay someone to do a project for a class and claim it as your work. Academic integrity also precludes cheating on assignments or exams. Cheating includes copying from another person’s answers, buying exam answers, and using unauthorized aids on the test. Quotation in a writing must be acknowledged appropriately.
ARTICLE XIII
Respectful Actions
SIVU expects its students to behave respectfully in all situations. You represent the university wherever you go. Campus visitors judge the university based on what they see from students. Seeing disrespectful behaviors leaves visitors with a bad impression of the university. Part of being a respectful, positive representative of your university is being honest on forms, to professors, and to others you meet. The code of ethics might specifically list actions that are considered disrespectful, harmful, or a poor representation of the university, including hazing, fighting, damaging school property, harassing others, or misusing university resources.
ARTICLE XIV
Appropriate Relationships
Observing appropriate and avoiding inappropriate relationships according to the code of ethics. A violation typically occurs when one person has power or authority over the other, such as a professor/student relationship. The professor’s power over the student’s grades makes a relationship inappropriate. The same is true for supervisors and employees in a student work position on campus. The personal involvement undermines the professional relationship that should occur. Accusations of favoritism can also occur.
Article XV
Respect for Rules
The university and individual instructors set rules and guidelines for behavior. Students who live on campus are subject to more rules in the dorms. The code of ethics asks students to follow university rules. But respecting rules goes beyond the university. Students must also follow local, state, and federal laws.
Such rules do not wholly apply to an online university albeit it is part of parcel of a university to inculcate universal moral values as mentioned here.
ARTICLE XVI
Student Privacy
Teachers or students “shall not disclose information about students obtained in the course of professional service unless disclosure serves a compelling professional purpose or is required by law,” according to the National Education Association Code of Ethics. Teachers may not share private information about students with other faculty members, students, or parents. For example, teachers should not discuss a student’s grades, home circumstances, behavior or learning abilities. In certain situations, these may be shared with other educators in a school if the information will help the teachers to better educate the student.
ARTICLE XVII
Fair Treatment
It is not likely that all teachers will like all their students equally. However, they must treat each student fairly. The Association for American Educators Code of Ethics recommends a teacher deals “considerately and justly with each student, and seeks to resolve problems, including discipline, according to law and school policy.” Teachers should not discriminate based on race, gender, sexual orientation, or any other attribute.
ARTICLE XVIII
Educating
In creating their lesson plans, teachers should “present facts without distortion, bias, or personal prejudice,” according to the Association of American Educators. Students should be exposed to various viewpoints and ideas, so they can form their own opinions.
ARTICLE XIX
General Aspects
A Safe Environment
A teacher is responsible for making the classroom reasonably safe for students. In addition to physical security, students should be provided with emotional safety. Teachers must not allow bullying or other forms of harassment.
B- Certification
We do not intend to replace existing medical education in vogue across the world. We only wish to add what may be missing in existing curricula. In other words, SIVU will be adding value to existing knowledge. So, we are not awarding a certificate at the outset. As the university expands its portfolio and reaches out to a larger number of knowledge seekers, we will launch certification following the standard rules and regulations.
SIVU hopes to link up with an established university in Asia, Europe, UK, or the USA for certification in due course of time. Regional universities of repute and national universities will be approached for collaboration with a virus to make e-learning a global phenomenon
C- Accreditation
SIVU will run its courses regularly for a length of time before applying for accreditation. Obviously, quality assurance is vital. SIVU will have a strong team of educators and assessors dedicated to monitoring the quality as well as the quantity of the courses with a view to reaching the highest standard before applying for accreditation with competent authorities.
D- Strategic Plans
Rapidly advancing technologies as well as the plethora of information emerging out of our learned faculty will be harnessed to disseminate knowledge, skills and moral values transcending time and geographical boundaries. Interactive discussions, webinars, live debates, discourses, and open forums will follow soon.
E- Disclaimer
SIVU reserves the right to closely monitor the whole process. Furthermore, the information given here is subject to modification, change, editing, adding, or deleting the courses depending on the audit of our activities, needs and demand of the students.
