Islamabad: The Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Establishment, Senator Ahad Cheema, has announced a new initiative to address the challenges posed by unaccredited IT institutions in Pakistan. This move aims to protect students from enrolling in unrecognized programs and to ensure that IT graduates possess skills that are competitive on an international level.

According to Press Information Department, during a high-level meeting, Senator Cheema instructed the Ministry of Information Technology to determine the number of graduates from unaccredited institutions and assess the extent of related problems. The Minister emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to prevent admissions to non-accredited institutions and programs. Additionally, he directed the development of a mechanism to provide prospective students with reliable information about the accreditation status of universities and programs.

The Minister also reviewed the IT Skills Assessment Test, which saw participation from over 33,000 students across 188 institutions. He called for aligning the assessment framework with international standards and industry requirements, ensuring the credibility of the process through scrutiny and quality assurance.

Senator Cheema highlighted the necessity for industry-academia collaboration to ensure IT education translates into employable skills. He urged the involvement of industry stakeholders like the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) in aligning academic and professional programs with industry needs.

The meeting also discussed the introduction of mandatory competency assessments during academic programs. The implications of such proposals on students and institutions will be carefully examined. Enhanced coordination among federal and provincial authorities, including the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the National Computing Education Accreditation Council (NCEAC), was also emphasized.

The Minister called for public awareness campaigns about accredited and non-accredited institutions, assessing the effectiveness of current initiatives, including social media outreach. The meeting reviewed the performance of various institutions, such as the Virtual University, and stressed the importance of providing a mechanism for institutions to identify and address weaknesses.

In conclusion, Senator Cheema directed the preparation of a comprehensive follow-up report addressing accreditation issues, institutional performance, assessment quality, and student awareness. The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Chairman HEC Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar and Federal Secretary for Education Nadeem Mahbub.