Islamabad: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has called on universities to ensure that their advanced-level Computing students participate in the upcoming National Skill Competency Test, which is provisionally scheduled for early April. The initiative aims to align academic outcomes with the evolving requirements of the global technology sector and enhance the employability of graduating students.

According to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, the standardized assessment will provide high achievers with certificates from HEC, the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), alongside their inclusion in a national talent pool. Successful students will also receive one academic credit from their institutions and gain prioritized access to internships, apprenticeships, and international certification pathways.

HEC announced the National Skill Competency Test last month, advising universities to appoint focal persons and facilitate the registration of students in their seventh and eighth semesters in Computing disciplines, including Computer Science, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and related fields.

The test results will contribute to national benchmarking efforts, with universities categorized into performance tiers based on their students’ success in the exam, reflecting their alignment with industry competencies. Institutions that fail to facilitate the registration process will be placed below the lowest performance category in national rankings.

The National Skill Competency Test aligns with the Prime Minister’s directives and has been developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), PSEB, and P@SHA.