ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has announced the implementation of industry-aligned curricula for BS, MS, and Associate Degree programmes in Cyber Security, set to commence in Fall 2026. This update aims to equip graduates with the skills needed to tackle real-world cybersecurity challenges.

According to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, the new curricula have been developed in line with the HEC Undergraduate Education Policy 2023, focusing on practical skills, hands-on training, internships, and industry-recognized certifications. The curriculum was created with input from subject experts across academia, industry, and relevant accreditation bodies.

The updated programmes will offer recommended specialisations, including Network and Infrastructure Security, Cryptography, Digital Forensics and Incident Response, Internet of Things and Embedded Systems Security, and Governance, Risk, and Compliance. Research, innovation, and ethical responsibility are emphasized within the curriculum. Higher education institutions have the option to introduce additional specialisations based on their faculty, infrastructure, and resources, pending approval from their statutory bodies.

The curriculum has been provided to higher education institutions and can be accessed on the HEC website. The announcement follows a meeting of the National Curriculum Review Committee (NCRC) for Cyber Security, chaired by Director General Dr. Amjad Hussain.