Islamabad: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has advised students in the final semesters of computing programs to register for the National Skill Competency Test (NSCT) by March 20, 2026. The initiative aims to integrate students into the national IT talent pool and enhance their employment opportunities.

According to Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, the NSCT will be held in early April across the nation and is offered at no cost to students. Those who perform well will receive a joint certificate from HEC, Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA). Successful students will also be included in a talent pool accessible to both local and international employers. Additional benefits include an academic credit from their institutions and prioritized access to internships, apprenticeships, and certification pathways.

The NSCT was announced earlier this year as a significant step to align educational outcomes with the evolving global tech industry demands. This initiative was developed following directives from the Prime Minister and in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) and P@SHA. HEC has urged universities to ensure the participation of their students, linking test results to national benchmarking of universities in the computing domain and categorizing them into performance tiers based on student success in the NSCT.

Universities have been advised to facilitate the registration process through designated focal persons, with orientation sessions held to prepare for this initiative. The NSCT presents a valuable opportunity for students in disciplines such as Computer Science, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and related fields.