Islamabad: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan is implementing a series of reforms aimed at enhancing governance, accelerating digital transformation, and boosting international collaboration in the higher education sector. These initiatives were announced by HEC Chairman Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar during a press briefing at the Commission Secretariat.

According to Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, Dr. Akhtar emphasized the importance of strengthening governance as a top priority and highlighted the Commission’s efforts in engaging stakeholders, including the Vice Chancellors Committee and Accreditation Councils. He noted the enhanced coordination with provincial HECs and education departments to ensure consistent policy implementation nationwide. Dr. Akhtar shared insights from his visits to universities across the country, which provided valuable perspectives on institutional challenges and governance models.

Dr. Akhtar also highlighted the launch of online attestation services as a significant public facilitation reform, which aims to streamline processes for students and graduates. He discussed the establishment of new accreditation councils in various disciplines to further strengthen educational standards. Additionally, the Chairman announced the formation of task forces to improve the international rankings of Pakistani universities, noting the recent increase in the number of universities achieving recognition in global rankings.

The HEC’s internationalisation efforts include the introduction of a policy on dual, double, and joint degree programs to foster collaboration between local and international universities. Dr. Akhtar also detailed the mandatory third-party testing for admissions into advanced degree programs to promote transparency and merit-based admissions.

In efforts to assess and improve the quality of graduates, the HEC conducted a National Skill Competency Test for IT graduates, with participation from 33,000 students across 199 universities. The results are intended to help universities align curricula with industry needs.

Dr. Akhtar concluded by acknowledging the progress made in resolving pending degree cases and the revival of the Talent Hunt Programme to encourage exceptional students. While recognizing the need for further improvements, he reiterated the HEC’s commitment to enhancing Pakistan’s higher education sector.