Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC) has initiated a significant reform process, establishing high-level committees to address critical challenges including faculty retention through a strategic revision of salaries and a comprehensive overhaul of the university system to curb brain drain.
The decision to form multiple committees, comprising university heads, was taken during a recent Vice Chancellors meeting attended by approximately 40 institutional leaders from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and surrounding areas. The session was presided over by HEC Chairman Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar.
These panels are tasked with developing a Five-Year Reform Roadmap for the holistic advancement of the sector. They will conduct deliberations and submit reports outlining short, medium, and long-term recommendations to revitalise the higher education landscape.
A key priority for the reform agenda is the creation of new accreditation councils for emerging subjects, specifically for Mental Health and Psychology. Similar bodies will also be established for Artificial Intelligence, Maritime Sciences, and Renewable Energy.
The committees will also focus on a comprehensive skills-based curriculum review, bolstering institutional autonomy, promoting faculty development, and strengthening government-academia-industry linkages through the Triple Helix model.
During the meeting, the Vice Chancellors deliberated on pressing issues of institutional governance and quality. They underscored the need for enhanced support for skills-based education, increased research funding, and greater research output.
Proposals put forward by the university leaders included the establishment of a central repository for student career guidance, simplified audit and procurement procedures, the introduction of dual degree programmes, and a standardised mechanism for student assessment aligned with international standards.
Addressing the assembly, Chairman Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar stated that Pakistan”s future is inseparably linked with the progress of its higher education sector. He described the performance of the nation’s universities as commendable, especially considering the comparatively low per-student public expenditure.
Dr. Akhtar reminded the academic leaders of their demanding responsibilities, highlighting universities as crucial hubs for knowledge creation, youth development, and nation-building.
He stressed the need for measures to improve the student enrolment ratio and the quality of graduates. The Chairman asserted that universities must establish systems to secure graduate data to assess employability and ensure students are equipped with the latest technological tools.