HEC undertaking sweeping reforms to modernise higher education sector: Chairman

Niaz Ahmad Akhtar on Wednesday said the HEC was undertaking comprehensive reforms and policy interventions to strengthen governance, accelerate digital transformation and promote internationalisation of higher education in Pakistan. Addressing a press briefing at the HEC Secretariat, Dr. Niaz Akhtar described the media as an important stakeholder in the development of the higher education sector and shared an overview of key initiatives and achievements made during recent months. He said strengthening governance remained HEC’s foremost priority, adding that the commission had actively engaged stakeholders through meetings of the Commission, Vice Chancellors Committee, accreditation councils and other policy-making forums. Coordination with provincial HECs and higher education departments had also been enhanced to ensure effective and uniform implementation of policies across the country. The chairman said his recent visits to universities from Karachi to Gilgit-Baltistan provided direct insight into institutional challenges, governance models, student needs and regional academic strengths. Highlighting digital transformation initiatives, Dr. Akhtar termed the launch of online attestation services a landmark public facilitation reform that would minimise delays and unnecessary travel for students and graduates. He said HEC had adopted a fully paperless online degree attestation system to improve service delivery. He said HEC was also working to revitalise accreditation councils and establish new councils in disciplines including Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Biological Sciences, Languages and Psychology. Dr. Akhtar said several task forces had been established to address key academic matters, including improving the international ranking of Pakistani universities. He noted that 18 Pakistani universities had secured positions in the QS Rankings an