HEC Announces Major Changes to Undergraduate Degree Programs

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has announced a landmark initiative to enhance the employability of Pakistani graduates by making professional internships and industry-relevant certifications a mandatory part of all undergraduate degree programmes.

This policy, which builds on the Undergraduate Education Policy 2023, is designed to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and the practical skills required by today’s job market. The directive, issued to all public and private universities and degree-awarding institutions, emphasizes the critical importance of equipping students with hands-on experience and globally recognized competencies.

All undergraduate programmes will now require a minimum of three credit hours of supervised internship. Universities have been encouraged to forge formal partnerships with corporate entities, SMEs, and public sector organizations to secure meaningful placements that are directly relevant to students’ fields of study. The advisory also promotes leveraging online internship platforms and remote working opportunities to adapt to evolving market trends.

In addition to internships, the new policy advises universities to integrate mandatory, industry-relevant certifications into their curricula. These certifications, which can be earned through recognized national and international bodies, are intended to provide students with job-ready skills.

Priority sectors for these certifications include Computing and IT, Health Care, Construction, High-Tech and Digital Economy, and Financial Institutions, among others. The institutions have been informed that a list of high-demand skills, as communicated by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, is available at www.hec.gov.pk/site/SCD

Universities have also been advised to accept credit hours for certain certifications, provided they align with the course learning outcomes and are from a credible and recognized body. This move incentivizes students to pursue additional professional development and allows their certifications to count towards their academic progression. Specifically for Computer Science and IT programmes, international certifications equivalent to three credit hours may be used to replace elective courses.

HEC’s initiative underscores a national commitment to fostering a skilled workforce capable of competing on both national and international stages. By formalizing the link between education and industry, HEC aims to ensure that every Pakistani graduate is well-prepared to meet the demands of a dynamic global economy.

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