HEC to Focus on Skill-Based Curriculum as University Admissions Drop

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has issued a new policy directing universities across Pakistan to integrate skill-based education into their academic programmes amid a sharp decline in enrolment.

Under the revised framework, all public and private universities will be required to embed industry-linked certifications into their curricula, particularly in computer science, information technology, healthcare, construction, high-tech manufacturing, digital economy, and finance.

Officials familiar with the decision say the move aims to make graduates employable by equipping them with practical, market-relevant skills instead of confining them to traditional degree-centred learning. The policy is also meant to address a widening gap between what universities teach and the demands of employers.

Sources said the HEC decided after observing that tertiary education in Pakistan has failed to keep pace with labour market requirements, leading not only to high unemployment among graduates but also to a marked drop in admissions at colleges and universities.