HEC may end engineering programmes at 14 universities

Institutions face action for not complying with set international standards

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) in consultation with Higher Education Commission (HEC) may suspend engineering programmes at around 14 universities, for not complying with set international standards.

“The decision has been taken to maintain the teaching standards at engineering institutions, at par with international level, especially after Pakistan became the member of Washington Accord,” an official privy to the development said.

However, the sources said, the matter is under consideration and there is possibility to first warn these universities to improve their standard of teaching. “But, an early decision is expected on this matter. Such universities would have to face strict decision if they fail to comply with international standard of teaching,” an official said.

As many as 19 countries including Pakistan are member of the Washington Accord, and the forum aims to set high performance and standards at international level in the engineering discipline.

The degrees of the engineering students of Washington Accord member countries would be accepted in 60 countries of the world. Pakistan is the 19th member country of the Washington Accord and third in Islamic countries after Malaysia and Turkey.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2017.