Curriculum review: HEC ristricts use of ‘Dr’ nomenclature in degrees

Institution offering degrees with title of doctor without approval from NCRCs misleading students

ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has instructed all universities and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) not to use title of “Doctor” in their BS degrees nomenclature without getting prior approval from respective National Curriculum Review Committees (NCRCs) constituted by the regulator.

A letter issued to Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Heads of HEIs, reveals that  some of the universities and HEIs are offering undergraduate degree programmes with title of doctor in their nomenclature without taking approval from NCRCs which is misleading the students, their parents and employers at large who request HEC for clarifications.

“All the universities/ HEIs are hereby directed to stop further admissions in such programmes and withdraw their advertisements in newspapers as well as on their websites and social media platforms with immediate effect,” the letter underlines.

The letter mentions few degree titles such as Doctor of Dietetics and Nutritional Sciences, Doctor of Optometry, Doctor of Medical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Imaging Doctor and such which will not be recognised by HEC, whereas HEC has approved curriculum and nomenclature of the degree title, Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), a five-year degree programme. These curricula can only be taught in those universities which have relevant faculty, infrastructure, required labs and attached hospitals for clinical practices.

The letter further states that HEC expects universities to pay utmost attention and conscious efforts in ensuring complete observance of all applicable standards for providing quality education to students. “It is earnestly directed to refrain from offering such programmes which lead to ambiguity, false presumptions and confusion for students, their parents and employers”, the letter reads.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2018.