HEC advises students to check recognised universities

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has asked students seeking admission to higher educational institutions in the country to only choose HEC's recognised institutions.

According to HEC's official sources, it is informed to the students, parents and the public that the HEC has been empowered, by virtue of its 2022 Ordinance under which institutions, including those that are not part of the state educational system, may be opened and operated across the country. Therefore, HEC, in exercising its delegated powers, recognises degrees from accredited universities, institutions in the public and private sector of Pakistan and degrees from their approved campuses, including Transnational Educational Institutions imparting foreign qualification in Pakistan as mentioned on HEC website on the web links.

Further, a separate list of fake, illegal, unlawful and unrecognised institutions is also being maintained at the web link. In the larger interest of the public and forthcoming admission season, students and their parents are cautioned to verify the legal status of the university/institution, its campus and transnational education provider from the above-mentioned links before seeking admission. Further, the status of affiliated colleges can be verified by respective public sector universities/institutions and HEC. The students are strictly advised not to take admissions
in those Institutions which are not listed on the HEC website in the recognised
list of Universities/ Institutions/Campus(es).

Degrees obtained from unrecognised institutions, campuses will not be recognised by HEC. The students and parents are cautioned not to get admission to the universities/DAIs whose admissions are banned due to various irregularities as mentioned on the HEC website.

Oxford Pakistan Window

Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed has stressed the need for setting up a ‘Pakistan Window’ at the University of Oxford and an ‘Oxford University Window’ at HEC to facilitate the Pakistani students and researchers for availing different opportunities and programmes at the University of Oxford.

He was talking to a delegation of the University of Oxford and Oxford Pakistan Programme (OPP) during their visit to HEC Secretariat.

The delegation called on Dr Ahmed and senior HEC management and discussed ways to address the issue of Pakistan’s under-representation at the University of Oxford. Welcoming the delegates, Dr Ahmed shed light on the profile and objectives of HEC. He assured the delegation of HEC’s support in increasing access of Pakistani students
and scholars to the University of Oxford. He said HEC will facilitate institution-to-institution collaboration in academic and research areas.

He stressed the need for joint efforts to enhance the number of Pakistani scholars in Oxford, where only 22 Pakistani students have been granted scholarships for higher studies. He highlighted the achievements of the Pakistan-UK Education Gateway and urged for the commencement of other practical measures including sponsorship for the mobility of students and scholars.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14^th, 2022.