HEC issues stringent affiliation policy

The Higher Education Commission (HEC), the country's higher education regulator, has introduced a more rigorous affiliation policy for government and private colleges associated with government universities and degree-awarding institutions nationwide.

As outlined in the Affiliation Policy 2024, no university or degree-awarding institution can affiliate public or private colleges without obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the HEC.

Furthermore, previously affiliated colleges will be subjected to desk reviews by the HEC to maintain their affiliation. Universities are required to input the necessary information for their existing affiliated colleges on the HEC portal.

Failure to comply with the new policy will lead to non-attestation of degrees by the HEC. Additionally, disciplinary action will be taken against universities violating affiliation policies. The policy notification is signed by HEC Executive Director Zia Ul-Qayyum.

An education officer from the Sindh government criticized the policy, calling it impractical.  "This policy may result in government colleges shutting down, leaving students at home," he remarked.

He expressed frustration that such policies are created and circulated based on online reviews, disregarding ground realities. He added that the HEC warns of potential non-verification of students' degrees if the policy is not implemented.

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Last year, on February 23, 2023, the HEC had prohibited public sector universities from granting new affiliations to colleges. Approximately 10 months later, this new and stringent policy has been announced.

The notification introduces an online portal (https://edustats.hec.gov.pk/) to ensure the implementation of the HEC Affiliation Policy 2024. Universities are required to enter essential information about their new and existing affiliated colleges on this portal, which will then be reviewed by the HEC Review Desk.

Failure to comply with the new policy could result in severe disciplinary measures, including a ban on affiliating colleges. Degrees or documents of students enrolled in violation of HEC policies will not be recognized/attested by the HEC, and all responsibilities will fall on the respective universities.

The policy draft also specifies that no university can affiliate a new programme to colleges unless the programme has been operational in that university for at least five years.

Although the affiliation committees of universities now include representation from federal and provincial HECs, the vice-chancellor of a government university in Sindh expressed difficulty in implementing the new policy. "There are several aspects in this policy draft conflicting with the universities' own acts, making its implementation quite challenging," he stated.