Bogus Universities: HEC disowns illegal institutes

HEC has advised students to ensure the university’s status from HEC website before seeking admission, says an official

ISLAMABAD:

In a related development, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has decided not to recognise degrees issued by institutes that are operating illegally.

The higher education body has advised students to ensure the university’s status from the HEC website before seeking admission, the official said.

All higher educational institutes have been requested to approach the HEC for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) before initiating any academic activity, including admission in any degree programme.

The commission identified eight institutes whose degree-awarding status it refused to recognise.

These include My University, The Dar-ul-Madina International University, South Asian Strategic Institute University and Capital University in Islamabad while those in Karachi are Pakistan Institute of Management, Habib University Foundation, Nazeer Hussain University and Lal Shahbaz University. At present, the HEC recognises degrees from 146 public and private institutions across the country. A complete list of approved universities is available at the body’s website.

An HEC official said on Thursday that the decision was taken in light of the Supreme Court’s judgment on the matter. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2013.