HEC Made Big Changes to University Policies
- HEC Made Big Changes to University Policies for Graduate and Undergradute degrees
- Internship is compulsory for undergraduates
- GE (General elective course) is introduced
- Pakistan studies and Islamic studies made compulsory under GE section
Higher Education Commission (HEC) is on its way to improve the quality of education in Pakistan. HEC has issued the details of credit and non-credit hours of practical learning, internships, and General Education (GE) including thematic studies as per the undergraduate policy 2020. As quality has become an inexpensive part of the growth plan of HEC. To maintain the quality as per governance, strategic planning, and assessment procedures HEC has to continue making changes in its policies. The HEC policy has been changed to improve the quality of education relevant to national needs and compatible with international QA standards. These standards enable HEIs to demonstrate excellence in teaching and research.
HEC states that students must take quantitative reasoning as well as expository writing courses to grab degrees. It'll work to develop the ability to write effectively. Here in practical learning students will have the option to opt from entrepreneurship, youth club, or sports. Another change is that Pakistan and Islamic Studies will be made compulsory under the GE section.
HEC also has declared internships compulsory for all four-year and five-year degree programs. One important thing to mention that the internships will be non-credited and their scores will not be reflected in the grades.
After consultation and permission from the relevant stakeholders, the above-mentioned changes will be incorporated into the syllabus. The changes will be made to all four-year and five-year professional graduate programs.
HEC has also divided undergraduate programs into five categories:
1. Four-year Arts and Science degree
2. Four-year professional degree
3. Five-year professional degree,
4. Four-year degree with councils
5. Two-year associate degree.
For four-year BS programs, students need to complete 120 credit hours to receive the degrees. Students will have to study at least 40 courses of three credit hours in the four-year program. These 120 credit hours will be divided into 30 credit hours per year and 15 credit hours per semester. It means that students will have to take five courses each semester after HEC changes.
HEC has also categorized undergraduate degrees to hold three components.
1. First is GE
2. Second is concerned with discipline
3. Third component is based on practical learning.
It seems that HEC is working on the Cambridge style of studies to improve the qualitative reasoning and analytic approach. Students will need to choose two courses out of three vast disciplines of GE. The disciplines of GE are Arts and humanities, national science, and social sciences. GE will get 39 out of the 120 credit hours in a four-year bachelor program.
For undergraduate degrees, students will be required to take 13 GE courses during the first four semesters. If a student fails in any of these courses, their promotion will behold to the fifth semester.
HEC has also declared a 9-week internship compulsory for all undergraduate students before the fifth semester.
Students can apply for internships in government institutions, local government, autonomous institutions, government agencies, business enterprises, educational institutions, and NGOs as per to get an internship.
Students will need to choose entrepreneurship, youth club, or sports facilities as part of non-credit activities.
Universities are directed to issue a two-year associate degree to students who decide to withdraw at the end of the second year of a four-year degree program.
The Association of Private Sector Universities Pakistan (APSUP) has raised objections over the recent HEC announcement. They have explained that HEC has devised these changes in haste and without consulting APSUP.
These sudden policy changes may affect students learning and adaptation process.