LAHORE: The Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, has devised a mechanism to give an opportunity to the graduates of unrecognised colleges of the Global Institute, Lahore, for recognition of their degrees.

The HEC, through the Education Testing Council (ETC), will conduct the Special Graduate Assessment Test (SGAT) for the students.

It is also exploring the possibility of holding tests for the overseas students of Global Institute in the designated regions viz Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, subject to receipt of a considerable number of applications – minimum 100 students from a city.

According to details, the Global Institute, Lahore, was a recognised chartered institution in the private sector established vide Punjab Act II of 2011.

As per the law, the institute was allowed to operate only at a specific place in Lahore, i.e. 3-Aurangzaib Block, New Garden Town, but in defiance of decisions of the Federal Cabinet and Chancellors’ Committee, the institute established numerous illegal colleges through illegitimate/invalid agreements with certain individuals/institutions by exceeding its territorial limits.

Based on these irregularities and poor record management, the Global Institute, Lahore was banned for admissions from Fall 2016 and its no objection certificate (NOC) was also suspended w.e.f. May 18, 2017.

Education Testing Council (ETC) will conduct the SGAT as per the composition/weightages given at https://www.hec.gov.pk//english/HECAnnouncements/Pages/GIL-Assessment-Test.aspx. The students shall be required to pass the test in one attempt with minimum 50pc marks.

In this regard, the HEC also released a Parent & Student Alert through national dailies on Jan 1, 2023 for information of students to get themselves registered with the Education Testing Council (ETC) by Jan 31, 2023.

The tentative date for the test is March 12, 2023. All stakeholders are being informed through dissemination of information on the media/HEC website/Global Institute’s office.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2023