LAHORE: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has constituted multiple committees, comprising university heads, to develop a comprehensive five-year reform roadmap aimed at recommendations for the holistic development of the higher education sector and an enhanced role for academia in national growth.

Around 40 universities vice chancellors attended the meeting chaired by HEC Chairman Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad.

The committees will hold deliberations and submit their reports to HEC, focusing on the short-term, medium-term, and long-term development of the sector. Key areas of focus include a comprehensive skills-based curriculum review, institutional autonomy, and the Triple Helix model.

A major priority involves the formation of new accreditation councils for emerging subjects, specifically mental health and psychology, alongside bodies for artificial intelligence, maritime sciences, and renewable energy. Furthermore, the committees will address faculty development and a strategic revision of Tenure Track System (TTS) salaries to ensure the retention of top-tier faculty and prevent brain drain.

The VCs deliberated on the pressing challenges faced by the higher education sector, particularly institutional governance and quality. Support for skills-based education was emphasised, with calls for enhancing the quality of academic programmes, increasing research funding, and boosting research output through confidence-building measures for government-academia-industry linkages and the internationalisation of universities.

The VCs proposed that a central repository be established for students to consult about career pathways. They also dilated on the need for simplified audit and procurement processes, dual degree programmes, and a standardised assessment mechanism for students in line with international standards.

Addressing the meeting, HEC Chairman Prof Ahmad underlined that Pakistan’s future is inseparably linked with the development of its higher education sector.

He said that the performance of Pakistani universities remains commendable, particularly when viewed against the comparatively low per-student public spending.

He reminded the VCs that their responsibilities are highly demanding, as universities serve as the hubs of knowledge creation, youth development, and nation building.

The chairman stressed the need for measures to enhance the student enrolment ratio and improve the quality of graduates.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2026