Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Professor Niaz Ahmed Akhtar said on Friday that a three-credit hour course in Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being made mandatory at the undergraduate level in all universities of Pakistan so that students can be prepared according to the requirements of the digital economy.
Three credit hour course of AI mandatory in all universities: HEC chairman
LAHORE, Mar 06 (APP):Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Professor Niaz Ahmed Akhtar said on Friday that a three-credit hour course in Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being made mandatory at the undergraduate level in all universities of Pakistan so that students can be prepared according to the requirements of the digital economy.
He said in a statement that the HEC was committed to comprehensive reforms in the higher education sector in the country. Dr Niaz said important steps were being taken to make universities compatible with national needs and global trends.
He said that to make university education effective and productive, an Outcome Based Education Committee has been established, which will formulate recommendations for improving the curriculum, academic results and examination system.
According to the Chairman HEC, a special committee has also been formed to strengthen the Research, Innovation and Commercialization Offices, the aim of which is to promote cooperation between industry and universities and commercialize research.
He said that HEC has decided to make the degree and document verification system completely online, after which students will not need to come to HEC offices for verification.
Dr Niaz Akhtar further said that a ranking committee has been established to improve the global ranking of Pakistani universities, which will provide universities with strategies to improve their global rankings.
Special committees are also being established at the provincial level for reforms in the higher education sector, which will include vice-chancellors, provincial HECs and representatives of higher education departments.
Professor Niaz Ahmed Akhtar said that HEC will also review the quality of degree programs in engineering, medical education and agriculture so that educational programs can be improved according to needed standards.
He said that work is also underway to make the testing system for undergraduate admissions more transparent and standard because the quality of graduates of any university is linked to the quality of its admitted students.
He said that it has been proposed to make it mandatory to obtain NOC from HEC before enactment of legislation for the establishment of new universities, while universities have been directed to fill vacant administrative posts immediately so that the education system can function effectively.
According to the Chairman HEC, 65,000 laptops have been distributed to students under the government laptop scheme so far, while the remaining laptops will also be distributed to students soon.
The HEC Chairman said that steps are being taken to promote applied research and entrepreneurship in universities so that research projects can be converted into practical solutions, new products and economic opportunities.
