Abstract
The paramount aim of the underlying study is to explore the efficacy of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) through evaluating the effectiveness of the key initiatives which have been taken by the HEC to flourish the higher education and research environment in Pakistan. Using exploratory analysis, the study unleashes that the higher education and research culture has improved since 2002 owing to the HEC’s effective initiatives. These include, but are not limited to, increasing the capacity of in-service teaching faculty, induction of PhD faculty in public and private sector universities, award of indigenous and foreign scholarships, and provision of research grants, all of which had a positive influence on higher education through capacity building. A commendable increase in the number of universities along with the induction of highly qualified faculty has been witnessed, specifically the induction of indigenously produced PhDs. Apart from these, the HEC has played an instrumental role in helping to improve the gender parity by 45% in education sector. Moreover, in order to trace out what problems the HEC has been facing to implement its reforms, we conducted KIIs to the HEC officials who have been remained the part of policy implementation. The KIIs discloses that the deteriorating budgetary allocation, less cooperation from public sector universities, and questioning the HEC’s autonomy are the major challenges among others to the HEC in promoting an effective and inclusive higher education in Pakistan. The KIIs suggest that the autonomy of the HEC should not be compromised, and the liaison between universities and the HEC should be increased.
Highlights
Education is considered as one of the key determinants of the quality of human capital
The focus of this study is to (i) identify the key reforms taken by Higher Education Commission (HEC) to flourish higher education and research environment in Pakistan, (ii) to highlight the achievement made by the commission in this regard, and iii) to explore the key challenges HEC is facing currently through in-depth interviews of key informants
Therefor keeping in view, the objectives of this study we have provided a situational analysis related to reforms by HEC and its achievements over the years, later conclusions have been drawn from the interviews to HEC officials
Summary
Education is considered as one of the key determinants of the quality of human capital. The existing literature highlights that knowledge-based economies, or alternatively countries with quality human capital, have experienced higher level of economic growth and development. Figure-1: Budgetary Demand and Allocation to HEC by Federal Government of Pakistan Given these limitations, the role of HEC is inevitable in promoting the higher education in the country. The focus of this study is to (i) identify the key reforms taken by HEC to flourish higher education and research environment in Pakistan, (ii) to highlight the achievement made by the commission in this regard, and iii) to explore the key challenges HEC is facing currently through in-depth interviews of key informants
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