The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has officially launched a revised computing curriculum aimed at equipping university students with industry-relevant skills and expertise in emerging technologies.
The curriculum was unveiled by HEC Chairman Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar during the British Council’s “Partnership for Future Skills and Employment” event held under the European Union TVET Sector Support Program at the National Incubation Centre in Islamabad.
The HEC delegation at the event included Dr Muhammad Ali Nasir, Advisor Research and Innovation Division, Engr. Waheed Ahmed Mangi, Head of the Academics Division, and Hidayatullah Kasi, Deputy Director Curriculum.
During the event, Dr Muhammad Ali Nasir presented details of the revised curriculum, which was developed through extensive consultations with academia, industry stakeholders, accreditation bodies, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the Pakistan Software Export Board, Pakistan Software Houses Association, the National Computing Education Accreditation Council, and development partners.
According to HEC, the updated curriculum is aligned with the Undergraduate Education Policy 2023 and introduces a competency-based and industry-focused approach to computing education across universities.
A major feature of the new framework is the inclusion of 14 specialization pathways within Computer Science programs. These pathways cover high-demand and emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, Robotics, Internet of Things, and Quantum Computing.
The revised curriculum also emphasizes practical learning through the integration of industry-recognized certifications, mandatory internships, industry-supervised capstone projects, and outcome-based education principles.
Officials said these measures are designed to improve graduate employability, strengthen links between academia and industry, and enhance the global competitiveness of Pakistan’s computing graduates in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
The initiative is expected to help universities produce a workforce better equipped to meet the evolving demands of the digital sector and contribute to the growth of Pakistan’s technology industry.
