Associate Degree Programme: HEC extends implementation period by one year

KARACHI: The Federal Higher Education Commission (FHEC) has extended the implementation period of HEC Undergraduate Policy 2020 (Associate Degree Programme) and PhD policy for one year.

Deputy Director Coordination Samina Durrani has issued the notification in this regard and extended it till the fall of 2022 as per the notification. However, the universities which intend to implement HEC undergraduate policy and PhD policy or have adopted this policy should continue it.

It may be recalled that the Higher Education Commission had in August 2020 approved the Undergraduate Policy 2020 and the PhD. Policy under which Associate Degree Programme/four-year degree programme by abolishing BA, B.Com, and B.Sc from universities and affiliated colleges. It was to be introduced and was to take effect in January 2021, but due to the concerns of the majority of the vice-chancellors, it has now been extended for one year. It may be recalled that the HEC has directed Zulfiqar Gilani, Programme Specialist for HEC Undergraduate Policy 2020 (Associate Degree Program), and former VC of the University of Peshawar, to implement the Undergraduate Policy 2020 in universities and colleges.

Under such an initiative, teachers had to be trained as well, which has not yet been done in any university or college in Sindh. It is pertinent to mention that in this policy, private education has been abolished, under which the doors of external candidates, private BA, B.Com, and M.A, M.Com have been closed and the masters do it privately.