Policy will benefit students by expanding access to international learning opportunities
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan on Saturday approved a policy on dual, dual and joint degrees to facilitate structured academic collaboration between Pakistani higher education institutions and recognized local and foreign partner institutions.
The policy has been introduced in view of the growing globalization of higher education, increasing student mobility, international academic partnerships and the need to align Pakistani higher education with global standards.
It provided a formal legislative framework for universities seeking to offer cooperative education at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
The policy included three types of academic collaborations, namely dual degrees leading to the award of two degrees in different or closely related fields, dual degrees leading to the award of two degrees in the same discipline by partner institutions, and joint degrees involving the award of a single degree jointly awarded and underwritten by cooperating institutions.
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HEC has stated that such programs may only be offered where universities enter into formal collaborative agreements in accordance with the approved policy. Institutions will be required to obtain necessary statutory approvals, execute a detailed memorandum of understanding (MoU), secure credit carding, define admission and exit requirements, disclose fee structures, provide student protection arrangements and seek HEC’s NOC before launching such a program.
The policy will benefit students by expanding access to international learning opportunities, credit mobility, joint supervision, global academic exposure and improved employability.
It will also support Pakistani universities in strengthening international partnerships, improving curriculum relevance, improving quality assurance and increasing the global recognition of Pakistani higher education.
Through this policy, HEC aims to promote the responsible internationalization of higher education while safeguarding academic standards, student interests and institutional accountability.
