In a groundbreaking development that has reinvented the academic world in Pakistan, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has officially approved a policy that lets students enroll for two degrees simultaneously. It’s a huge change from past policies, which legally barred taking two regular degrees at the same time and frequently resulted in the cancellation of qualifications.
The new framework aims to enable students to develop a broader repertoire of skills, more useful in a global labour market where multi-disciplinary knowledge is increasingly sought after.
Understanding the HEC Dual Degree Policy
The latest HEC guidelines have removed the restriction on the academic journey students can make. The dual degree program has the following key features:
Interdisciplinary Flexibility: Students do not have to remain in the same department. An example would be a student being able to take a BS in Computer Science, while also taking a Bachelor’s in Psychology or Economics.
Diverse Disciplines: A combination of a technical degree with a social science or arts degree can yield a combination of “Hard” and “Soft” skills.
Mode of Education: Universities are flexible in this regard and they will allow one degree to be completed in the morning (regular) and another one in the evening or in a distance/online format, which is approved by the HEC.
The Introduction of Joint-Degree Programs
The HEC has also approved Joint-Degree Programs as well as dual degrees. This innovative model enables academic mobility and international cooperation:
The students can attend a part of their study in one university of Pakistan and the remaining at another partner institution.
International Collaborations: MoUs can now be signed with foreign universities by Pakistani universities. This enables students to get a joint degree which is accepted in Pakistan as well as other countries, which provides great opportunities for employment in other countries.
For these programs, it is imperative that the universities concerned have an agreement with the HEC which is approved by the HEC itself prior to giving the course to students.
How to Enroll in a Dual Degree Program?
If you are a student and want to make use of this rule, you should do it as follows:
Verify University Status: Make sure that both programs that you are interested in are available from accredited institutions by the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
Check with the registrar’s office at the university to ensure that they have adopted the HEC dual degree system for the current academic year.
Manage Your Credit Hours: Two degrees are permitted with the HEC but the credit hours are doubled. Students are responsible to keep their GPAs and attendance in both programs.
Official Registration: Register individually for each program, making sure there is no time conflict with the other classes.
The Impact on Higher Education Standards
This policy is in line with the international educational standards used in the US, UK and Europe. The HEC enables the students to learn several fields and is helping to create a generation of not only specialists but versatile professionals. Students may also check with the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training for more information regarding national education policies.
