ISLAMABAD, Jan 28: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has formed a National Strategic Taskforce on Doctoral Education Reforms (NST-DER) to conduct a thorough evaluation of the country’s doctoral education system and to recommend innovative reforms.
The Taskforce aims to evaluate the quality, relevance, sustainability, equity, and global competitiveness of doctoral education in Pakistan. It plans to propose strategic, regulatory, and implementation-focused reforms that align with the country’s national development priorities. The scope covers the entire doctoral journey, including admissions, supervision, research environment, funding, quality assurance, and career paths post-PhD.
Comprised of senior academics, policymakers, quality assurance experts, international scholars, industry representatives, and doctoral student input, the Taskforce will employ an inclusive, evidence-based approach. This will be supported by advanced data analytics and international benchmarking, while maintaining full academic judgment and oversight.
The Taskforce is tasked with submitting a phased reform blueprint and an implementation roadmap to enhance doctoral education outcomes over the medium to long term.
This initiative, led by HEC Executive Director Dr. Zia Ul Haq, demonstrates HEC’s ongoing dedication to improving research quality, human capital development, and Pakistan’s international reputation in higher education.
Dr. Zia Ul Haq has highlighted the importance of a collective national effort and encouraged higher education institutions to provide valuable contributions in line with HEC’s quality assurance campaign.
