HEC cautions degree awarding institutions

ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) urged universities not to provide undergraduate degree programs with clinical applications without HEC approval.

In its statement, the commission said, "HEC has noted with grave concern that some universities have launched undergraduate diploma and degree programs in disciplines involving clinical applications, including but not limited to dermatology, dermal sciences, aesthetics, cosmetology, radiology, ophthalmology, anaesthesia, cardiology, hemodialysis, and neuro-physiology, without consulting relevant professional bodies and HEC."

To protect students' academic careers and job prospects, the commission instructed all institutions not to provide admissions and degree programs in the subjects mentioned above at the undergraduate level unless allowed by HEC.

In addition, universities were instructed to cease all current activity in this respect immediately. In breach of this warning, the commission stated that it would not validate the degrees.