ISLAMABAD: The Outcome-Based Education (OBE) Implementation Committee of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has finalised and recommended Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs) for undergraduate degree programmes that are not covered by any accreditation or regulatory council.
“Following the Commission’s approval, the governing body of HEC will circulate these recommended Programme Learning Outcomes to all higher education institutions (HEIs),” according to a press release issued by HEC.
The committee convened its inaugural meeting under the chairmanship of Prof. Dr Samreen Hussain on Tuesday.
During the meeting, the committee approved the Programme Learning Outcomes, an implementation strategy, and the Terms of Reference (ToRs) for Working Groups as the initial steps toward delivering Outcome-Based Education across all disciplines.
HEC noted that two distinct sets of Programme Learning Outcomes have been devised for undergraduate programmes outside existing accreditation or regulatory frameworks — one set targets Natural, Human, and Social Science fields, while the other is designed for Art, Design, and Media disciplines. Both sets are benchmarked against national and international standards to ensure comparable graduate quality.
The press release highlighted that the convenor presented a progress report on the task assigned by the HEC chairman. Twelve councils lacking published learning outcomes were engaged in the process. Draft proposals were developed through research on international benchmarks and consultative workshops, aligning them with HEC‑approved curricula and required competencies. A coordinated implementation plan will be rolled out across all HEIs, supported by faculty capacity‑building initiatives and Quality Enhancement Cells, emphasizing direct assessment and continuous quality improvement to ensure nationwide adoption of outcome‑based education.
Working Group ToRs: The committee reviewed and endorsed the ToRs for Discipline‑wise Working Groups. These ToRs aim to mentor and assist designated councils and HEIs in implementing OBE and achieving PLO attainment for programmes not covered by any accreditation council.
Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026
