ISLAMABAD (APP): The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has issued revised curricula for associate, bachelor, and master degree programmes in chemistry, introducing significant updates to enhance academic quality and align education with contemporary industry and research demands.
The revised standards have been developed by the National Curriculum Review Committee (NCRC), comprising senior academics from universities across the country, said a press release on Thursday.
Earlier, the HEC had notified four revised curricula in the disciplines of political science, Islamic studies, remote sensing and GIS and architecture.
Chaired by Government College University Lahore Prof Dr Muhammad Athar Abbasi with HEC Deputy Director Muhammad Ali Baig, who serves as secretary, the committee thoroughly reviewed and restructured the curriculum to ensure its relevance in an increasingly knowledge-driven world.
HEC Academics Division Director General Dr Amjad Hussain represented the HEC and contributed towards the inclusion of emerging technologies in the field, ensuring that the revised curricula reflect the latest advancements in chemistry.
The new framework introduces a minimum of 71 credit hours for the associate degree in chemistry and 137 credit hours for the BS chemistry programme, ensuring a comprehensive academic foundation for students at both levels.
Also read: QAU maintains top position in Times Higher Education World Ranking 2025
A key feature of the revised BS chemistry curriculum is the introduction of fourteen specializations, allowing students to develop expertise in specific fields of Chemistry.
These include agricultural chemistry, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, computational chemistry, environmental chemistry, forensic chemistry, fuel chemistry, industrial chemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, physical chemistry, polymer & materials chemistry, and soil chemistry.
Each specialisation comprises seven specialised elective courses, with universities having the flexibility to offer advanced courses based on emerging scholarly and industry requirements.
Furthermore, institutions may introduce additional specialisations in accordance with their faculty strengths and academic resources while following the prescribed framework set by the HEC.
Moreover, to strengthen the practical learning component, the revised BS chemistry curriculum now mandates a supervised internship and a capstone project, each carrying three credit hours.
This initiative is aimed at ensuring that students gain hands-on experience and develop essential problem-solving and research skills before entering the workforce. However, this requirement does not extend to the associate degree programme.
For MS chemistry, the committee has established a robust academic structure featuring two core courses, six electives, and a mandatory research thesis. Universities will have the flexibility to offer elective courses based on their faculty expertise and available academic resources.
The updated standards also define key academic benchmarks, including eligibility criteria, programme learning outcomes, model schemes of study, course learning outcomes, and degree award requirements. However, the detailed syllabi and course contents will be determined by individual universities, ensuring adaptability to industry trends while maintaining the foundational integrity of the discipline.
HEC has formally advised all universities to adopt these revised curricula at the earliest to ensure uniformity and quality across institutions.
“The updated standards reflect the HEC’s commitment to fostering an education system that is academically rigorous, research-driven, and responsive to the evolving needs of the industry and society,” the press release said.
With these revisions, Pakistan’s higher education landscape in vhemistry is set to become more dynamic, equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in both academia and professional fields.
NCRC included representatives from leading institutions such as Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan; Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan; Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering & Management Sciences, Quetta; COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus; Government Ambala Muslim Graduate College, Sargodha; Government College University, Faisalabad; Government College University, Lahore; International Islamic University, Islamabad; NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi; Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad; The University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Muzaffarabad; University of Balochistan, Quetta; University of Central Punjab, Lahore; University of Karachi, Karachi; University of Management & Technology, Lahore; University of Peshawar, Peshawar; University of Sindh, Jamshoro; and University of the Punjab, Lahore.