The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has decided to launch a two-year IT skills programme in universities at the request of the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication (MoITT).
According to sources, the HEC has decided to start a two-year Associate Degree (AD) programme to meet the shortage of the IT workforce in the country.
Sources say that the HEC sought feedback from the universities for the AD program. After consulting the universities, HEC has finalised the curriculum for the AD program.
HEC officials say that after completing all the homework, the matter has been sent to the Accreditation Council (AC) of the HEC. After the approval of the AC, the programme will be officially launched.
According to Ministry officials, the country is currently experiencing a severe shortage of IT workers. Our universities produce 25,000 IT graduates per year, of whom less than 50% meet industry requirements.
The Ministry had told the government that if IT exports are to increase, then an increase in the IT workforce is inevitable. The government had given the HEC and other institutions a target of producing 1 million IT workers in 5 years.
According to officials, HEC’s two-year AD programme will assist solve the dearth of trained IT workers. The Ministry claims to be developing a number of training programmes to help the IT workers fulfil industry demands.
