HEC Steps Up Efforts to Boost Pakistani Universities in Global Rankings

Hamid Khan Wazir

ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has intensified efforts to improve the global standing of Pakistani universities by organising a specialised capacity-building session on QS World University Rankings, focusing on ranking methodologies, data accuracy, institutional performance and international competitiveness.

The initiative aims to equip universities with the technical expertise and coordinated strategies needed to strengthen their global visibility and improve their positions in leading international ranking systems.

HEC Pakistan, through its Higher Education Data Repository (HEDR) Division, organised a one-day capacity-building session on QS World University Rankings for members of the HEC Committee on International Rankings of Pakistani Universities/Degree Awarding Institutions (DAIs) at the HEC Secretariat.    

The session focused on “QS World University Rankings: Methodology, Key Indicators and National Statistics, Data Management and Performance Improvement.”

Welcoming the participants, Director General HEDR Division Syed Naveed Hussain Shah highlighted the importance of the session particularly with respect to provision of a platform for focused technical engagement and exchange of perspectives among committee members on the international university rankings framework. He underlined that the session was specifically organised for the committee members feedback, informing the participants that the session would be followed by comprehensive capacity-building programmes at the federal and provincial levels, aimed at preparing designated focal persons of higher education institutions (HEIs) across Pakistan for effective participation in international university rankings.

National Coordinator for National University Rankings HEC Muhammad Ali Baig briefed the participants on the significance of international university rankings in enhancing institutional visibility, competitiveness and global recognition. He highlighted the particular emphasis being placed by HEC's management on improving the standing of Pakistani universities in leading international ranking systems, including QS and Times Higher Education (THE). Referring to the commencement of the international ranking submission cycles, he underscored the need for timely institutional preparedness, accurate data reporting and coordinated capacity-building interventions, enabling Pakistani HEIs to effectively respond to ranking requirements and strengthen their international performance.

The technical sessions were conducted by Director Quality Assurance Pakistan Institute of Engineering & Applied Sciences (PIEAS) Engr. Dr. Ghulam Mustafa and Deputy Director Quality Assurance National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) Engr. Usama Rashed, who shared their expertise and practical institutional experience concerning QS ranking methodologies, data management, indicator-level performance assessment, and strategies for improving international rankings.

Members of the HEC Committee on International Rankings participated in the session, representing the University of the Punjab, Lahore; Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam; Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi; Institute of Business Administration, Karachi; University of Management & Technology, Lahore; Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro; Khyber Medical University, Peshawar; University of Balochistan, Quetta; University of Lahore, Lahore; and Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.           

The session featured interactive discussions, technical exchanges and institution-specific perspectives, enabling participants to deliberate on the interpretation of ranking indicators, data quality and reporting challenges, institutional benchmarking, and practical approaches to strengthening universities' international competitiveness.

The session concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening institutional coordination, promoting evidence-based performance improvement, and enhancing the international competitiveness of Pakistani universities. HEC reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating HEIs through structured capacity-building initiatives, technical guidance and continued engagement to support their effective participation and improved standing in international university rankings.