The HEC has introduced a new curriculum for bachelor's and master’s degree programs in chemistry.
Incorporating such topics to increase academic quality and align education with the modern educational world of research.
The National Curriculum Review Committee (NCRC) was composed of senior academics of chemistry from nationwide universities.
The National Curriculum Review Committee (NCRC) has developed this revision in chemistry curricula.
A few months back, HEC announced new curricula for political science, Islamic studies, remote sensing & GIS, and agriculture. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Athar Abbasi from Government College University Lahore chaired the NCRC meeting. The HEC Deputy Director Muhammad Ali Baig served as secretary in the meeting. They made sure that the updated curriculum remains relevant to today's knowledge-driven world.
Director General of HEC Academics Division, Dr. Amjad Hussain played a vital role in integrating emerging technologies to ensure the effectiveness of the latest advancements in chemistry. Now, an associate degree in chemistry will require 71 credit hours and a bachelor's program mandates 137 credit hours to provide students with a solid subject foundation.
BS program in chemistry
The BS program in chemistry introduced 14 subjects for specialization that will make students more focused on specific areas. The specialization subjects 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
Soil Chemistry
Above-mentioned specialization courses incorporate 7 elective subjects. Universities have flexibility to offer advanced courses to evolve in academic and industry demands. Additional specialization can also be introduced by the university according to their faculty expertise.
For practical learning, the BS chemistry curriculum requires supervised internship and capstone projects (a core course to offer students at the end of their graduation to integrate their learning to help address issues of a particular discipline). The capstone projects will carry additional credit hours.
The purpose behind this capstone project is to equip students with adequate experience in research and problem solving skills. This doesn't apply to the associate degree program.
MS Program in Chemistry
The revised structure includes 2 main courses and 6 electives with a compulsory research thesis. Universities can design courses according to their staff capability and already available academic resources.
The new curriculum involves eligibility criteria, learning outcomes, model study plans, course objectives, and degree award requirements. The framework is standardized with detailed syllabi and course content to ensure adapting industry trends to maintain academic rigor.
To ensure consistency and quality, the HEC has formally urged universities to adopt curricula on time. The revised standards underscore the commitment of HEC towards rigorous, research-oriented education systems to meet industry and society demands.
This updated curriculum will lead chemistry education to the next level as it will equip students with skills required to excel in academic and professional careers.
The NCRC included representatives from leading institutions such as:
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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
University of the Punjab, Lahore
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