From Labs to Industry: HEC Introduces Practical Training in BS Chemistry
— March 6, 2025
ISLAMABAD (AIA) The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has issued revised curricula for associate, bachelor, and master’s degree programmes in chemistry, introducing significant updates to enhance academic quality and align education with modern industry and research demands.
The updated standards were developed by the National Curriculum Review Committee (NCRC), comprising senior academics from universities across Pakistan, according to a press release issued Thursday.
Prof. Dr Muhammad Athar Abbasi of Government College University Lahore chaired the committee, with Mr. Muhammad Ali Baig, HEC Deputy Director, serving as secretary. Dr Amjad Hussain, Director General of the Academics Division at HEC, contributed to integrating emerging technologies into the curriculum, ensuring alignment with the latest advancements in chemistry.
The new framework sets a minimum of 71 credit hours for an associate degree in chemistry and 137 credit hours for a BS chemistry programme, providing a solid academic foundation for students.
A key feature of the revised BS Chemistry curriculum is the introduction of 14 specialisations, allowing students to develop expertise in specific fields:
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
Each specialisation includes seven elective courses, with universities having the flexibility to offer advanced courses based on emerging academic and industry needs. Institutions may also introduce additional specialisations, provided they adhere to the HEC framework.
The revised BS Chemistry curriculum now mandates a supervised internship and a capstone project, each carrying 3 credit hours, to strengthen practical learning and research sk