Accreditation is external confirmation that a programme meets the standards set by the professional body for its discipline. In Pakistan, accreditation councils are recognised by the Higher Education Commission, and for several disciplines a degree carries professional recognition only if the programme was accredited at the time the student was enrolled.
Accreditation councils recognised in Pakistan
- PEC — Pakistan Engineering Council (engineering programs)
- NCEAC — National Computing Education Accreditation Council (computing programs)
- PCP — Pharmacy Council of Pakistan (pharmacy programs)
- PMDC — Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (medical and dental programs)
- NAEAC — National Agriculture Education Accreditation Council
- NACTE — National Accreditation Council for Teacher Education
- NBEAC — National Business Education Accreditation Council (business and management programs)
- NCAAA — National Council for Accreditation of Allied Health Sciences
- PVMC — Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council
- NCEE — National Council for Education in Economics
The Directorate's role
The Quality Enhancement Cell coordinates accreditation on behalf of the University: it tracks which programs are due, prepares departments for evaluation visits, compiles the self-assessment and compliance documentation each council requires, hosts the visiting evaluation teams, and follows up on the compliance reports that result.
Zero-point / outcome-based education
Councils increasingly assess programs on an outcome-based education (OBE) model — programme educational objectives, programme learning outcomes, course learning outcomes, and a documented assessment of attainment against each. The Directorate supports departments in mapping their curricula to the OBE framework and in building the attainment evidence that accreditation visits require.