The option to apply and
study at a university can be an exciting and daunting task at the same time.
Therefore it is important to make right choice when choosing the university.
The admission system of any country is based on stratified criteria which serve
the students of different preparation, aspirations and socioeconomic
backgrounds.
The admission system in
Pakistan follows the procedures of Higher Education Commission (HEC), Islamabad,
which drew its inspiration from the British tradition of higher education as it
was emerging in the late 19th century. In 2002, a bold restructuring
of higher education was done in Pakistan. A National Commission of Higher
Education was established with a clear mission to “facilitate institutions of
higher learning to serve as engine of socio-economic development of Pakistan.” Among
its many objectives, it aims to facilitate foreign students with all
administrative aspects of their application and study in Pakistan including
applying to universities, obtaining a Non-Objection Certificate (NOC), and
securing a visa.
Under HEC, many public
and private sectors universities are playing an important role in imparting
quality academics. However, with the beginning of new academic session, every
year, old challenges of students regarding securing admission in educational institutes
creep up.
Undergraduate students
often face confusion over the selection of their further studies. Most of our
universities do not have academic counselors who can guide students regarding
the study area best suited for them. The result is that most of the students
especially those of medical and engineering suffer later, if they don’t find
the disciplines interesting. Still, there are some universities who have designated
professional career counselors to assist students in the right direction. A lot
has to be done to promote a smooth flow of new applicants. Majority of the
institutions have small admission offices with limited number of staff, who are
not very cooperative and do not guide new comers properly.
It has also been seen
that the induction of inexperienced members in the admission office causes hurdle
in admission procedures. Unfortunately, there is no mechanism in place to fix
their errors or mistakes caused by the candidates during the submission of
application through the University website. Since all the documentation procedures
have gone online, the procedures have become more technical and complex, thus
causing severe academic hurdles. Despite online system, the existing manual
admission process is time-consuming, highly demanding and error prone. Students
and parents stand in-line for hours impatiently and wait formalities to end.
Also there is no complaint cell to address the interest of students online
promptly.
Often the constant
change in admission polices during the admission process or absence of the
proper management lead to the disqualification of many suitable candidates who
pass through entry test conducted by the National Testing Services (NTS) or GAT.
Although, these tests offer real hope for improving student intake in
Universities but do not fulfill the criteria of quality academics.
Every university has
its own student selection mechanism. In Pakistan, elite universities either conduct
their own entrance tests. In higher education government institution with the
exception of few departments, students are selected on open merit basis. The
term is contradictory because it is only determined by marks obtained in local
board where emphasis on rote learning, predictable guess paper, immense
cheating and poor marking practices are widespread. Much has been discussed to
reform these boards but little progress has been made.
The need of an hour is
to do maximum research as there are many systems with different requirements
and values. Being a new applicant, it is important to fully understand the
details of each university before beginning the application process. Once the
right choice made, it can go long way in securing the right future.
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