ISLAMABAD — The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has announced the launch of the National Skill Competency Test for IT graduates, an initiative aimed at aligning university education with the evolving needs of the global technology industry.
The standardized assessment has been developed following directives from the prime minister and in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA).
According to HEC, the initiative is intended to evaluate the technical competencies of students and help improve the employability of Pakistan’s growing IT workforce.
Eligibility and benefits for students
The test will be open to students currently enrolled in the seventh and eighth semesters of computing-related degree programmes, including Computer Science, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and other related disciplines.
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Participation in the test will be free of charge. Students who perform well will receive a joint certificate from HEC, PSEB and P@SHA and will be included in a national talent pool that can be accessed by local and international employers.
Qualifying candidates will also receive one academic credit from their respective universities and may gain priority access to internships, apprenticeships and international certification opportunities.
Impact on universities
HEC has asked higher education institutions to ensure maximum participation of eligible students, as the test results will contribute to national benchmarking of universities.
Officials said universities will be categorized into performance tiers based on the results of their students, reflecting the level of alignment between academic training and industry requirements.
Institutions that fail to facilitate student registration may be placed below the lowest performance category in national rankings.
Test schedule
The computer-based assessment will be conducted simultaneously across Pakistan on April 4 and 5, 2026.
Eligible students have been advised to contact the designated focal person at their respective universities to complete the registration process.
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