HEC Drives Digital Transformation in Pakistani Universities with New Data Centres and ERP System
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has launched a powerful digital transformation initiative aimed at modernizing public universities across the country. This effort promises to replace outdated manual systems with efficient digital solutions, making academic life easier for students, faculty, and administrators alike.
🖥️ From Paperwork to Paperless: A New Era for Higher Education
For years, Pakistan’s public universities have struggled with paper-based systems that caused delays in tasks like course registration, result management, and academic recordkeeping. With this bold step, HEC is helping universities move toward faster, transparent, and student-friendly services.
The ongoing initiative is part of the Higher Education Development Project (HEDP), launched in 2019 with support from the World Bank. Since its inception, HEDP has made major strides in digitizing university operations nationwide.
🌐 Pakistan’s NREN: Expanding Access to Learning
Central to this transformation is PERN (Pakistan Education and Research Network)—HEC’s national education network. PERN now connects over 300 universities and higher education institutions, providing them with high-speed internet and value-added services.
This network helps bridge the digital divide by enabling even remote university campuses to access international learning resources, participate in virtual collaborations, and offer a better educational experience to their students.
📊 Maktab ERP: Streamlining University Management
At the heart of HEC’s IT transformation is Maktab, an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system developed on SAP infrastructure. Maktab allows universities to integrate:
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Student enrollment
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Fee management
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HR and finance
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Examination systems
into a single digital platform.
Students enrolling in PERN-enabled institutions can now expect a seamless, digital journey from admission to graduation, while universities benefit from reduced operational costs and better management.
🏢 Astrolabe Data Centres in Lahore and Karachi
To support this digital ecosystem, HEC has established two advanced data centres, named Astrolabes, located in Lahore and Karachi. These facilities offer:
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Secure cloud storage
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Data processing and analytics
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Academic software hosting
With these centres, Pakistani public universities now have access to world-class IT infrastructure, empowering students to research, learn, and innovate without technology-related barriers.
🎓 Capacity Building Through NAHE
Recognizing that technology alone isn’t enough, HEC has also invested in people. Through the National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE), over:
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1,100 faculty members
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900 administrative staff
have received training in online teaching, digital tools, and modern academic management practices.
📈 Impressive Results and World Bank Recognition
By the end of 2024, an independent performance review confirmed that the project had achieved over 95% of its key targets. In response, the World Bank upgraded the initiative’s performance rating, applauding its structured execution and positive outcomes.
🚧 Challenges and the Road Ahead
Despite the progress, challenges remain. Some institutions are slow to adopt new systems, and others in areas with limited internet access face technical barriers. Moving forward, continued support from HEC, smart digital investments, and a culture of innovation will be vital.
If successful, this digital transformation could lead to a more connected, efficient, and student-centered higher education system across Pakistan.
