Useless Degrees, Broken Curriculum & No Future for Pakistani Students Ft. HEC Chairman | 450 | TBT

Joining us today is Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, the current Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, with decades of experience leading Pakistan’s education reform. Dr. Mukhtar offers an unfiltered view on the gaps in our current system and what needs to change.

In this episode, we dive deep into why Pakistan’s degrees are becoming irrelevant, how outdated policies are killing innovation, and what steps HEC is taking to fix this broken system. We also explore future plans for AI, local internet infra, EdTech, and what a truly skilled youth could look like by 2050.

Message from the HEC Chairman:

Higher Education Commission is not just making History, it’s Redefining Pakistan’s future. The Transformation Begins July 25th, 2025. #HigherEducationDigitized

This episode answers:
• Why are our degrees not helping us build careers?
• How does HEC plan to bridge the talent gap?
• What’s the future of higher education in Pakistan?
• Is EdTech the answer?

Stay till the end to understand how Pakistan’s education system can evolve and what's holding it back.

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Podcast Links:
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3z1cE7F
Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/2S84VEd
Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3cgIkf

Jump to your favourite topics using the chapters below:
00:00 – Intro
01:57 – Education Background
05:08 – Joining HEC
07:25 – HEC Tenure Length
07:58 – Staying After Tenure?
08:15 – State of Education in Pakistan
22:04 – Quality vs Quantity in Higher Education
34:19 – 5 Year Plan for Emerging Fields like AI
43:45 – Associate Degree Clarification
48:51 – Issues in Pakistani Talent
59:12 – India Conflict Mention
59:39 – Fixing Talent Gaps
1:01:01 – University Internet & Fiber Project
1:02:33 – EdTech Initiatives
1:10:46 – Understanding HEC Policies
1:17:08 – Locked Degrees
1:22:52 – Vision for Pakistan 2050
1:28:13 – Final Thoughts