Trends in Access and Quality of Higher Education in Pakistan: A Research based on three Case Studies

The aim of present research is to investigate the response of the universities after implementing the higher education commission (HEC) reorganized policies for widening participation and improving the quality in the higher education system of Pakistan. The relationship between education and economic growth has been emphasized in the literature. The Human Capital approach that stresses the quality of the labor and the contribution of enrollments factor is used for widening participation for the economic growth of the country. The other relevant concepts of rate of return with respect to private and social benefits have been presented to smooth the trend of widening access and quality in higher education. Moreover, the experiences of central European and South East Asian countries about the expansion trends are analyzed for finding the valuable lessons. The higher education system of Pakistan with the perspectives of expansion trends and quality improvement amendments is analyzed for recognizing the HEC initiatives and outcomes. The major focus of the study is to investigate the reaction of three public sector universities after the implementation of HEC policies in 2004. The evaluative case study methodology was adopted by the researcher. The data was gathered through analysis of policy documents and interviews conducted in three public sector universities about the following issues: students? enrollments and expenditures per student. The documents like official reports, online papers and newspapers were consulted along with the interviews for getting upgraded information. The undertaken analysis has resulted in several basic findings. It has been concluded that universities are gradually increasing access opportunities by introducing new disciplines particularly, and also establishing many new higher education?s institutions for expanding participation in this decade. The establishment of quality enhancement cells along with hiring foreign faculty and PhDs in public universities are significant steps for both access and quality improvement of higher education in Pakistan. Keywords: Economic growth, human capital, widening access, Quality measures, higher educatio