Islamabad, Nov 27: The University of Karachi has announced a major shift in its academic structure by transitioning the associate degree (AD) programs in Arts, Science, and Commerce to a semester-based system. Previously known as B.Com, BA, and B.Sc, these programs will now follow a Biannual system, aligning with the Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) recent policy to standardize the AD programs across the country.
The semester system will feature exams twice a year, covering half of the syllabus each semester. Each semester will be six months long, including exams. Teaching will be conducted for five months, followed by examinations, making the system more structured and efficient.
Key Features of the New System:
- Biannual Exams: Students will take exams based on half of the syllabus each semester, with exams conducted twice a year.
- Semester Structure: The program will be divided into four semesters, each lasting six months, aligning with HEC’s guidelines.
- Centralized Examinations: Both regular and private candidates will take centralized exams under the university’s Examination Department, ensuring uniformity.
- Assessment Division: While traditionally 40% of the marks were assessed by colleges and 60% by the university, the new system will centralize exams for both regular and private students under the university’s Examination Department.
If approved at the Academic Council meeting on December 3, the semester system will be implemented for new admissions in affiliated colleges. This move is expected to modernize and streamline the AD programs, making the University of Karachi one of the pioneers in shifting to this more structured approach in public sector universities.
