Rapid Changes in Business Education 4.0: Exploring the Role of the Higher Education Commission

Abstract

With the advancement of technology, particularly smart technologies driving the evolution of Industry 4.0, the demand for changes in business education has significantly increased. These changes are very rapid and abrupt, which need prompt response. Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, as a regulatory body for Higher Business Education, has a mandate to fulfill the skills market demands in a timely and efficient manner. In this period of rapid technological change, the role of the Higher Education Commission in education and curriculum reform needs to be explored and understood. This study examines the mechanisms through which the Higher Education Commission initiates and implements changes in business education and curriculum. Given the exploratory nature of the study, an inductive approach is adopted to understand this phenomenon within the context of HEC’s role in Pakistan’s higher business education. The study reveals that the Higher Education Commission has demonstrated considerable flexibility in curriculum design by empowering higher education institutions to make discretionary choices in course development. Universities have greater authority in course selection, allowing them to include more technology-based courses in the business curriculum. However, certain gaps remain in the effective implementation of these courses. The implementation is not standardized across institutions due to the non-mandatory nature of these provisions, which has led to negligence in compliance. The study significantly contributes to the HEC role analysis of business education governance and management.

Keywords:  Business Education4.0, Higher Education Business Curriculum, Industrial Revolution 4.0, Business Education, HEC Role in Business Education