37 Measuring the endeavors’ Impact of Quality Enhancement Cell on Quality of Higher Education system in Pakistan. A case of Private and Public Universities in Pakistan Gobind M. Herani, Muhammad Saleem Mugheri and Avinash Advani Abstract In the area of knowledge and advancement of higher education system, the Pakistani universities were facing the globalize competitiveness and compatibility challenging gapes in the field of higher education system. To lessen these gapes, the initiative was taken in 2006-07 from the Public Sector universities and Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan established the Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC) in 2006. The aim of QEC was to monitor and evaluate the internal quality assurance process of learning, teaching and academia of the universities, with the complex focus on the standard of academic education to fill the gaps among the fundamental and the good governess of quality education in all over the universities. The main objective of conducting this research study was to measure the impact of efforts of QEC on the quality of higher education system of public and private universities in Pakistan. A qualitative research approach has been applied in this study. Data was collected via secondary sources such as published material and authorized electronic media in Pakistan. Literature review and observations are showing that the QEC is playing the dynamic role in the evolution and monitoring process of the higher education system in the country. It is concluded that the establishment of QEC department proved that the steps taken by HEC were good initiative to grow the modern and globalized education standards around the Pakistan. It is recommended that HEC should try to help in monitoring and analyzing the primary and secondary level of education standards across Pakistan and also give guidelines to establish the QEC at primary and secondary level, in the result tertiary level education institutions may be able to get quality intake in their institutions, and finally overall educational quality can be able to compete modern globalize education standards. Keywords: Quality enhancement cell, Higher education Quality, Universities education standards JEL: I21; I23; I31; I38 1. Introduction Over a decade the Higher Education Commission Pakistan (HEC) was leading in establishing different methods for evaluating the academic education standards of the universities around the Pakistan. Standards of education in Pakistan are not up to mark of international standards, as our degree was not either accepted or rarely recognized as compared to other countries. To fill this gap and enhance the overall quality of our education system, HEC has set quality assurance agency. When initiatives taken by HEC were applied showed positive results and consequently initiatives of HEC applied become an obligation to establish the efficiency of providing a high standard of academic education that has significant impact on the stakeholders. These experiences lead HEC to establish quality assurance agency. Main objectives of QEC is to create capacity building of academic education intuitions to compete with the rising global challenges in the context of quality assurance as to improve the national standard of the competitiveness and compatibility of the graduates through proper channels of training and development programs. Specific purposes of the QEC department are (i) to develop the capacity into the teaching, learning and academic performance of the higher education institutions of the Pakistan. (ii) To develop the policies and practical guidelines of the quality assurance standards in higher education intuitions across the Pakistan. The main objective of conducting this research study was to measure the impact of efforts of QEC on the quality of higher education system of public and private universities in Pakistan 2. Functions of QECs 1. The Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC) is to be headed by a Dean reporting directly to Vice Chancellor/Rector. He is to be correspondent with the outside bodies. 2. QEC is responsible for promoting public confidence that the quality and standards of the award of degrees are enhanced and safeguarded. 3. QEC is responsible for the review of quality standards and the quality of teaching and learning in each subject area. 4. QEC is responsible for the review of academic affiliations with other institutions in terms of effective management of standards and quality of programs.