"THE ROLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN SHAPING ENROLLMENT TRENDS IN STATISTICS AND ENHANCING JOB PROSPECTS IN PAKISTAN"

Abstract

This study quantitatively investigates the role of higher education institutions in shaping enrollment trends in statistics programs and enhancing employment outcomes for statistics graduates in Pakistan. Using secondary data collected from public and private universities, the research analyzes enrollment patterns over multiple academic years and examines their relationship with institutional characteristics such as program availability, faculty strength, student–teacher ratios, and curriculum orientation. Additionally, graduate employment data are statistically evaluated to assess the impact of academic training in statistics on job prospects across sectors, including education, finance, government, and emerging data-driven industries. Descriptive statistics, trend analysis, and regression techniques are employed to identify significant factors influencing student enrollment and employability. The findings reveal that universities offering quantitatively rigorous curricula, applied statistical training, and exposure to statistical software show higher enrollment growth and improved graduate employment rates. Furthermore, a statistically significant association is observed between institutional investment in statistics education and positive labor market outcomes. The study underscores the importance of evidence-based academic planning and curriculum enhancement within higher education institutions to strengthen the relevance of statistics education and support workforce development in Pakistan.