95 Pakistani students to embark on US-funded undergraduate study

U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Ambassador Richard Hoagland congratulated 95 Pakistani students traveling to the United States for undergraduate study as part of the U.S. government-funded Global Undergraduate (Global UGRAD) Program. 

“The United States has a long tradition of embracing international students and celebrating the diversity that they bring to our campuses and country, which is why we receive more foreign students than any other country in the world,” said Ambassador Hoagland. 

“We welcome more than 1,000 Pakistanis in the United States each year on our many exchange programs, which clearly demonstrates the depth of our commitment to Pakistan’s young people.”

Ninety-five Pakistani students will soon depart for a semester of study at U.S. colleges and universities under the Global UGRAD fellowship program, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State.  The U.S. government fully funds these fellowships for the entire period of study.  The United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) administers the program.

“The really exciting thing about this group of undergraduates is that so many of these students come from remote or economically disadvantaged areas of Pakistan.” said Rita Akhtar, Executive Director of USEFP at a pre-departure orientation to help students prepare to study in the United States. 

Akhtar noted that this year’s group includes 36 students from Punjab, 28 from Sindh, 20 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 14 from Gilgit-Baltistan, nine from Balochistan, four from AJK, three from FATA, and two from Islamabad Capital Territory. 

Fifty-four percent of the students are women.  Students will pursue degrees in a wide variety of disciplines, including humanities and social sciences, engineering, basic sciences, law, art and design, economics, and business administration.  The students are attending more than 50 different colleges and universities located throughout the United States.

The Global UGRAD program was launched in the fall of 2010 when the first cohort of around 50 students departed for the United States.  More than 600 students have participated in the program to-date. 

USEFP is a bi-national commission established in 1950 by the governments of Pakistan and the United States.  USEFP’s mission is to promote mutual understanding between the American and Pakistani people through educational and cultural exchange.  Since its inception 63 years ago, nearly 4,000 Pakistanis and more than 800 Americans have participated in USEFP-administered exchange programs.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on Jul 5 2013. Filed under Education, USA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.