ISLAMABAD: As many as 103 Pakistani undergraduate students attended a pre-departure orientation session on Friday, just weeks before leaving for the United States under an exchange programme.
The programme, called the Global Undergraduate Exchange Programme (Global UGRAD), is funded by the US government and managed by the US Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP). It is a semester-long academic programme for youth leaders from underserved populations. Approximately 250 Pakistanis participate in this programme each year. Since its launch in 2010, more than 1,000 Pakistani students have participated in it.
US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Jonathan Pratt congratulated the students on being selected for the programme. He said, “It’s inspiring to see so many impressive young people gathered together, ready to embark on a new adventure.” He expressed pride that the United States could play a role in advancing education in Pakistan and added that getting education in the US would be a great leaning experience for Pakistani students.
The deputy chief said the programme would allow students to interact with undergraduates from around the world and through the social media they could remain in contact even after completion of their programme.
Pakistani Global UGRAD participants hail from all four provinces of Pakistan, as well as Gilgit-Baltistan, FATA and Kashmir. They represent a broad range of academic fields including humanities, natural sciences, engineering, and business administration.
USEFP Executive Director Rita Akhtar said that young women made up 57 percent of the cohort of selected students. She said that in 2016, 282 Pakistani students were selected for the programme and 103 of them would proceed to the US in January 2017. Rita also congratulated the students and their families for being part of this academic experience.
Global UGRAD Spring 2016 participant Muhammad Saiful Islam told Daily Times that the exchange programme was a pleasant experience for him. He said, “Thanks to Global UGRAD, I am no longer uncomfortable stepping out of my comfort zone, as the programme has helped me build my confidence, overcome my fears and get a taste of who I could be in the future.” He said though the programme was tough, it had taught him to manage crises and had transformed him into a highly motivated and confident person.
Moizza Salahuddin, a student of Habib University, said she went to the US for two months under this programme. She said her stay was challenging but the US Embassy and USEFP provided her with support and guidance.
A student of Kinnaird College, Zainab Masood, expressed happiness over her selection and said she was excited to experience the diverse American culture. She said she had been selected to study social sciences in Utica College and appreciated the role of USEFP for providing support in a professional way.
