Education: 126 departing Fulbrighters attend orientation

Chairperson (HEC) said 3,280 have completed their PhDs in the last 3-4 years while 2000 will in the next 2-3 years

ISLAMABAD:

A total of 126 students from all over Pakistan, selected under the Fulbright advanced Degree Awards 2011 for Masters and PhD, will leave for the United States of America in July.

They attended the Pre-Departure Orientation at United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) here on Thursday. Richard E Hoagland, Deputy Chief of Mission at US Embassy, Mark Davidson, Public Affairs Officer at US Embassy, and Dr Javaid Laghari, Chairperson Higher Education Commission (HEC), attended the orientation.

Dr Laghari urged the students to concentrate on their studies as there is a rising demand of educationalists, particularly PhDs, in Pakistan. He added that HEC aimed to raise the number of PhDs teaching in universities from 20% at present to 60% in the next few years. He said 3,280 have completed their PhDs in the last 3-4 years while another 2,000 will in the next 2-3 years.

USEFP Executive Director Rita Akhtar congratulated the departing students. She said that the Fulbright scholarships, funded by the USAID, have an annual spending of $20 million, and provide Pakistani students an opportunity to study in the US. This year 94 students are going for their Masters while 32 will pursue doctoral degrees. Of these, 37% are women.

The grantees come from different areas of the country including Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad Capital Territory, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh.

About 29 students were selected in business, 21 in engineering, 19 in social sciences, 12 in public policy/administration, 11 in education, seven in fine arts, six in mass communication, six in technology, six in law, five in health-related subjects, three in computer sciences and one in basic sciences.

Addressing the students Davidson said, “We are very fortunate to have the world’s largest Fulbright programme in Pakistan.

This is one example of the US government’s long-term commitment to the education of Pakistanis and to increasing mutual understanding between both countries.”

The students are required to return to Pakistan after completion of their studies to play a positive role in the country’s economic development.

The grantees were briefed by USEFP about the programme, visa regulations, American culture, US higher education and adjusting to life in the US.

The Fulbright programme has been operating since 61 years in Pakistan. Since 2005, USEFP has awarded 1,180 Fulbright awards for Masters or PhD degrees.

With additional input from APP





Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2011.