Promoting social sciences: Pakistani, US varsities to make collaborative efforts

The US embassy will invest $8.5 million in eight university partnerships over the next three years.

Two Pakistani and US higher learning institutes have entered into a collaborative arrangement to promote social sciences in the country and undertake professional development of faculty members of the former.

A partnership between Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) and University of Texas, Austin was confirmed on Wednesday, the first in a series of eight collaborations between American and Pakistani varsities, according to a press release.

The basic purpose of this collaboration is to extend cooperation and undertake joint efforts for promotion of social sciences, arts and humanities in Pakistan.

The major focus of this partnership is the professional development of FJWU faculty members, who will work with their American counterparts in Austin.

US Embassy Public Affairs Officer Kathryn Schalow, in her remarks, underscored the US embassy’s focus on initiatives aimed at improving the quality of education in Pakistan at all levels. She said the embassy will invest $8.5 million in eight university partnerships over the next three years.

Each partnership includes a faculty exchange and research components and will be tailored to the needs of specific programmes and universities involved.

The other objectives of this collaboration is to improve the state of social sciences and humanities by enhancing collaborative research and scholarship and sharing information and resources more efficiently.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2012.