ISLAMABAD: As many as 90 Pakistani undergraduate students attended a pre-departure orientation session on Friday for study in the United States.
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). 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.
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. Rita also congratulated the students and their families for being part of this academic experience.
Global UGRAD spring 2016 participant Muhammad Saiful Islam commented 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.
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