US Ambassador Cameron Munter addressed over 100 Pakistani students gathered in a hotel at the Federal Capital for their pre-departure orientation for the US government-funded Global Undergraduate (UGRAD) Program.
Speaking to the students, Munter said, “We are very fortunate to have so many talented Pakistani students attending American universities through the UGRAD program. This is one example of the U.S. government’s long-term commitment to the education of Pakistanis, and to increasing mutual understanding between both countries.”
The students, hailing from different regions of Pakistan, will attend 45 universities around the United States for one semester, and study a wide variety of academic disciplines such as public policy, health, social sciences and fine arts. The students are required to return to Pakistan after the completion of one semester to play a positive role in the country’s economic and social development.
This one-semester program for undergraduates was first launched in the fall of 2010 with a batch of 50 students. In view of the successful performance of the Pakistanis, the U.S. Embassy has doubled the size of the program this year.
In addition to the 100 students studying in the U.S. this fall, another 100 will be traveling in 2012 to attend the spring semester. The UGRAD program award covers all costs for a semester of studies at an American university, including eating and lodging. The orientation program, which was organized by the U.S. Education Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP), prepares students with the skills, attitudes, and knowledge required to conduct themselves in the United States.