US to Fund MS, PhD Studies
under Fulbright Program
Islamabad: Pakistan and
the United States on Saturday signed an agreement on a new
$157.5 million Fulbright scholarship program spread over a
period of five years for 750 students pursuing MS and PhD
degrees.
The funding for the MS and PhD degrees, involving a $105 million
commitment by the United States and $52.5 million by the HEC,
brings Pakistan to the top of the list on the Fulbright program.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the Higher
Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Attaur Rehman and the
Executive Director of United States Educational Foundation
in Pakistan (USEFP), Dr Grace Clark, and was witnessed by
US Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker.
Dr Atta said Pakistan was working on a strategy to move forward
from agro-based to knowledge-based economy by unleashing the
creativity of its younger generation.
He said the program would provide an opportunity to the young
students to be part of the socio-economic development of the
country.
He was appreciative of the United States for helping the country
in “a really big way” and said students would
get admissions in top US universities in many disciplines;
including basic and applied sciences, information technology,
bio- technology, management, economy, etc.
The US ambassador termed the signing a “historic”
moment that would expand cooperation and bring the two countries
closer. He said Pakistan would top the list of 140 countries
that compete for Fulbright scholarships. Dr Grace Clark described
the signing as a “momentous occasion”.
Under the program Pakistan would contribute $10.5 million
to the program annually for five years, while the US Agency
for International Development will provide $4.5 million annually
for the same period.
About 50 students would be funded annually for the PhD program
besides 100 for the MS program.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
