June 07, 2015
News
76 young Pakistanis to avail US-funded CCIP this year
* A US official says so far 318 Pakistani students have participated in the US-funded CCIP
APPISLAMABAD: As many as 76 young Pakistani professionals who were selected to develop leadership, professional skills and English language proficiency would study at community colleges in the US this year.
The professionals, thirty-one percent of whom are women, come from all regions including Balochistan, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh.
Addressing as chief guest at the pre-departure orientation ceremony, at a local hotel, senior US official and Managing Director of Academic Programmes, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Marianne Craven said that Pakistani students must have good knowledge of their own culture to represent positive picture of Pakistan while studying in the United States, disclosing that so far 318 Pakistani students have participated in the US government-funded Community College Initiative Programme (CCIP).
She added that the one-year, non-degree scholarship programme, managed by the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) aims to foster Pakistan’s future leadership in the key areas of Business Administration, Agriculture, Media, Applied Engineering, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Public Safety, and Early Childhood Education.
Craven, during her speech, encouraged the Pakistani CCIP students to avail all opportunities to gain practical experience in academic coursework, professional development, community engagement, and exploration of US culture and society, hoping that this multifaceted experience would empower the students with 21st century skills, which would have positive impacts on their personal lives and society as a whole when they are back to Pakistan ready to engage with their communities.
Earlier, USEFP Executive Director Rita Akhtar briefed the participants that around 9,000 Pakistanis have participated in fully funded academic or professional development programmes in the US. Approximately 4,000 Pakistanis are enrolled in US government-funded English language programmes in Pakistan currently, she further said.
On the occasion, the other local speakers also shared their past experiences of studying in the US educational institutes, emphasising the need to promote people-to-people contacts while staying in the land of opportunities.
The US Embassy in Islamabad and its constituent posts in Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar administer the largest investment of US funds in educational and cultural programmes in the world. The ceremony was attended by the participants coming from all regions of the country, media representatives, and officials from the US Embassy and the USEFP.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk