US mission in Pak marks int’l education week

ISLAMABAD, Nov 19 (APP):The U.S. Mission in Pakistan and EducationUSA marked International Education Week (IEW), November 15-19, with a series of virtual events and activities encouraging students, parents, and school counselors to consider U.S. colleges and universities as the premier higher education destination.

With top-notch academic programmes, unmatched international student experiences, and over 4,000 accredited institutions from which to choose, the United States offers a wealth of higher-education opportunities for students globally and across Pakistan.

“Each year, the U.S. government sends approximately 800 Pakistanis to the United States to study, including fully funded fellowships for 100 masters and 50 PhD candidates through our prestigious Fulbright Program, and we would like to see even more students take advantage of the opportunities to study in our world-class colleges and universities,” said the U.S. Embassy’s Minister Counselor for Public Affairs Ray Castillo.

“These experiences promote economic growth by preparing students to enter the global job market. And by building life-long connections, these exchanges also create a platform for future leaders to work together to solve the world’s toughest challenges.”

International Education Week brought together senior university representatives, including vice-chancellors, faculty members, and students for a virtual panel discussion, co-hosted by the U.S. Embassy, on the benefits of international education and the value of U.S. exchange programs for Pakistani students.

The programme was opened by Minister Counselor Ray Castillo, and the panel included former Dean and Director of the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, and former Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Ishrat Hussain, Executive Director of the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP), Rita Akhtar and U.S. exchange alumni, Humzah Yazdani, Maryam Noor, and Nimrah Shakeel.

“American study abroad experiences provide students with an academically rigorous and culturally diverse environment in which to learn and thrive,” said USEFP Executive Director, Rita Akhtar. “While earning a U.S. degree, students not only gain valuable insight into American culture and our way of life but also have a unique opportunity to share stories of Pakistan’s rich heritage with students from around the world.

IEW events and activities highlight these benefits, further strengthening our commitment to support U.S. higher education aspirations of students across Pakistan.”
This year’s festivities also included a High Achievers’ and Counselors’ Recognition Ceremony to honor outstanding students and recognize hard-working counselors from local high schools in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi.

The event highlighted the important role guidance counselors play, alongside parents, in shaping Pakistan’s future leaders.
Other virtual events involved activities aimed at building students’ confidence by improving their communication skills and self-expression through filmmaking, recitals of prose and poetry, and gamifying webinars to encourage virtual participation.

EducationUSA is the official U.S. government source of information on U.S. higher education. It offers accurate, comprehensive, and current information on accredited postsecondary institutions in the United States, and free guidance and assistance to students interested in applying to U.S. colleges and universities.

In Pakistan, EducationUSA is hosted at USEFP, a bi-national commission established in 1950 by the Governments of Pakistan and the United States.
USEFP also administers the prestigious Fulbright Student Program and several other scholarships and fellowships for Pakistani students interested in studying in the United States.