STAFF REPORT ISB: The National ICT RandD Fund has decided to slash the number of scholarships to 165 from 500 under the Prime Ministers National ICT RandD scholarship programme (PMNICTSP), it is learnt.The official documents show that Project Appraisal Committee (PAC) has discussed the programme at length and recommend the award of 150 fully funded 4-year scholarships in ICT disciplines as HRD solicited project to the board.
National ICT RandD Fund can offer limited number of scholarships for the forthcoming fall 2016 intake. It will give the access to deserving talented youth of Pakistan to quality education and also help National ICT RandD Fund to balance out its funding in both HRD and RandD initiatives.
Accordingly, limited number of 165 fully funded four-year undergraduate degree scholarships in ICT related disciplines will be offered to deserving talented youth of Pakistan (including AJK, FATA and Gilgit-Baltistan) in HEC recognised universities of Pakistan.Based on the past 5 year experience 9.7% female students normally secure scholarships every year on merit. As directed by the ICT RandD board in its 41st meeting, 15 (10pc) additional seats can be allocated for female students. Total cost will rise up to 290 million for 150 scholarships. PMNICTSP-2011 has been executed in two parts ie fall intake 2011 and spring intake 2012. 729 scholarships were offered under fall intake program, with a total of 19 universities participating in the program. A total of up to Rs 610 million worth of scholarships were awarded on merit.