ISLAMABAD: The United States (US) and Pakistani officials have recognize 33 Pakistani
graduate students and two faculty members who will soon travel to the United States to spend a
semester at Arizona State University and Oregon State University, says an embassy statement
issued here.
During their exchange programme, which is funded by the US Agency for International
Development, these individuals will conduct research relating to Pakistans most pressing energy
challenges, it said.
This academic exchange is associated with USAIDs five-year, $127 million investment in the
US-Pakistan Centres for Advanced Studies Program, which aims to harness applied research to
find innovative and practical solutions to Pakistans energy, water, agriculture, and food security
challenges.
As part of this program, approximately 200 Pakistanis will spend a semester at American
universities over the next four years.
Faculty will have the opportunity to enhance their teaching skills and to learn how to build
successful partnerships between academia and the corporate sector, while students will focus on
research and industry awareness.
“Over the time, USAID expects each Centre for Advanced Studies will form public-private
partnerships and networks to bring together the best minds in academia, government, and the
business community and drive innovation, competitiveness, and economic growth,” said USAID
Deputy Mission Director James Peters.
“The centres will also set new standards for supporting the success of women and disadvantaged
youth in the engineering profession.”
Under the umbrella of the Higher Education Commission, the US-Pakistan Centres for Advanced
Studies in Energy at the National University of Sciences and Technology and at the University of
Engineering and Technology, Peshawar, are expected to become Pakistans premier sustainable
energy research centres.
American and Pakistani officials have also collaborated to establish a Centre for Advanced
Studies in Agriculture and Food Security at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, in
partnership with the University of California-Davis, and a Centre for Advanced Studies in Water
at Tehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, in partnership with the
University of Utah.