For the second year in a row, Pakistan was ranked first in the world for receiving the most scholarships given to students who wanted to attend prestigious European universities.
For the second year in a row, Pakistan was ranked first in the world for receiving the most scholarships given to students who wanted to attend prestigious European universities.
According to the European Union’s Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Scholarships programme, 192 Pakistani students have received financial aid to attend European universities (EU). 103 men and 89 women are recipients from Pakistan.
The European Union Delegation to Pakistan released a statement saying, “This is the second year in a row that Pakistan ranked top in the world for number of scholarships awarded and remained in the lead in terms of scholarship applications.”
Together with the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the EU delegation put together a pre-departure event to recognise this accomplishment and honour the scholarship recipients.
Thomas Seiler, the EU’s Chargé d’Affaires, welcomed the young scholars who were starting their educational and cultural journeys through the Erasmus+ programme with open arms. “I am sure that they will return with strong knowledge and rich experiences, and their exposure to European universities will also contribute to the development of Pakistan,” he said.
Seiler also praised Pakistani universities for giving their students the training they needed to compete on a global scale and acknowledged the excellent preparation of Pakistani students. He was happy to see that more Pakistani students were enrolling in the Erasmus+ programme.
Scholarship recipients had the chance to get ready for their studies in Europe and network with other students and Erasmus+ alumni at the pre-departure event in Islamabad.
Dr. Shaista Sohail, executive director of the Higher Education Commission, as well as representatives from the EU Member States and the Erasmus+ Alumni Association, attended the event, which included a sharing of experiences and a Q&A session.
Erasmus scholarship program
The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master scholarships were awarded to 2,835 students from 128 countries. Erasmus+, the EU’s flagship program, supports education, training, youth, and sports globally. Launched in 1987, it funds initiatives, projects, and scholarships, promoting cooperation both within and outside the EU.
Launched in March 2021, the Erasmus+ programme offers more than 23.2 billion Euros in funding globally to support mobility and cooperation in the higher education sector.