U.S. Alumni Fair in Islamabad brings university representatives and U.S. alumni together as part of IEW 2016.
International Education Week 2016 (IEW) brought students, educators and alumni together to celebrate the benefits of international education and cultural exchange through a series of events and activities hosted across the cities of Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi. EducationUSA Advising Centers at the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) marked the week by organizing various events to highlight international education, including a U.S. Alumni Fair, an award ceremony recognizing high achieving students and educators, and undertaking a multitude of activities to engage and empower youth community members.
The high point of IEW celebrations was the U.S. Alumni Fair, which was held in Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi and brought alumni who represented approximately 40 different U.S. colleges and universities in each city. Coinciding with the fall application timeline, the Alumni Fair provides an opportunity for students to engage with individuals who have had firsthand experience of studying in the U.S. Not only do prospective applicants have an opportunity to have their application queries addressed by U.S. graduates, but by networking with fellow applicants and representatives, they can develop a deeper understanding of academic and cultural life in the U.S.
USEFP Executive Director, Rita Akhtar, encouraged students and parents to take advantage of the IEW activities and learn more about higher education in the U.S. “Pakistani students who study in the United States are well prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the global economy. Studying abroad also strengthens ties and fosters friendship among students from different countries.”
“Pakistani students who study in the United States are well prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the global economy,” said USEFP Executive Director, Rita Akhtar.
The number of Pakistanis studying in the United States for the 2015-2016 academic year rose significantly to 6,141, an increase of 14.7 percent over the previous year, according to the annual Open Doors Report. The report, which was released at the beginning of International Education Week, provides comprehensive information on international students and scholars studying or teaching at higher education institutions in the United States and U.S. students studying abroad for academic credit.
Goal! In addition to table tennis and badminton, girls participate in a thrilling soccer game at the third Annual USEFP Sports Day. This year’s Sports Day was held at the International College of Arts and Sciences in Islamabad.
As part of its ongoing efforts to recognize outstanding students and educators in Pakistan, IEW held a High Achievers’ and Counselors’ Recognition Ceremony, which celebrated outstanding students from local high schools and recognized the hard work of counselors in advising their students all year around. In the same vein, extracurricular activities – crucial in building team working skills and building self-confidence were also organized in select cities. The third annual USEFP Sports Day was held in Islamabad and for the first time in Lahore. Local school teams showcased their athletic talent by competing in football, basketball, and table tennis matches. The Second Annual USEFP Cricket Tournament was organized in Karachi and encouraged both boys and girls to engage in Pakistan’s most popular sport.
According to the annual Open Doors Report, the number of Pakistanis studying in the United States for the 2015-2016 academic year rose significantly to 6,141, an increase of 14.7 percent over the previous year, according to the annual Open Doors Report.
“IEW 2016 was very motivational for me in terms of applying to U.S. colleges,” commented Mehak Naseem, an A Levels student who is presently enrolled at Beaconhouse Defence in Lahore. “It not only gave me a platform to highlight my academic potential at the High Achievers’ Ceremony, but I also demonstrated my athletic talent by winning the trophy for Most Valuable Player in Women’s Basketball Competition at the USEFP Sports Day,” she said.
Pernia Shehryar (fourth from right) of Supernova won the Dramatic Reading Contest where she read Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” as part of her winning entry.
To promote a sense of civic responsibility a plantation drive was organized in collaboration with the Capital Development Authority Islamabad, where students planted trees and other plants to preserve environment. Students also had the opportunity to let their creative sides shine at an Arts Workshop organized in Lahore and a Dramatic Reading Contest in Islamabad.
USEFP operates EducationUSA Advising Centers in Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi, which are part of a global network of hundreds of advising centers in more than 170 countries around the world supported by the U.S. Department of State. All of USEFP’s EducationUSA advisers have first-hand experience of studying in the U.S. and provide accurate, comprehensive, and current information for no cost about how to apply to U.S. colleges and universities through one-to-one advising sessions, and various programs and events addressing the application process.
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