DAS Rosenzweig takes a selfie with USEFP Executive Director Rita Akhtar and U.S.-bound students.
This quarter, USEFP arranged a two-day pre-departure orientation (PDO) in Islamabad for 51 students selected for the Global Undergraduate Semester Exchange (Global UGRAD) Program. The PDO aimed to prepare the students for a smooth transition to life in the United States by covering topics such as campus life, American culture, and travel and visa requirements.
Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Academic Programs for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Ethan Rosenzweig attended the PDO and congratulated participants.
USEFP Executive Director Rita Akhtar encouraged the students to take full advantage of the academic, extracurricular, and community service activities available in the United States.
USEFP Program Director Saleem A. Razaque addresses students.
“This year, we received a record number of applications from all over Pakistan. We’ve tried to prioritize students who have not had travel experience and who come from under-represented communities, in addition to all of them having excellent academic records. This group represents the rich diversity of Pakistan, and their American classmates will learn a lot from them. The opportunity to experience higher education in the United States is life-changing and lays the foundation for new friendships and mutual understanding between the people of both countries,” said Akhtar.
Funded by the U.S. Department of State, this exchange program provides participants the opportunity to enrich their education and experience full-time academic study. During their stay, the students will attend undergraduate classes at 47 colleges and universities and participate in community projects to strengthen their leadership and academic skills. The students come from all regions of Pakistan and represent 30 public and private universities.
