The month of May saw a string of well-received alumni events and outreach sessions in picturesque cities across northern Pakistan. Here are some highlights:
Fulbright Connect
Under the banner of Fulbright Connect, the alumni department organized events in Gilgit and Skardu to promote alumni engagement and networking. The gathering in Gilgit took place on May 14 at the Serena Hotel and the one in Skardu was held on May 20 at the Mashabrum Hotel.
Alumni of the Fulbright Program, Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship, Community College Initiative Program, Global Undergraduate Program, and Community College Administrators Program came together to share stories of their exchange experiences, talk about their professional work, and find avenues for meaningful collaboration. Those in attendance included key administrators from universities of the region, such as Karakoram International University (KIU)’s Vice Chancellor Dr. Atta Ullah Shah, senior government and academic officials, and experts from all walks of life.
Fulbright Connect is a professional networking platform developed by USEFP to support the alumni community in Pakistan, which has over 3,500 members.
Outreach sessions
The alumni department also conducted information sessions for students and faculty members associated with KIU (at its main campus in Gilgit city and its satellite campus in Karimabad, Hunza), and at the University of Baltistan in Skardu. The primary purpose of the outreach was to bring first-hand knowledge of the Fulbright and other U.S. government-funded scholarship programs directly to talented individuals residing in these remote regions.
KIU has over 12,000 students enrolled in various undergraduate and graduate programs and the University of Baltistan has an enrollment of around 2,400. Many of these students hail from different districts around Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). Being a priority region for United States Government-funded scholarship opportunities, USEFP’s team provided detailed presentations on the application process, eligibility, and requirements. Hundreds of students attended these sessions and the Q&A segment lasted for hours, reflecting the overwhelming interest in pursuing higher education from the United States.
