LAHORE, May 13: The University of Cambridge has launched its 800th Anniversary Scholarships in Pakistan, offering fully-funded scholarships to at least 15 undergraduate students who will obtain admission to the varsity.

The scholarships, to be funded through the Cambridge Assessment, will cover tuition fees, maintenance and travel costs. The £1.25 million initial fund for the purpose will be spent over the next five or so years.

This was announced by Cambridge Assessment’s Group Chief Executive Simon Lebus at a news conference at a local hotel on Wednesday.

Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) chief executive Ann Puntis, Inter-Boards Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) secretary Ramzan Achakzai and CIE’s regional manager for the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan William Bickerdike were also present on the occasion.

Mr Lebus said this was a new scholarship programme for undergraduates from Pakistan with first admission applications for the academic year 2010-2011.

He said the scholarships were competitive and conditional on a college admission at Cambridge, which would be subject to the varsity’s normal admission criteria. He said the prospective applicants for the scholarships would be interviewed in Pakistan in October/November this year. The last date for the submission of applications for the scholarship would be September 20.

To a question, Mr Lebus said the Cambridge Assessment would consider increasing the number of scholarships, if there were certain competitive cases. “If this scholarship scheme meets success, it is hoped that it will act as a pathfinder and will encourage other benefactors to provide additional funding to continue it, once the initial funds are spent down,” he added.

Stating the Cambridge Assessment was a not-for-profit organisation and a department of the Cambridge University, he added it owned varsity’s three examination boards – OCR, ESOL and CIE: the largest provider of international qualifications.

Saying that Cambridge had historic links with Pakistan, Mr Lebus added the launch of the 800th anniversary scholarships was an opportunity to further develop these links and express university’s commitment to the cause of education in Pakistan.

Appreciating the achievements by Pakistani students in O and A Level examinations, CIE chief executive Ann Puntis said this year several local students secured top global scores in a number of different O & A Level and IGCSE subjects, including economics, psychology, mathematics, chemistry and literature.

Answering a question, Ms Puntis said the CIE would introduce A* grades in O and A Level examinations from 2010 and not this year. The A* grades will enable students to get 90 per cent marks, when they will get the equivalence certificate from the IBCC for admission to local medical, engineering and other professional education institutions.

Currently, the CIE is giving A grade to high achievers, which is equivalent to 85 per cent marks as calculated by the IBCC, which does not enable A-Level graduates to compete with their counterparts having local boards’ FSc qualifications for seeking admission to professional education institutions.

Ms Puntis said the Pakistani high achievers as well as other students were very creative and enthusiastic learners. She said Pakistani teachers were also continuously augmenting their learning base and holding workshops.

IBCC secretary Ramzan Achakzai and CIE’s regional manager William Bickerdike also spoke on the occasion.
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