ISLAMABAD: The admission directors of 10 US universities visited the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to discuss possibilities of institutional agreements for admission and placement of Pakistani scholars in US universities under the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor.

The meeting was headed by HEC Chairman Dr Tariq Banuri.

HEC consultant Mahmoodul Hassan Butt and US embassy Cultural Affairs Attaché Tony Jones were also present on the occasion, a statement issued by HEC on Wednesday said.

Dr Banuri appreciated the support and cooperation of US universities in promoting higher education and research culture in Pakistan. He said HEC looks forward to enhancing collaboration with US universities.

Dr Banuri said the commission aims to increase the number of PhD faculty members as only 25pc of university faculty members in the country currently hold PhD degrees.

Dr Butt spoke about HEC’s role in creating opportunities for Pakistani scholars to pursue PhD degrees in reputable US universities. He said scholarships are also awarded to non-PhD faculty as well as students who have completed 18 years of formal education.

He said the government grants each student $106,000 and that HEC is making efforts to seek tuition fee waivers for students who qualify for scholarships.

Dr Butt said that since fall 2017, HEC has been negotiating agreements with top US universities to achieve the target of placing 1,500 students in PhD programmes at reputable US universities under the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor, Phase-I.

He said a meeting was held with graduate directors of US universities, United States Education Foundation of Pakistan and US embassy officials in this connection last year.

The delegation comprised admission directors of New York University, Tandon School of Engineering, Ohio University, Indiana University Bloomington, University of Colorado Boulder, Boise State University, Florida International University, New York Institute of Technology, Youngstown State University, Kent State University and Kansas State University.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2019