Senior US Official urged Pakistani Students for good knowledge of own culture

Lahore: A senior U.S. Official has said that Pakistani students must have good knowledge of their own culture to represent positive picture of Pakistan while studying in the United States, disclosing that so far, 318 Pakistani students have participated in the U.S. government-funded Community College Initiative Program (CCIP).

The one-year, non-degree scholarship program, managed by the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) aims to foster Pakistan’s future leadership in the key areas of Business Administration. Agriculture, Media, Applied Engineering, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Public Safety, and Early Childhood Education, said Ms. Marianne Craven, Managing Director of Academic Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

She was addressing as Chief Guest during the pre-departure orientation ceremony, here at the Serena Hotel Islamabad, in honor of Pakistani young professionals who were selected to develop leadership, professional skills and English language proficiency while studying at a community college in the United States. This year, of the 76 grantees, thirty-one percent are women. The participants come from all regions of Pakistan including Balochistan; Capital Territory; FATA; Gilgit/Baltistan; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Punjab and Sindh.

Marianne Craven, during her speech, encouraged the Pakistani CCIP students to avail all opportunities to gain practical experience in academic coursework, professional development, community engagement, and exploration of U.S. culture and society, hoping that this multifaceted experience would empower the students with 21st century skills, which would have positive impacts on their personal lives and society as a whole when they back to Pakistan ready to engage with their communities. She concluded.