50 Pak students meet for Global UGRAD-Pakistan orientation

Washington, Dec 30 (ANI): Fifty students from Pakistan have met in Washington for the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Pakistan (Global UGRAD-Pakistan) program orientation.

"The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, in coordination with partner organization IREX, will host an arrival orientation in Washington, DC for Global UGRAD-Pakistan participants from January 3-6, 2011," said a media note from the US Department of State.

Global UGRAD-Pakistan is part of the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD), a scholarship program for students from the Western Hemisphere, East Asia and the Pacific, the Near East and South Asia, and Eurasia and Central Asia.

"Launched in fall 2010, Global UGRAD-Pakistan provides a substantive exchange experience at a U.S. college or university to a diverse group of 100 emerging student leaders from underrepresented sectors in Pakistan with the goal of increasing mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of Pakistan," it added.

The media note said that Global UGRAD-Pakistan students engage in one semester of non-degree study, and are placed at "more than 35 accredited two- and four-year higher education institutions in over 25 states."

Participants also take part in local community service projects, engage in cultural enrichment activities on and off campus, and complete an American Studies course, it added.

Global UGRAD participants are among the over 40,000 academic and professional exchange program participants, who are supported annually by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. (ANI)