U.S. Embassy, Islamabad (PDS): Strengthening U.S.-Pakistan University Partnerships

Overview

The United States is committed to fostering inclusive economic growth and sustainable development in Pakistan through the enhancement of educational opportunities at the university level. This program aims to build new university linkages and continue strengthening existing partnerships between U.S. and Pakistani universities through one-to-one or one-to-multiple university partnerships that support education professionals—including faculty and administrators—and student collaboration on research and skills-building in the following areas:
• Supporting inclusive economic development;
• Bolstering environmental sustainability & climate resilience;
• Enhancing educational opportunities, including improving the quality and accessibility of higher education in Pakistan and/or enhancing support services for students (to include financial aid, alumni engagement, microenterprise and employment skills-building, mental health support, etc.);
• Fostering civic engagement & empowering marginalized communities;
• Strengthening democratic institutions;
• Other topics (aligned with program goals).

Proposals do not need to focus on all listed topics. Competitive proposals would (1) focus on activities in one or several areas that are clearly linked; (2) consider working with several institutions to build linkages between a network of bilateral institutions, not just one-on-one partnerships; (3) address means through which diversity, equity, inclusivity and accessibility will be incorporated throughout program activities; and (4) describe methods through which proposed university linkages will be sustained after the program’s period of performance ends.

Project Audience(s): Primary beneficiaries should be:
• Teaching professionals—including professors, teaching assistants, and educational trainers;
• Office of Research and Commercialization (ORIC) and Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC) staff;
• University students;
• Where applicable, activities may also be planned to engage educational leaders (deans, registrars, vice chancellors, rectors, etc.) and education policymakers such as the HEC, National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE), and federal/provincial Ministries of Education (MoEs).

Project Goal: This project seeks to foster inclusive economic growth and sustainable development in Pakistan by building university linkages between U.S. and Pakistani universities and enhancing educational and exchange opportunities that will in turn make Pakistani society better educated, more skilled, and more inclusive.

Project Objectives:
• Objective 1: Create lasting partnerships between Pakistani students and education professionals—including faculty and administrators—and American university counterparts to improve research capabilities and expertise of HEIs in Pakistan (through best practices shared by U.S. partner universities). Partnership areas may include curriculum and professional development for faculty, research, distance learning (via Internet/DVC), sharing of resources, and faculty and student exchanges.
• Objective 2: Improve economic and employment opportunities of Pakistani students by enhancing post-education career skills and services available to students attending these HEIs through participation in experiential learning as part of short-term exchange travel to the United States. Faculty and student exchange programs lasting 3 to 4 weeks are preferred, though shorter durations are also permitted pending focus of the exchange.
• Objective 3: Develop equity, diversity, and leadership skills among education professionals and students in Pakistan. 
The means of achieving the above objectives is left purposefully broad to encourage the submission of innovative proposals tailored to the international