Female Pakistani students to apply for the “Sister2Sister Exchange Program” in US

The program would work for developing mentorship programs and connecting young Pakistani women to academic and professional networks for educational and career advancement.

Female Pakistani students from moderate to low-income households are eligible to apply for Sister2Sister Exchange Program 2021 to attend prestigious universities in the United States (US) till January 31.

The program is funded by the United States Department of State and administered by a consortium of partners, including American University, International Education and Resource Network (iEARN-USA).

The initiative was a part of Society for International Education (SIE) activities which has been tasked to develop future career opportunities for the women of Pakistan, an official informed.

Read more: What Pakistan needs to do for Education in the next decade – Faisal Mushtaq

Moreover, the program would work for developing mentorship programs and connecting young Pakistani women to academic and professional networks for educational and career advancement, he said.

The program would cover full tuition fees, two-way travel costs, health insurance, accommodation, visa fee, and free food facilities, enabling high school females to attend prestigious American universities for a period of 12 to 50 days.

All the females aged 18-24, who have completed 12 years of education and currently studying in any college, university, or Institute can avail the program. However, the candidate should not be in the final year of their bachelor’s program to apply for it, he informed.

Read more: HEC formally allows PhD after 16 years education; academics term the policy ‘flawed’

The aspirant having at least 70 percent marks in the last three academic years would be eligible to apply, he said.

The ineligible candidates included the dual US, Pakistani nationals or US permanent residence, the candidates who have already availed any exchange program in the United States in the past two years, students in their final year of university (2nd year in a two-year bachelor’s program and 4th year in a four-year bachelor’s program).

Read more: Social distancing amid pandemic may cause “educational distancing”

Those who have a parent, spouse, or fiance who has U.S citizenship or permanent U.S residence might not be eligible, he informed.

The candidate, fluent in oral and written English, should submit academic transcripts, achievement certificates, and reference letters along with the application by Jan 31 to the link given on the website, the official said.

Students would have an opportunity to explore additional career pathways by studying medicine, international affairs, gender studies, and pharmacy along with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) topics at top U.S. universities, he informed.

Read more: FIEDMC asks US for assistance from its technical varsities

Courtesy: APP