First of Eight Partnerships between American and Pakistani Universities Initiated

Islamabad, August 29, 2012

Contact:  Rian Harris, Spokesperson (0308-555-0591)

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The first of eight University Partnerships between American and Pakistani Universities was initiated today at Fatima Jinnah Women’s University (FJWU). The partnership between Fatima Jinnah Women’s University and the University of Texas at Austin will concentrates on the professional development of FJWU faculty members, who will travel to Austin to work directly with their American counterparts.

In her remarks, U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Officer Kathryn Schalow underscored the U.S. Embassy’s focus on initiatives aimed to improve the quality of education in Pakistan at all levels. “Our goal is to unlock Pakistan’s extraordinary potential,” said Schalow, who also noted the significance of beginning the first partnership agreement with a top-tier women’s university. She praised FJWU’s history of providing a quality education to the women of Pakistan, and quoted Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who said, “No struggle can ever succeed without women participating side by side with men.”

U.S. Embassy Islamabad will invest $8.5 million in eight university partnerships over the next three years. Each partnership includes a faculty exchange and research component, and will be tailored to the needs of the specific programs and universities involved. The partnerships will focus on a range of liberal arts subjects, including: American Studies, Business Administration and Management Sciences, Mass Communications and Media Studies, Psychology, Social Anthropology, and Women’s and Gender Studies.