ISLAMABAD – As many as 27 professors from Pakistani universities and teacher training institutes attended a send-off celebration on Thursday before travel to the United States to complete their four-year doctoral degree programmes at US universities.

The scholarship programme is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). 
The participants, who were selected through a rigorous interview and selection process from 23 Pakistani universities, will start PhDs in Education in the United States in August. These candidates will return to their universities upon completing their degrees so that they can share their expertise with fellow faculty members and students.
They will also contribute to the effective implementation and management of the Higher Education Commission’s two-year associate degree and four-year Bachelor of Education degree programmes.
“Upon completion of their PhD studies, these 27 specialists will become pioneers of the continuous improvement and modernization of teacher education in Pakistan”, said the USAID Mission Director, Jock Conley, at the ceremony.
“Their skills and knowledge will also support the implementation of the education policy of the Government of Pakistan.” 
“I am thankful to the people of America for funding my PhD program,” said Sumaira Taj, Senior Instructor at the Provincial Institute of Teachers Education, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “I have been selected to pursue my doctoral degree in educational leadership at the University of Iowa, which has well-ranked graduate programs, including degrees offered through its college of education. I am positive that the degree will not only improve my expertise in the education field, but it will also help me make more informed decisions regarding leadership and management of teachers,” he said.