ISLAMABAD – Australia’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Peter Heyward has said that he was pleased that more than 7,000 Pakistani students had chosen Australia for their studies, making Australia the second-most popular country for education among Pakistanis, after Great Britain.
Addressing a reception hosted for alumni of Australian educational institutions here at a local hotel the other day, he said he hoped that this number would continue to grow, as more Pakistani students become aware of the high-quality educational opportunities provided by Australian institutions.
Five Australian universities rank among the world’s top 100 universities, according to Times Higher Education Rankings.
Heyward told a large audience of alumni of Australian educational institutions that they were in the true sense ‘ambassadors for Australia’ and role models to their fellow countrymen and women who wish to follow their footsteps.
“When you tell your friends and family about your educational and lifestyle experiences in Australia, and the quality and style of the courses you undertook, it is often the most powerful message they will receive,” Mr Heyward said.
The event was also attended by visiting Australian education officials Mr Tom Calder, Trade Commissioner, and Dr Peter Nolan, a senior education and training specialist.
In addition to private students choosing Australia for their studies, the Australian Government also offers a variety of education, research and professional development opportunities through almost 100 scholarships for study in Australia under the Australian Awards and Australian Endeavour programs.
These programs contribute to strengthening Pakistan’s human resource capacities by providing scholarships up to Masters-level in areas aligned with Pakistan’s development priorities.
The High Commissioner said that he was ‘personally delighted to see the expansion of educational linkages between Australia and Pakistan’ which was part of a much broader and deeper engagement between the two countries in recent years.