By Pervaiz Mughal
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States have renewed their Fulbright-Higher Education Commission partnership, with the program set to support 66 Pakistani PhD scholars over the next five years.
The agreement was signed between the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan. It will cover the period from financial year 2026-27 to financial year 2031-32.
The renewed partnership will continue a range of academic and professional exchange programs. These will include the Fulbright Master’s and PhD programs, the Visiting Scholar Program for post-doctoral scholars, the Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program and the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program.
The agreement was aimed at expanding access to advanced education and research opportunities for Pakistani students and scholars. It also reflected a continued commitment by Pakistan and the United States to strengthening academic links and developing human capital.
Under the partnership, Pakistani scholars will have opportunities to pursue higher education and research in the United States. The program is also expected to support academic exchanges and create stronger institutional connections between universities and research communities in both countries.
The partnership will cover scholars at different stages of their academic and professional careers. Alongside doctoral candidates, it will provide opportunities for post-doctoral researchers, faculty members, language teaching assistants and professionals seeking specialized training.
Officials said the renewed program would contribute to academic excellence, research and international educational cooperation. It would also help broaden opportunities for Pakistani students, faculty members and professionals to engage with US institutions.
The extension of the Fulbright-HEC partnership came as both countries continued to place education and human capital development among areas of bilateral cooperation. The program has remained one of the key channels for academic exchanges between Pakistan and the United States.
