By Chaudhary Tahir Siddique for Invisiblites
The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) for Pakistan, after fifteen years of its impactful services, has been officially discontinued. The move has sparked disappointment and disbelief across Pakistan’s academic community, especially undergraduate students. For fifteen years, this U.S.-funded initiative served as a bridge between American values and Pakistani intellectual minds. According to the USEFP annual report 2021, since its launch in 2005, the Global UGRAD-Pakistan Program has benefited more than 2,500 Pakistani students. It empowered females and students from unprivileged backgrounds as according to the USEFP program report 2020 and UGRAD dispatch 2022, more than 60% of selected participants were from rural or underserved areas, and above 50% of students were females.
The bridge has now been dismantled – leaving behind silence, sadness, disappointment, and shattered dreams. The announcement, issued via the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP), marks not just the closure of a scholarship program but the shutting of a gateway to countless dreams. For thousands of Pakistani undergraduates, Global UGRAD wasn’t just a program or scholarship, it was a hope. It was a dream nurtured with sleepless nights of preparations, polished statements of purpose, and heartfelt aspirations of representing Pakistan in a global classroom. And yet, one selected student for this year’s UGRAD program aptly put this on his WhatsApp status:
“Sometimes you dream and wish, and you also do your best for it, but in the end all in vain.”
Over the years, Global UGRAD has created a vibrant community of alumni who have gone on to serve in academia, civil service, journalism, activism, and beyond. This was not merely a scholarship – it was an investment in Pakistan’s human capital. The silence from the Pakistani government, especially the Ministry of Federal Education, is equally alarming. A program of such magnitude and success disappearing without a strong response or effort to renegotiate raises serious concerns about the government’s priorities when it comes to international educational exchange.
Such programs are not just about studying abroad, they’re about teaching and learning from each other, sharing experiences, knowledge, and meals, accepting differences in cultures, and praising each other’s thoughts and beliefs. The program offered more than just a semester in the United States – it was a chance to learn, network, and represent Pakistan on an international platform. For many students from underprivileged backgrounds, it was their first exposure to a global classroom. But for all those who didn’t make it, UGRAD was not the end game, it was just the beginning.
This experience has prepared you for something even greater, I’m sure of it. Keep working on your resumes, and the best opportunities will come your way again. I want to remind you all UGRAD was never the ultimate destination. The very fact that you were selected proves you have what it takes to achieve greatness. It’s okay to feel disappointed but don’t let this define you. You were chosen because of your incredible potential, and among those qualities, I’m sure resilience is one of them. So stay strong, stay hopeful, and keep striving. Bigger and better opportunities are waiting for you. This is just the beginning.
The writer is a student of politics at the School of Politics and International Relations (SPIR), Quaid e Azam University Islamabad. Can be reached at: tahir.mehar786786123@gmail.com
Photo credits: Flickr
The United States has long been a cornerstone of global education, but this recent decision reveals a decreasing commitment to supporting students from developing nations. The discontinuation of the UGrad program is a significant setback for Pakistani students who depend on such initiatives to pursue higher education opportunities abroad. It’s crucial for national leaders and educational institutions to explore alternative solutions and financial support options for students from underserved regions in Pakistan. By creating more accessible and affordable pathways, can help prevent brain drain and enable students to fulfil their academic and career aspirations. The termination of UGRAD also underscores the changing landscape of global politics and priorities. Pakistan needs to advocate for its own interests and seek better opportunities for its students. This decision starkly illustrates how international relations can affect individual lives. Policymakers must now weigh the human impact of their actions more carefully. The end of UGRAD serves as a chilling reminder of the systemic disparities within global education. It’s essential for decision-makers to prioritise international collaboration and knowledge sharing to help close this gap.
The writer for shedding light on this critical issue affecting Pakistani students.
Your work is truly making a difference.
This is a very well-written and informative article. It’s truly unfortunate to see such an impactful program come to an end, especially one that provided students with international exposure and learning opportunities. You’ve highlighted the significance of UGRAD and its positive impact really well. Hoping for more such initiatives to be introduced in the future to support student development.
Very well Daanishian mate!❤