Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has set up an English Access Microscholarship Programme with the US to promote the English language skills of the participants and prepare them for future study exchanges.
A working document was signed in this regard between AIOU's Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Zia-Ul-Qayyum and the US representatives, Karen Bassich and Abdul Majeed. The program has been designed for students aged between 13 and 20 years. The VC hoped that it would help the students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds upgrade their academic education and seek employment opportunities.
The program is also expected to equip students with the ability to compete and participate in future exchanges and study programs in the US. According to the program manager Dr Saira Maqbool, also working as the assistant professor in the department of English Language & Applied Linguists, the program was being launched for the students of Gujranwala region.
Students can apply for admission till May 27 while classes would be held in the AIOU Regional Campus, after school hours thrice a week.
Admission forms can be downloaded from the University's website (English.aiou.edu.pk). Successful completion of the course would be awarded US-recognized certificates. Since 2004, over 95,000 students from more than 85 countries have participated in the English Access Micro-scholarship program.
It is funded by the US Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). Since the program was launched in Pakistan in 2005, over 8000 scholarships have been awarded in 22 different cities.