University News

WIU Welcomes U.S Department of State Global UGRAD-Pakistan Students

February 17, 2020

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MACOMB, IL — Western Illinois University has welcomed two new international students to campus as part of the United States Department of State's Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Pakistan (Global UGRAD-Pakistan). Joining the WIU community are Junaid and Iqra (first names only upon request).

The Global UGRAD-Pakistan program, which places participants at U.S. colleges and universities for one semester of non-degree academic study, is part of the U.S. Department of State's effort to promote understanding of the people of the U.S. and people from other countries.

Since this program was created in 2010, Global UGRAD-Pakistan has given nearly 1,900 individuals from Pakistan the opportunity to study at a U.S. college or university.

Through their semester-long academic study, participants are given the opportunity to explore U.S. culture, participate in community service and interact with their host communities and campuses. In addition, participants are given the chance to enhance their academic fields, gain an understanding of American culture and share their understanding of the United States when they return home.

Global UGRAD-Pakistan participants enrich the lives of the Americans they met through sharing their own unique viewpoints, backgrounds and experiences, which brings a new global perspective to their host communities. This also allows for participants to maintain relationships with people they meet through the program, with 95 percent of program alumni keeping in contact with people they have connected with.

The Global UGRAD-Pakistan program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs (ECA), whose programs promote friendly and peaceful relations, with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX, a global development and education program.

For more information about Global UGRAD-Pakistan, visit irex.org/ugrad-pakistan.

Posted By: Hayley Porter (hp-porter@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing