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January - February 2012 | Volume # 10 , Issue # 01-02

The 2013 Fulbright awards have been announced and the competition is now open! This year again USEFP is managing the world’s largest Fulbright Program. The competition was launched in a media event on Feb. 10, with Deputy Chief of Mission Ambassador Richard Hoagland as the chief guest. The Fulbright Program is just one of many U.S.-government funded educational, professional, and cultural exchange programs that build people to people ties among Americans and Pakistanis. For application and other details, please visit http://www.usefpakistan.org/Fulbright2013.html.

Early in February, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, Mr. James R. Moore visited USEFP to meet with program alumni. Mr. Moore spoke with alumni of the Fulbright Master’s Program, the Global Undergraduate Program, and the Community College Initiative Program. The alumni recounted their experiences in the U.S. and discussed their activities and achievements since returning to Pakistan.

On January 28, a new Fulbright and Humphrey Alumni Chapter was launched at the University of Agriculture in Faisalabad. Executive Director Rita Akhtar was present for the election of officers after meeting with Vice Chancellor Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan to discuss strategies for encouraging more agriculture students to apply for Fulbright Awards. Welcome Dr. Muhammad Ashraf, President of the new Faisalabad Chapter of the Fulbright and Humphrey Alumni Association!

In February, USEFP participated in the Dawn Education Expo in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. This year the Expo drew an audience of nearly 10,000 students, scholars, teachers, parents and professionals. USEFP booths in each city featured EducationUSA Advisers, Fulbright Program Officers and Prometric Testing staff members, all working to get the word out about higher education opportunities in USA.

- Fulbright competition 2013 announced

- Global UGRAD-Pakistan Updates

- Pakistani journalists get up-close look at U.S.

- Outreach for Global UGRAD Exchange Program in GB

- A 2011 Fall Global UGRAD grantee captures her experience on video

- From Haripur to Virginia – the journey of a Pakistani student

- Recent returnees of U.S. Cultural Exchange Programs encourage new students

- USEFP participates in Dawn Education Expo nationwide

- Advisors extend outreach to Hazara University

TV One’s report on Fulbright Pakistan- several TV channels covered the Fulbright 2013 announcement event.

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- Deputy Secretary Mr. James Moore meets Pakistani alumni

- Fulbrighter’s study receives worldwide appreciation

- Faisalabad Chapter of Pak-NAFA gets started

- Lahore chapter alumni meet up

- Re-entry seminar for Fulbright and Humphrey alumni

- Congratulations to Dr. Jehanzeb on his appointment as Vice Chancellor, University of Swat

- SAT Exams and upcoming dates

- A GRE and TOEFL package discount

- The American College Test (ACT) and upcoming dates

- API & PES -New tests at Lahore Testing Center

USEFP Khi Office:, P.O.Box 13806, KarachiUSEFP, P.O Box 1128, Islamabad USEFP Lhr Office:, P.O.Box 1225, Lahore

UAN:- 111-187-337 | Fax:- +92 51 8431 555 | Email: usefp@usefpakistan.org | URL: http://www.usefpakistan.org

Disclaimer: Ed-USA News also contains third party content from cited sources, therefore, these are not the views of USEFP. Please note that the items have been edited for purpose of brevity. To unsubscribe, please send an e-mail with Subject ‘Unsubscribe’ to usefp@usefpakistan.org

U.S. Embassy Facebook Page(http://www.facebook.com/pakistan.usembassy)

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January - February 2012 | Volume # 10 , Issue # 01-02

Fulbright competition 2013 announcedPakistan has the world’s largest Fulbright Program

The United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) announced the world’s largest Fulbright Program in Pakistan for the year 2013. The U.S. Government’s flagship scholarship program awards deserving Pakistani students full scholarships covering tuition, textbooks, airfare, a stipend, and health insurance to complete their Master’s or Ph.D. degrees in a field of their choice in universities across the United States.

Kicking off the 2013 Fulbright season, Deputy Chief of Mission Ambassador Richard Hoagland stated, “We are proud that Pakistan has the largest Fulbright program in the world, and also one of the oldest. Our agreement initiating the program was signed on September 23, 1950 – and the first Pakistanis and Americans traveled each way in the same year. It was one of the very first

agreements of its kind and has since been extended to 155 countries around the world.” USEFP Executive Director Ms. Rita Akhtar echoed Ambassador Hoagland’s sentiments and encouraged students from all over Pakistan to take advantage of the Fulbright Program in 2013.

In addition to the approximately 200 who will depart in the fall of 2012, 369 students are currently study in the United States on Fulbright awards. This is one example of the U.S. government’s long-term commitment to the education of Pakistanis and to increasing mutual understanding between both countries.

Deputy Chief of Mission Ambassador Richard Hoagland speaks to media announcing 2013 Fulbright competition.

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Since USEFP’s inception more than 61 years ago, nearly 4,000 Pakistanis and more than 800 Americans have participated in USEFP-administered exchange programs. The Fulbright Program is just one of many U.S.-government funded educational, professional, and cultural exchange programs that build people to people ties among Americans and Pakistanis.

Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and students from FATA, Balochistan, and all of Pakistan’s provinces are strongly encouraged to apply. All disciplines are eligible, with the exception of the field of clinical medicine. Applicants studying energy, water, and agricultural disciplines are strongly encouraged to apply. More information about this program, as well as standardized testing and free educational advising services can be found on the USEFP website at www.usefpakistan.org.

Executive Director USEFP, Ms. Rita Akhtar encourages Pakistani applicants to take benefit of this fully-funded opportunity of higher education in U.S. during her interview to a national TV.

The press turns out in force. TV One’s report on Fulbright Pakistan - several TV channels covered the Fulbright 2013 announcement event.

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Global UGRAD-Pakistan Updates

The Spring 2012 Global UGRAD-Pakistan fellows continue to stay busy on campus. Here are some highlights.

Shah Hassan has been busy in his community at University of Louisiana-Monroe (ULM). He attended the 30th Annual AG EXPO, which educates southern American communities on the ways that they are affected by agriculture. Shah reported, “There was an educational ‘Ag Alley’ including a mini farm that targets youth but is enjoyed by all ages, a junior livestock show, a miniature cow show, a trade show, and an Agricultural Awards & Legislative Appreciation Luncheon which recognizes regional agricultural leaders and legislators.” In addition, Shah is collaborating on a research project on campus. “After the successful completion of this project, we will have an animated video of cells moving and rotating in all dimensions which can be controlled by the user,” Shah says. “I am very happy that I will be doing research with an American professor and I hope that I will find this very helpful.”

Shandana Khan has been sharing her culture and experiencing new ones at Kansas State University, from teaching the Pashtoon attan dance to learning Brazilian samba. Shandana has been bowling, attended her first live basketball game, and was caught in a hail storm on the way back from Walmart. “So we ran to Starbucks and I had my first Starbucks coffee!” Shandana is also making friends on and off campus. “I made this new friend, Jane, who is my mother’s age, but we get along really well. She picked me up from my dorm and then we went to the mall to volunteer for Martin Luther King Day. Then Jane made vegetarian Lasagna. So, we had our lunch together at her house, picked up our binoculars and went to Tuttle Creek. I saw Bald-eagles fishing in the lake. I had only seen them on National Geographic and here I saw them LIVE... wow!” Shandana is also making her mark in class. “[We] had a great discussion in class, the professor was both astonished and impressed. I raised my voice for what I believed and found a friend.” Her host advisor, Dr. Barry Michie, is impressed with her motivation and notes, “She’s really something! Once she gets going she just keeps going.”

Nadir Khan and Abdur Razaq at Dillard University in New Orleans participated in their first community service activity this past weekend. They were involved in rebuilding houses with other Dillard University students. “There were different university students and each student was assigned to a group in a different place. I have never seen volunteering like this before!” said Nadir. Nadir helped with drilling, plaster and mixing. After they were done with the construction work, they went to the partner Loyola University where they participated in various team building activities. “We enjoyed it a lot!” exclaimed Nadir.

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Maria Najam, Umar Farooq and Muhammad Adil Salim within their first two weeks at Shawnee State University have already gotten busy raising awareness of Pakistani culture. At the international film festival, they aired the popular Pakistani movie, “Khuda Ke Liyay” (In the Name of God). During the film, they served channa chat (chick pea salad, a popular Pakistani snack) and tea. They also had a lucky draw where they handed out Pakistani souvenirs to the winners. Maria celebrated her birthday with her friends at Shawnee State University last week. “It was the most memorable birthday of my life” exclaims Maria. She went to a local restaurant, Toroloco with her friends from Armenia, Syria, Russia, China, Kenya and France where her host advisor and her host mother brought a huge cake for Maria. “They are the best people I have met in my life” says Maria.

Muhammad Tayyab Rauf, studying at Wabash College, joined the college debate society and was immediately selected to participate in the Parliamentary Debate Championship at Butler University. According to Muhammad, “The American Parliamentary Debates are designed as such that the participants very thoroughly learn the art of making an argument and reaching a logical consensus.” Muhammad has already learned a lot about this democratic process since he has been in the United States. “I can see now why they [Americans] have such a strong sense of democratic norms instilled in their nature,” Muhammad remarks. “It’s their training from early childhood, all the way to college which makes them a democratically strong society.”

Muhammad Arshad Ali has been busy making local connections at the University of New Mexico. Last week Muhammad attended a dance party on campus in an effort to meet new people. At the party, not only did Muhammad learn some new American dance moves, but he also met some people involved in an Albuquerque hiking society, which meets up weekly to go on group hikes around the Albuquerque area. “I am excited about the opportunity to meet new people while exploring the beauty of New Mexico,” Muhammad says.

Atta ur Rehman joined the University of Evansville Venturing Crew 365 and experienced his first trip to a national park. Shawnee National Forest is not far from campus. “We, a group of 28 students, set off in the evening and reached “The Garden of Gods” at about 8 pm. It was my first formal camping and it was a great chance to learn things from setting up tents to working in team. It was a lot of fun to make a fire with wood and I said, ‘I can smell my home now,’ which made my friends laugh out loud (In Chitral [Pakistan] we make fire by wood in our homes).” The group spent the next day hiking and Atta encountered many trees and plants that were new to him. “There were the giant and marvelous rocks which had been shaped into different things like hogbacks and camel. According to the information I read near one of the rocks these images are the result of sedimentation and there used to be a sea in this area some 320 million years ago. This also depicts the role of nature in shaping our history and geography.” Besides enjoying food, friends and the fun of camping out, Atta came away from the experience with a new sense of responsibility and conservation.

“Back at home I used to go to tours and trips with friends and unfortunately in open places like a camping site or playground we would not bother to pick up the trash, papers, etc., left behind by us. But here I saw that our team had a trash box or drum with them and we used to put any useless thing into it.” He was impressed with the strict regulations protecting the ecology of the park. “This is something great because preservation of such things will ultimately lead to more tourists, greater revenue and an asset to the researchers. It was a great experience, learning and recreation for me. And I feel more responsible about the community here than before.”

Itesham ul Haq, at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, recently visited the CNN Center and World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta and marveled at the history of Coke. “I read the whole history of Coca-Cola and my mind went back 100 years beyond and I kept thinking of how a drink introduced in a city 125 years ago is now the most famous drink of the world!” Itesham has had many interesting experiences since his arrival. . “When I arrived in Kennesaw I went with my advisor to the pizza shop and I was surprised to see the size of pizza it was very large and it was written there ‘slices bigger than your head.’”

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Itesham enjoys the new and unique experiences, and reports that, “Here I know that my name is very difficult, so whenever I meet a new person I have to teach him how to pronounce my name—it’s fun!”

Shah Zaib Sadiq, Abid Rehman and Shafiqa Baig at Missouri State University actively participated in International Sharing Day. In addition to wearing their national dress, they set up a colorful stall about Pakistan where they displayed their national flag, local artifacts and various post cards of different scenic locations in the country. During International Day, they also had the opportunity to visit other stalls and befriend students from across the world.

Farhan Azhar, of Minnesota State University-Mankato, recently worked with the Bangladesh Student Organization to plan the “Bangladeshi Night 2012” on his campus. Farhan sold tickets and worked as security staff and for the event, which included Bangladeshi dances, music, poetry, cuisine, and language. “I have organized several events about Pakistani culture back home at my school at a university level but this was a whole different experience,” reports Farhan. “The best part of the event was that I have seen for the first time in my life that people from different countries were enthusiastic, interested and excited for the festival of another country. It really explained to me the diversity in American educational institutes and American society.”

Alumnus Fawad-ullah Khan (Spring 2011) has been very engaged in community service since his return home to Pakistan. Read more here: http://www.irex.org/news/taking-spirit-service-rural-pakistan

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Mariam Sheikh, a 2011 Fall Global Undergraduate Exchange program grantee captures her experience on video

Outreach for Global UGRAD Exchange Program in Gigit-Baltistan

In February, Program Officer Rahat Karim, himself from Gigit-Baltistan, visited the Karakoram International University campuses as well as a number of the government and private degree colleges in cities of Skardu and Gilgit. More than 1000 students attended sessions at Federal Govt. Degree College for Girls, Skardu; Karakoram International University, Skardu; Karakoram College of Commerce & Science, Skardu; Federal Government Degree College for Boys Skardu ; and Karakoram International University, Gilgit. Sixty percent of these students were women.

Alumni of USEFP administered programs in GB are very active in their contribution to the development of area. Three are working as Principals of private degree colleges in Hunza, Gilgit - two are Fulbright alumni and one is Humphrey Fellow. This outreach has helped increased the number of applications recieved in 2012 for the Global UGRAD Program. It is hoped that same will be true when Fulbright applications arrive in May.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d6AgrXiA4o&feature=player_embedded

Program Officer Rahat Karim reaches out to students and faculty at Karakoram International University Gilgit.

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Pakistani journalists get up-close look at U.S.

Washington — Pakistani journalist Muhammad Irtaza admits that he expected the worst when he arrived in the United States. “I thought: When I’m going to land in an American airport, I might have to face tough questions, I might be singled out,” he said. “But, you know, the entry process took me a maximum of two minutes. It was amazing.”

Irtaza is the bureau chief in Multan for The Nation, an English-language national daily. He and 13 other Pakistani journalists came to the United States to participate in a four-week U.S.-Pakistan journalism

program conducted by the International Center for Journalism with a grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The journalists were assigned to newspapers and media outlets across the United States, where they worked alongside American reporters and editors.

Irtaza worked with the Evansville Courier & Press, a newspaper that serves readers in 30 counties in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

“I’m extremely happy with my assignment,” Irtaza said. “I enjoyed it a lot and I learned a lot, because I had so many stereotypes in my mind when I came here. Would you believe that all the stereotypes have gone by now? It’s because it was the first opportunity I came across to meet Americans directly. What I found out is that their hospitality is amazing; they’re very friendly.”American journalists, he said, use technology such as smartphones, iPads and the Internet to a greater extent than journalists in Pakistan. “It increases your speed of work a lot,” Irtaza said, adding that he would employ these technologies to a greater extent himself when he got back to his job in Multan.

It’s a lesson that Desirée Natasha Francis will be taking home as well to her job as an editor in Karachi for The News International, a national daily. American journalists, she said, use Facebook and Twitter as an additional information source and a way to interact with their audiences. “I think we [Pakistani journalists] could better that aspect of our social networking.”

But the American media, she said, could do more in providing broader coverage of Pakistan. Francis, who spent several weeks working at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a Pulitzer Prize–winning paper in Pennsylvania, said she thinks a more rounded view of Pakistan could improve relations between the people of both countries. “I think it’s important that the American media push stories on development in Pakistan, even though they might not be sensational,” Francis said, “because we need to ease those ties between the two countries.

Another journalist was struck by the sheer volume of issues Americans are focused on each day. Pakistan is “just a little element” of all the issues facing U.S.

“I thought: When I’m going to land in an American airport, I might have to face tough questions, I might be singled out,But, you know, the entry process took me a maximum of two minutes. It was amazing.” says Irtiza, Bureau Chief in Multan for The Nation.

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lawmakers on Capitol Hill, according to Maha Mussadaq, who observed operations at the Washington newsroom of the McClatchy Company, a U.S. publishing company that operates 30 daily newspapers in 15 states. “Media are very empowered over here,” said Mussadaq, who is a reporter on the national pages of the Express Tribune, which is a publishing partner of the International Herald Tribune and the first internationally affiliated newspaper in Pakistan. “Freedom of the press is amazing in America,” she said.

Mussadaq was also impressed with the teamwork she saw among American journalists and the brainstorming sessions she saw in the newsroom. “That doesn’t happen as much in the newsrooms of Pakistan,” she said.

Although the Pakistani journalists learned a lot during their stay with various media outlets, they also had the opportunity to teach.

Naila Inayat, an assistant editor and writer for the weekly magazine of The News International in Pakistan, learned about how reporting is done for the political, features and crime sections of the Post & Courier in Charleston, South Carolina. But it was her interaction with local students that will be most memorable, she said.

“One thing that I loved and I enjoyed the most was when I was called on by the College of Charleston to lecture their students of international relations,” she said. “I taught two classes and it just rejuvenated me. … They had so many questions about Pakistan.” Inayat said she plans to continue offering lectures to the students and answering their questions via Skype.

Source: This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/iipdigital-en/index.html

“Media are very empowered over here, that doesn’t happen as much in the newsrooms of Pakistan.” said Mussadaq, who is a reporter on the national pages of the Express Tribune.

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January - February 2012 | Volume # 10 , Issue # 01-02

From Haripur to Virginia – the journey of a Pakistani student

Studying in the U.S. was no less than a dream for Mehreen Khan, a student from Haripur. After completing her FSc from Jinnah Jamia Public school and college, Mehreen decided to apply abroad for higher education and considered many options. Although she had her parents’ support, Mehreen had a hard time deciding how to pay for an education abroad.

Then she heard from a friend studying at a community college in the U.S. It is a cost effective option, with the yearly tuition commonly being half that of a public four-year college; however, there are several other unique benefits as well. Community colleges commonly have smaller classes, so students get personalized academic attention from their professors. The multitude of benefits also include seamless transfer of credits to four year institutions, hands-on experience and other opportunities like research, career counseling and internships.

When Mehreen began to research various community colleges she came across Northern Virginia Community College and decided to apply. “NOVA is the second largest community in the U.S. and has even had visits by President Obama but what caught my attention was the transfer admission policy that the community college has with 61 four year institutions that I can later transfer my credits to,” commented Mehreen after she received an acceptance from the school.

Mehreen visited the EducationUSA Advising center at the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan for advice on the application process. “The Advising staff was very supportive and they guided me through all aspects of the process. I have learnt a lot about myself and am grateful that the proper guidance has allowed me to avail the unique opportunity of studying in the U.S; a dream not many can achieve” added Mehreen.

Many Pakistani applicants are unaware of the merits of a community college education and the ease with which they can apply to many such programs in the USA. At the same time, in 2011, the Houston Community College System was noted to be the top destination of Pakistani applicants enrolling for undergraduate studies in America. To learn more about community colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges provides valuable resources on their website http://www.aacc.nche.edu. In addition to this, USEFP’s EducationUSA advising team is available to help address your queries at advisers@usefpakistan.org or 051 8431 300.

Recent returnees of U.S. Cultural Exchange Programs encourage new students

On January 31, students from across Islamabad and Rawalpindi assembled in the National Library auditorium in Islamabad to attend a panel discussion. This discussion featured six Pakistani students who had recently returned from cultural exchange programs in the U.S. The program highlighted cultural exchange in general and aimed to share the merits of exchange programs with a wider

Mahreen Khan made it to a community college in Northern

Virginia.

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audience of prospective applicants. The panelists related their personal experiences in an attempt to bring some of the fun and educational aspects of exchange to light. This was also a great opportunity for students considering U.S. exchange programs, to have their related questions and concerns addressed.

USEFP and the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan are currently administering a variety of cultural and educational exchange programs for secondary school students. The Global UGRAD Exchange program (http://www.usefpakistan.org/2012UGradExchange.html) and the YES Program (http://yesprograms.org/country/pakistan) are two such examples. Speak to an educational adviser today to learn about the merits of exchange and get started on your journey! Email advisers@usefpakistan.org or call 051 8431 300.

USEFP participates in Dawn Education Expo nationwide

Held in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad every year, the Dawn Educational Expo is the largest educational fair in the country exposing thousands of Pakistani students in each city to information about learning opportunities abroad. The 2012 Expo, held in February of this year, drew in an audience of nearly 10,000 students, scholars, teachers, parents and professionals. Attendance was open to the general public and widely advertised. USEFP booths in each city featured EducationUSA Advisers, Fulbright Program Officers and Prometric Testing staff members. USEFP’s service oriented departments offer educational advising, scholarship information and standardized test information to students considering higher education in the United States. This is an ideal platform to answer a wide range of student and institutional concerns related to the U.S. application and admissions process.

Advisers, Program Officers and Test administrators interact with audience at the Islamabad Expo.

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In addition to participation in expos like Dawn, USEFP conducts informative presentations, seminars and workshops on regular basis in its three full time offices in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. USEFP’s advisers are also available via email, phone or in person for appointments during scheduled office hours. If you are interested in hosting a custom-made informative program for a group of students, faculty or other interested individuals, please reach out at advisers@usefpakistan.org or call our head office at 051 8431 300.

Visitors interact with USEFP staff in Lahore - The 2012 Dawn Expo attracted an audience of nearly 10,000 students, scholars, teachers and parents.

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The U.S. Embassy in Pakistan along with its IRC (Information, Research and Communication) also had a booth where Embassy representatives shared information with visitors on American policy, history, government, society and values. The U.S. Embassy’s IRC initiative in Pakistan features open access to a variety of books, e-books, videos and various informational databases. Informative programs are also conducted the IRC, featuring special speakers, workshops and exhibitions. To learn more about the IRC, please visit http://islamabad.usembassy.gov/irc.html.

Karachi Expo - IRC and Visa section staff of the U.S. Embassy interact with visitors to answer questions about U.S. student visa.

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Outreach to Hazara University, KP

USEFP representatives recently visited Hazara University, in Mansehra, Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa. This visit was organized to collaborate on ways that USEFP can assist students at Hazara University to apply for Fulbright or other higher education opportunities in USA.

Several Hazara University faculty members and former students have gone to the U.S. on USEFP administered cultural and educational exchange programs. As alumni, many are now contributing to the development of Hazara University and the greater community. A notable example is Mr. Sultan Muhammad who completed his master’s education from the United States in 2011 in Applied Linguistics at North Arizona University. Sultan has now returned to his hometown and rejoined the faculty of Hazara University, where he is teaching in the English Literature Department. He is committed to being a valuable point of contact and support for students in Hazara considering USA for higher education.

If you are a student from Hazara and would like to learn more about USEFP Programs, please contact amer@usefpakistan.org.

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January - February 2012 | Volume # 10 , Issue # 01-02

Deputy Asst. Secretary Mr. James Moore meets Pakistani alumni

USEFP was honored to host U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, Mr. James R. on Wednesday February 1. Mr. Moore met with alumni of the Fulbright Master’s Program, the Global Undergraduate Program, and the Community College Initiative Program. The alumni recounted their positive experiences in the U.S. and talked about their achievements and activities. They also shared ideas about how the Americans and Pakistanis can deepen mutual understanding, agreeing that more needs to be done on both sides.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Mr. James Moore along-with USEFP Executive Director Mrs. Rita Akhtar and USEFP Board members Mr. Brent T. Beemer and Dr. Jo Lesser-Oltheten.

“It was a life-changing experience,” says Madeeha Shams of her Fulbright experience.

Mr. James R. Moore, Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs poses for a group photo with USEFP Alumni.

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Fulbrighter’s study receives worldwide appreciation- Nabeel analyzed record of 3 million trauma patients over a period of 7 years

Syed Nabeel Zafar is a 09/10 Fulbright alumnus from Pakistan whose research focuses around surgery and public health, and trauma outcomes. After graduating from the Harvard School of Public Health in 2010, Nabeel joined the Aga Khan University Medical College as a Junior research faculty in the department of Surgery. Nabeel has continued to publish on clinical and epidemiological aspects of surgical disease. As part of a capacity building initiative he played an instrumental role in establishing a research collaboration between the Aga Khan University in Karachi and the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore USA to conduct research on trauma outcomes.

Recently he was the first author in a publication receiving wide academic and press interest. The paper titled ‘outcome of selective non-operative management of penetrating abdominal injuries from the North American National Trauma Database’ was published in the British Journal of Surgery in January 2012. The paper provides evidence for the controversy involving the treatment of gunshot injuries to the abdomen. Traditionally all gunshot injuries to the abdomen undergo operative management however recent evidence has demonstrated that this approach is not always beneficial and certain patients can be managed non-operatively, so called selective non-operative management (SNOM). Nabeel studied the use of this technique by analysing a national database on with almost 3 million trauma records over a period of 7 years. His study shows that SNOM for both gunshot and stab wounds is increasingly popular and about 1/3rd of patients can be successfully managed without an operation, given adequate facilities and resources are in place. The study may lead to a decrease in unnecessary surgeries. Surgery carries its own risk in terms of infections and other fatal and non-fatal complications. Also patients that undergo surgery have longer hospital stays and much higher hospital bills. Avoiding unnecessary surgery can not only improve the outcomes of patients but can also result in a substantial decrease in medical expenditure.

Because of its implications and global importance the study has received wide media attention with a press release by the British journal of surgery and articles in publications like the Wall Street Journal, Medical News Today, Medical Xpress, Science Daily, WorldNews.com and a number of USA and UK based radio channels.

Full text of the article can be accessed freely on: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bjs.7735/full

Faisalabad Chapter of Pak-NAFA get started

On January 28, a new Fulbright & Humphrey Alumni Chapter was launched in Faisalabad in a meeting held at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Dr. Muhammad Ashraf, Professor & Dean - Faculty of Sciences (Univ. of Agriculture, Faisalabad) was elected as President and Dr. Irfan Afzal, Asst. Professor - Dept. of Crop Physiology (Univ. of Agriculture, Faisalabad) was elected as General Secretary. USEFP Executive Director Ms. Rita Akhtar briefed the alumni about the proposed Fulbright

Outreach Center at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. They were also informed about announcement of the 2013 Fulbright Masters’ and Ph.D. competition and requested to share this information with their eligible students and faculty members. The meeting adjourned with a vote of thanks to Dr. Irfan Afzal who hosted the meeting.

The USEFP delegation headed by Mrs. Akhtar also met with Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF). In this meeting, a proposed USEFP advising

USEFP Executive Director Mrs. Rita Akhtar chairs the Faisalabad Chapter alumni meeting.

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outreach center for the promotion of U.S. higher education was discussed. USEFP is looking forward to working with UAF to make this a reality. Ways to encourage more applicants in agriculture (a priority field for the USAID-funded Fulbright Program) were also discussed.

Lahore chapter alumni met on Jan 14 at the Fashion Cafe

USEFP Executive Director Mrs. Rita Akhtar and Alumni Director Mr. Mazhar Awan traveled to Lahore for the meeting organized by Ms. Wajiha Rizvi, President Lahore Chapter. The meeting was attended by a good mix of recent returnees and some senior scholars. The focus of discussions was to get a feedback regarding any difficulties faced by the alumni in settling down or job hunting after completion of their Fulbright program. It was good to know that majority of the alumni landed appropriate jobs soon after returning home. Topics such as being prepared to compete in the market and taking advantage of a U.S. degree were also discussed. Alumni also enjoyed chit-chat and good food. As this was a first gathering of Lahore alumni in 2012. The alumni resolved to arrange for more frequent gatherings and closer networking.

USEFP Executive Director Mrs. Rita Akhtar and Director Alumni Mr. Mazhar Awan share views with Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Vice Chancellor UAF.

Lahore based alumni with USEFP Executive Director Mrs. Rita Akhtar and Director Alumni Mr. Mazhar Awan.

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Congratulations to Dr. Jehanzeb on his appointment as Vice Chancellor, University of Swat

Dr. Muhammad Jahanzeb Khan, a 2007-08 Fulbright Scholar at the University of California, Berkeley, has recently been appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of University of Swat, Mingora. Dr. Jahanzeb is an accomplished scholar with a vast experience of teaching and research in the domain of Behavioral Psychology. He has been teaching higher level courses at the University of Peshawar in the Department of Psychology, Institute of Management Sciences, and College of Home Economics. He has worked extensively on the ethnic self-discrepancy in Afghan refugees and native Pukhtoons in Khyber Pakhtun-Khwa. Moreover, he has been editing an international and a national journal in the area of social sciences. He is also an HEC recognized supervisor, overseeing M.Phil. and Ph.D. students in University of Peshawar. During his stay in the U.S. as a Fulbright scholar, Dr. Khan also delivered seminars at UC Berkeley and American University in Washington, DC.

Besides his teaching and research engagements, he has been running an Assessment and Counseling Centre at the Institute of Management Sciences in Peshawar and also acting as a consultant for teachers’ evaluation there. Dr. Khan has also been heading the Psychological testing and Computer sections of Department of Psychology, University of Peshawar. He has developed and adapted various cognitive and personality tests that includes Islamic Identity Scale, Pukhto Adjectives Checklist, Teachers Evaluation Scales, and Islamic Identity Scale.

Dr. Muhammad Jahanzeb Khan, Fulbright Scholar and Vice Chancellor, University of Swat.

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January - February 2012 | Volume # 10 , Issue # 01-02

SAT Exams and upcoming dates

SAT is a globally recognized college admission test that lets you show colleges what you know, and how well you can apply that knowledge. It tests your knowledge of reading, writing and math — subjects that are taught every day in high school classrooms. In order to meet college/university deadlines for the coming year, USEFP Islamabad and Lahore testing centers had successful exam administrations of the SAT Reasoning and SAT Subject exams in the months of December, 2011 & January, 2012. Altogether 596 candidates appeared for the SAT exams.

The upcoming SAT test dates are:

• Saturday May 05, 2012 • Saturday June 02, 2012

A GRE and TOEFL package discount

The ever increasing fee for GRE and TOEFL has been one of the discouraging factors for applicants interested in U.S. universities for higher education. Therefore in order to encourage and compensate potential applicants, for the past seven years USEFP offers a discount on the registration of TOEFL and GRE General. This package deal is announced especially during the announcement of Fulbright scholarships, so that more and more candidates can apply and avail the offer and pay $300 instead of $350.

Registration is now open for GRE-TOEFL package at all USEFP testing centers with a $50 discount on the combined fee for both the exams.

For registration details please visit: http://www.usefpakistan.org/Documents/TOEFLGREPackageDeal2012.pdf

Note: Only First hundred applicants will be able to avail this discount until April 20, 2012

The American College Test (ACT) and upcoming dates

ACT is a curriculum- and standards-based educational and career planning tool that assesses students’ academic readiness for college. ACT test scores reflect what students have learned throughout high school and provide colleges and universities with excellent information for recruiting, advising, placement, and retention.

The American College Test (ACT) is a curriculum based test universally accepted for college admission. Questions on the ACT are directly related to what students have learned in high school courses in English, mathematics, and science. The test is timed and takes just over 4 hours for the ACT with the

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Writing Test.

ACT is administered five times in a year in the months of October, December, February, April and June. Next ACT exam in scheduled on April 14th, 2012.

For more details please visit: http://www.usefpakistan.org/ACT.html

API & PES - New tests at Lahore Testing Center

APS:In December, 2011 USEFP Lahore added new exams to its list i.e. API Certifications. API’s Individual Certification Programs provide the petroleum and petrochemical industries with a way to evaluate the knowledge and experience of inspectors. A total of 68 candidates took API exams conducted in Lahore at Hospitality Inn Hotel.

Upcoming test dates for API certifications are: Mar 28, 2012 and Dec 05, 2012.

PES: As an independent, nonprofit, global association, ISACA engages in the development, adoption and use of globally accepted, industry-leading knowledge and practices for information systems.

For more than 40 years, ISACA has been a pace-setting global organization for information governance, control, security and audit professionals.

In December 2011, USEFP conducted ISACA certifications for 40 candidates at Hospitality Inn Hotel Lahore. The upcoming date for these exams is Jun 09, 2012.

For more details please visit following URL’s or contact USEFP Testing Centers as follows:

http://www.isaca.orghttp://www.proexam.orghttp://www.usefpakistan.org/testinghome.html

Islamabad Testing Department:

051-2272708, testing@usefpakistan.org

Karachi Testing Department:

021-35879760-59, testing.khi@usefpakistan.org

Lahore Testing Department:

042-35762466, testing.lhr@usefpakistan.org

USEFP Khi Office:, P.O.Box 13806, KarachiUSEFP, P.O Box 1128, Islamabad USEFP Lhr Office:, P.O.Box 1225, Lahore

UAN:- 111-187-337 | Fax:- +92 51 8431 555 | Email: usefp@usefpakistan.org | URL: http://www.usefpakistan.org

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