USAID Funded Merit and Needs-Based Scholarships Program

Introduction:

                      Higher Education Commission (HEC) aims to elevate the socio-economic position of the needy & deserving students by providing access to quality education through needs-based scholarships. Government of Pakistan has also duly acknowledged the financial constraints barring students from acquiring higher education and has thus earmarked substantial funds for the improvement of education sector.

According to the national income statistics (by GOP) 80 percent of the families in Pakistan cannot afford the expenses of sending even one boarder to a local public university. Pakistan finished last among a group of 40 countries ranked by the Percentage Share of Enrollment in Private Higher Education (A study by World Bank, 1994) , Higher Education: The Lessons of Experience, 1994). On September 11, 2002 the GOP formed the Higher Education Commission (HEC) through a Cabinet Ordinance with a "mandate to transform institutions of higher education into world class seats of learning."

In pursuance of the Government’s initiative of providing financial relief to meritorious but deprived students, an agreement of US$ 7.33 million in July 2004 is signed with United State Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide grant for scholarships in the field of Agriculture and Business Administration at undergraduate & graduate level.

Objective:

             To provide opportunities for academically qualified, yet financially needy, Pakistani students to continue university studies in selected partner universities of Pakistan in the fields of agriculture and business administration, especially from remote and rural areas of Pakistan (FATA, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Southern Punjab, Balochistan, and Northern Sindh). 

 To enhance the institutional capacity of the Higher Education Commission of the Government of Pakistan and local public and private sector universities in designing and implementing need and merit based scholarship Projects.

Scholarship is not restricted to tuition only, but extends to accommodation and living expenses.

The program defines the term “merit” by the admission percentage level/marks set by a particular university or HEC for all students.  “Financial need” is defined as per mutually agreed and approved evaluation criteria set by USAID and HEC.   

This program provides an opportunity for talented students who are financially disadvantaged and are incapable of meeting higher education costs at 11 partner institutions/universities in the fields of business and agriculture.

The initial scope of the project includes 1000 scholarship. However, 407 additional slots were approved with the mutual consent of Planning Commission and USAID .The ECNEC has approved additional 400 scholarships under this scheme on December 2010. The 1407 Scholarships were awarded so far and the rest will be awarded in 2011-12.

Scholarship Details:

                                   The scope of the project includes 1807 number of scholarships for the students who meet the eligibility criteria. The scholarships are bifurcated as follows: 

                                                                

Comprehensive scholarship is offered under the program. The scholarship provides funds for the following expenses:

1. Tuition Fee                      2. Lodging
3. Transportation,                4. Books
5. Other Academics Costs

Students at both private & public sector institutes have found the scholarship extremely helpful in sustaining their educational expenses

  Eligibility Criteria:

1. Scholarships are available at undergraduate & graduate level in the prescribed disciplines (Agriculture Sciences & Business Administration) at the Partner Pakistani universities and degree awarding institutions.
2. Students need to secure admission in the approved discipline at the participating institution as per their admission policy and be enrolled in Undergraduate / Graduate programs.
3. Only those students who will enroll in first professional year in the respective courses offered by the participating institutions are eligible to apply.
4. Applicant must be from the rural areas of Pakistan
5. The eligibility of a candidate is linked to neediness of the candidate as determined & assessed by the financial background of his/her family.

 

Focused area in the financial assistance & scholarships are as follows:

               

Program Offered	Under-graduate	Graduate
Agriculture (980)	425	555
Business Administration (827)	332	495
Total	757	1050
Grand Total	1807

The Merit and Needs based Scholarship Project has been in operation since 2004. Eleven (11) public & private institutions are participating in the program while more than 1407 scholarships have been successfully awarded at the participating institutions.

The focus will be remote areas at the national level with emphasis given to needy females and students from FATA, Khyber Pukhtunkhawa, Southern Punjab, Balochistan, and North Sindh.

 

Women’s participation in the education sector is very low. This activity will ensure that at least 25% of the awarded scholarships go to women, especially those coming from remote and vulnerable areas of Pakistan, who are financially needy, and meet admission criteria of the selected 11 partner universities. 

University Advancement Program

University Advancement program is about creating awareness about higher education, building relationships and generating support for the universities academics, research, infrastructure and others. It is accomplished by comprehensive strategic efforts to incorporate strategic communications, alumni relations, community, government, non-government, industries, corporations and individual relations, development, and resource planning and administration.

Vision

Augment higher education in the country with quality standards through participation and contribution of our valuable stakeholders in order to create future for our students and community by satisfying all stakeholders involved.

Mission

To involve stakeholders in private support for HEC and partner universities by building trustworthy relationships through meaningful interactions and convincing.

Objectives

Encourage, develop and secure private contributions for higher education to enhance core support

Increase the level of funding from private sides in terms of contributions as well as contributors

Build and enhance understanding and relationship among the Universities alumni, friends, opinion leaders and community for philanthropic support to higher education throughout country

Will USAID funded Merit &Need Based Scholarship assist the students to study in USA?

US Need Based Scholarship will be offered to the students who are going to be enrolled in selected participating Pakistani Universities. This scholarship will not assist the students to study in US Universities.

Does this scholarship provide any partial assistance to the students who are studying in other Pakistani Universities?

What types of degrees/disciplines are offered under this scholarship scheme?

Following degrees/disciplines have been selected under this program:

This scholarship will not provide any partial assistance to the students who are studying in other Pakistani Universities/Institutions.

SN	Discipline	Sector	Program
1	Business Administration – (BS(Eco)/BBA/MBA)	Public	Undergraduate/Graduate
		Private	Undergraduate/Graduate
2	Agriculture and Natural Sciences – (BS/MS)	Public	Undergraduate/Graduate
			Undergraduate/Graduate

How and when do I apply for financial assistance? Do I need to re-apply every year?

You will apply directly to the relevant university for the admission and after seeking admission you will apply for the financial aid. The financial aid form will be made available with the administration office of the relevant university and after filling up this form will be returned to the same office. Once you are selected under this program, you don’t need to apply again every year.

What is the eligibility for these scholarships?

Those Students, who are expected to get admission in the offered discipline of participating university for academic session spring/fall 2011 and can’t pursue their education because of financial constraints, are eligible to apply.

What kind of expenses will cover under this scholarship program?

Scholarships cover full tuition fee for entire course (i.e. 2 years graduate & 4 undergraduate years courses). Scholarship also provides living expenses, costs of transportation, books and any other ancillary requirements of the student.

Can I apply for admission in any of the participating university for admission?

Yes you can apply in any of the participating university when the offer the admission.

How can apply for the university admission?

Please see the participating university schedule for the admission in the relevant programs.

How can I receive an application form?   

The application form is available on HEC website and participating University web site/Financial Aid Office.

I did my matriculation, can I apply for this scholarship?

No, these scholarships are only for Undergraduate and Graduate level.

I am studying in Third semester of the relevant course, am I eligible for this scholarship? 

These scholarships are for those students who are planning to get admission in the relevant course of the participating universities and will be enrolled in spring/fall session 2011 are eligible to apply.

I am already availing financial assistance/scholarship from university / institute. Am I eligible for this scholarship? 

No, the students already availing financial assistance/scholarship from universities/institutes are not eligible to apply.

Which are the Selected Participating Universities?

You can see the details of selected participating universities on the official Website of Higher Education Commission Islamabad. 

If Spring Intake is not available in any of the participating Institute/university then students of Fall Intake are eligible for USAID funded Merit & Need Based Scholarship?

Yes, If Spring Intake is not available then students of fall intake will be considered eligible to apply for scholarships.

Is it possible to transfer the win scholarship from selected University / Institute to other University/Institute?

As per provision it’s not possible to transfer the scholarship from selected University/Institute to any other University/Institute.

I have won the USAID funded Merit & Need Based Scholarship, Could I change my subjects/field of study?

As per rules & regulations, the subject/discipline change is not allowed after award of scholarship.

All candidates who are applying for admissions at the participating institutions and intend to apply for said scholarship program may contact the below mentioned focal persons of the participating institutions regarding further information:
List of Focal Persons - USAID Funded Merit & Needs Based Scholarship Program

Persons - USAID Funded Merit & Needs Based Scholarship Program:

Khyber Pakhtun Khawa Agriculture University, Peshawar

University of Agriculture, Faisalabad

Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad

Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Lahore

Sukkur Institute of Business Administration, Sukkur

Institute of Business Administration, Karachi

Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam

Pir Mehr Ali Shah University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi

Institute of Management Science, Peshawar

SZABIST, Karachi

BUITEMS, Quetta