Over A Million Pakistani University Students Enrolled in STEM Fields

[Riaz Haq]

Over a million students, about a third of total 3 million students (1.4 million women, 1.6 million men) enrolled in Pakistani universities and degree colleges, are currently studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM Education), according to data released by the country's Higher Education Commission (HEC). Of these students, 415,008 are studying natural sciences and mathematics, 276,659 are in information and communication technologies (ICT), 178,260 are in health sciences and 166,457 are in engineering. Pakistan produced 157,102 STEM graduates last year, putting it among the world's top dozen or so countries. About 43,000 of these graduates are in information technology (IT).  

Student Enrollment By Field of Study at Pakistani Higher Education ...

Nearly half a million Pakistani women are currently enrolled in science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses at universities, accounting for nearly 46% of all STEM students in higher education institutions in the country. 

Clockwise From Top Left: Nergis Mavalvala, Maria Abrar, Maheen Adamson, Tasneem Zehra Husain, Sundas Khalid, Asifa Akhtar

Acceptance rate in Pakistani universities and degree colleges was just 13.5% last year. Only 541,043 students were accepted from 4,085,185 students who applied. The country produced 471,306 university graduates in 2020-21. Of these, 157,102 were in STEM fields, including 43,000 graduates in information technology (IT). 

Pakistan Higher Education Admission and Graduation Statistics. Sour...

In absolute terms, Pakistan probably ranks among the top dozen or so nations producing university graduates in STEM and IT fields. However, the country lags significantly behind its lower middle income peers in terms of percentage of students enrolled in universities. Only 12% of young people in the 18-25 age group are currently enrolled in higher education institutions. This is about half of the 25% average for South Asia. The data from the World Bank shows that the higher education enrollment rate was extremely low in Pakistan until 2000 when late President Musharraf decided to significantly boost investment in building universities and hire faculty to rapidly increase access to higher education in the country. 

Tertiary Education Enrollment Rates. Source: World Bank

As Pakistan struggles with multiple serious crises,  these young men and women now studying in the nation's universities and colleges offer hope for its bright future. In fact, the vast majority of Pakistanis feel that they have better lives than their parents did, and they think their children will have even better lives than theirs, according to a Gallup International Poll of 64 countries conducted from August to October last year. The poll asked two questions: 1) Do you feel your life is better, worse or roughly similar to that  of your parents? and 2) Do you think your children will have a better, worse or roughly the same life as you? The answers to these questions reveal that Pakistanis are among the top 5 most positive nations among 64 countries polled by Gallup International. Anecdotal evidence in terms of packed shopping malls and restaurants in Pakistan's major cities confirms it. Such positivity augurs well for Pakistan's prospects of successfully dealing with the current crises. It will drive the nation's recovery. 

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[Riaz Haq]

Stem Cell Research in Pakistan; Past, Present and Future


https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4445703/

Major research project related to stem cells in Pakistan
Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Pakistan Science foundation (PSF) has approved many research projects on stem cells recently i.e. Dr. Asmat Salim doing research on “Role of preconditioned and genetically modified mesenchymal stem cells in the regeneration of cardiac tissue” in University of Karachi. Another project by Dr. Fridoon Jawad Ahmad is on “Development of Stem Cell therapy for Patients Suffering from Heart Disease in Pakistan” in King Edward Medical University, Lahore. Ongoing project by PSF is “Preconditioning of the stem and progenitor cells to increase their cardiomyogenic potential” (27). Besides this, there are few other projects which are going on in collaborations with American and European universities and research institutes and Pakistani researchers visit those labs and work there.

Go to:
Stem cells research institutes in Pakistan
As stem cells have created a great hype all over the world so stem cells research institutes/centers are also increasing in Pakistan. There is no specific institute or center that is fully dedicated for stem cells research but there are many institutes which have dedicated labs for stem cells research. The major centers in Pakistan that are working in area of stem cells include, Centre of excellence in molecular biology (CEMB), Center for Advanced Molecular Biology (CAMB), Dr. Punjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (University of Karachi), Shahid Zulfiqaar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST), Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Quaid-i-Azam University, King Edward Medical University (KEMU) Lahore, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Rawalpindi, Atta ur-Rehman School of Applied Biology (NUST, Islamabad), Agha Khan University (AKU), Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) and School of Biological Sciences (University of the Punjab) etc. There are also some private hospitals which are working in this area and the most famous hospital is National Institute of Blood Disease and Bone Marrow Transplantation (NIBD), Karachi. There is also a private center (CryoCell Pak), collecting and storing umbilical cord blood (UCB) so stem cells from UCB could be used later in life when required (Table 1).

[Riaz Haq]

India is about to surpass China as the world's most populous country.

India has overtaken China in terms of the US F-1 student visas issued.

Graduate programs in STEM and business fields at US universities are dominated by Indian and Chinese students.

100,000 Indians and 56,000 Chinese students have been issued US F-1 visa in 2022.

Most Chinese students go back to China while the vast majority of Indian students stay in the US for employment after graduation.

So it makes sense that some of the top Indian students graduating from US universities rise to become CEOs of tech companies.

[Riaz Haq]

Pakistan ranks 16th in terms of international students studying in the United States.

There are 8,772 Pakistanis studying in the United States in 2021/22, up 17% from the prior year when COVID restrictions reduced international travel.


https://opendoorsdata.org/?s=pakistan

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There has been a 17 percent year-on-year increase in the number of Pakistani students in the United States during 2021-22, says an official US report.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1723571

The report, released in Washington this week, notes that the United States remains the top destination for international students and the number of students from Bangladesh, Nepal, India, and Pakistan is on the rise!

In South Asia, Bangladesh topped the list with a 23 per cent year-over-year increase, followed by India with a 19pc increase.

Pakistan also has the largest US-funded Fulbright programme in the world, which sends 150 Pakistanis each year to US universities — 100 to earn their master’s degrees and 50 to earn PhDs.

The United States also sponsors 800 Pakistanis each year to travel on exchange programs — from high school students who spend a year at a US high school to professionals who connect with their American counterparts. As a result, Pakistan is home to the largest network of alumni of US government-funded exchange programmes in the world.

The “Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange,” published this week, identified China and India as the largest sources of international students to the United States. During the current academic year, China sent 290,086 students, which is 30.6pc of the total number of international students in the US. Yet, it is a decline of 8.6pc, compared to the previous academic year. India, which sent 199,183 students this year — 21 percent of the total — registered a 19pc year-over-year increase. Toge­ther, China and India represent the majority (almost 52pc) of all international students in the United States.

This year’s report shows a 91pc decline in the total number of US students who studied abroad during the 2020-2021 academic year. This is apparently because since the Covid-19 pandemic, 62pc of US colleges offer virtual internships.

While the pandemic also caused a 45.6pc decline in new international students in 2020, the latest data, covering the 2021-2022 academic year, indicates that the total number of international students in the US — 948,519 — has started to recover.

This can be seen in a 3.8pc increase over the 914,095 international students in the US in 2020. Still, the number is well below the nearly 1.1 million international students reported in 2018.

Much of the recent growth is driven by an increase in the number of new international students — 261,961 – which is up 80pc over the 145,528 from 2020 but still 2.14pc below the 267,712 from 2019. Over the past decade, US colleges enrolled more students from China than from any other country. The onset of the global pandemic effectively halted travel between China and the US and political tensions further exacerbated the situation. Now, many Chinese parents feel their children are safe in the US.

The increase in Indian students is also attributed to the Biden administration’s policy of prioritising the student-visa processing in India. This includes adding more staff at US missions in India and streamlining the process, Chinese visa approvals are trending lower than in past years.

[Riaz Haq]

Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy says IITs have become victims to rote learning due to coaching classes


https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/companies/infosys-fou...

As more and more students leave India for higher studies, Infosys founder Narayana Murthy proposed that governments and corporates should “incentivise” researchers with grants and provide facilities to work here. “The 10,000 crore per year grants for universities under the New Education Policy will help institutions become competitive", he said.


https://youtu.be/2vzSwExIoNg

Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy on Tuesday expressed concern over India’s education system saying that even the IITs are becoming a victim of learning by rote due to the “tyranny of coaching classes.” Murthy suggested that our education system needs a reorientation directed towards Socratic questioning.
The Infosys founder, who himself is an IIT alumnus, batted for Socratic questioning in the classroom in order to arrive at solutions to real-world issues. “Many experts feel that (in) our country, (there is an) inability to use research to solve our immediate pressing problems around us… (this) is due to lack of inculcating curiosity at an early age, disconnect between pure or applied research," he said.

As to what could be done to solve this, the 76-year-old suggested that the first component is to reorient teaching in schools and colleges towards Socratic questioning in the classroom to solve real-world problems rather than passing the examinations by rote learning. Socrates was a fifth century (BCE) Greek philosopher credited as the founder of Western philosophy.
Speaking at the 14th edition of the Infosys Prize event in Bengaluru, Murthy said that the nation’s progress on the economic and social front depends on the quality of scientific and technological research. Research thrives in an environment of honour and respect for intellectuals, meritocracy and the support and approbation of such intellectuals from society, he noted.

[Riaz Haq]

Study in the UK: British Council announces STEM scholarships for women - Pakistan - Business Recorder

https://www.brecorder.com/news/40228207

The British Council Pakistan announced on Friday the third cohort of Scholarships for Women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths).

In a press release, it said that over 100 scholarships are available to women STEM scholars from Asia and the Americas to pursue a masters’ degree in the UK, out of which 48 scholarships are reserved for women STEM scholars from Pakistan and other South Asian countries, awarded on a merit basis with no country-specific cap.

The scholarships will help enhance careers in STEM for the selected women scholars and enable them to promote research and innovation in their home country through their exposure to the expertise in the UK’s renowned STEM fields.

“Partnering with 21 universities across the UK, the scholarship scheme will provide scholars a fully-funded master’s degree or an Early Academic Fellowship at a UK university, including covering tuition fees, stipend, travel costs, visa, health coverage fees, special support for mothers and English language support,” it said.

“The scholarships will also provide the scholars a long-lasting platform to connect with the UK through active engagement in the alumni network and inspire the next generation of women in STEM.”

In the last cohort 115 scholars were selected globally which included 15 women scholars from Pakistan, it said.

British Council Pakistan Country Director Amir Ramzan said “UK has a world-renowned higher education sector that is truly international. These scholarships will enable talented women to take up a life-changing opportunity to develop their careers in their chosen STEM fields, and then to harness the experience to make a greater impact for good when they return home.”

[Riaz Haq]

‘Gwadar to have university soon’

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1044324-gwadar-to-have-university-...

Islamabad : The great news for the youth of Gwadar is that 500 acres of land have been acquired for the establishment of the University of Gwadar, the ground-breaking ceremony of which is expected soon may this month or next one. Gwadar University will be affiliated with Shanghai Maritime University and a Maritime Centre of Excellence will also be built in it. Moreover, a lot of money is being allocated to the CPEC project for the development of Gwadar.

The largest development project spearheaded by China in Pakistan ever since 2015 is known as the game changer, China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Quite fortunately, it started from Gwadar seaport, the deepest sea area in the world located on the Arabian Sea in the South of Gwadar District of Baluchistan. People of Pakistan, especially from the undeveloped province of Balochistan, had attached a lot of hope to it, rightfully so, because Chinese companies had begun the development work on Gwadar city and seaport as early as November 2016.

The development of Gwadar and Baluchistan, however, kick started serious problems for India and its lobbies in America and Iran. For this reason alone, their intelligence agencies planned to sabotage the CPEC project.

As per reports, there have been 12 attacks on officers and other personnel working on Chinese projects so far, in which many Chinese have been killed and injured. Among these attacks, the most notable were the bombing of the Quetta Serena Hotel that targeted the ambassador of China; the attack on the Dasu Dam in which more than six Chinese residents were killed, and the suicide bomb attack of a Baloch woman on the Chinese teachers of the Karachi University Confucius Centre.

The CPEC projects include the construction of 8,000 km of roads from the coastal area of Gwadar to connect the entire district with Balochistan and Sindh.

The most important issue in Gwadar is the electricity supply. So far, the electricity is supplied through the Iran-Turbat transmission line, which is 17 megawatts. However, the 100-MW power project from Iran will be completed this year. Rupees 50.2 billion have been spent on this project and 3,600 solar panels have been distributed to remote areas. As many as 10,000 more panels will be distributed. The 300-MW power plant coal project is to be completed by 2025. All this development work is being done by a Chinese company through CPEC projects.

The limited nature of water resources is another overwhelming issue in the area. Chinese company started work in this regards costing around Rs11 billion through which the issue is being expected to be resolved. The 100 per cent of funds have been allocated to the provincial government for border markets in Gabad, Mand and Chirhi. They will be connected to the M-8 Coastal Highway.

M-8 Section (Awaran) will connect Gwadar Port with the North through the Eastern, Central and Western alignments of CPEC. Gwadar will be connected to the North through the east, central and west alignments of CPEC routes. In the health sector, Pakistan China Friendship Hospital (PCFH) Gwadar, a 70-bed hospital, is functioning here in Gwadar. However, in phase 2, this hospital will be handed over to Indus Hospital and another 100 beds will be provided.

Besides this, as per reports, some 2,000 boat engines have been distributed to fishermen of Gwadar in December 2022. On the other hand, the illegal trawling of Sindh fishermen in Gwadar is a major controversy. However, after the 18th Amendment, this has become a provincial issue.

[Riaz Haq]

UK emerges as top destination for Pakistani students seeking master’s degrees
Pakistani students receive access to millions of pounds worth of scholarships and bursaries in the UK

https://www.dawn.com/news/1740162


Due to its rich educational history and culture that fosters a global perspective, the UK has become one of the most sought-after destinations for Pakistani students looking to acquire higher education. As of June 2022, the number of student visas issued for Pakistani students has surged to 28,188, marking a significant 95pc increase from the previous year.

A major contributing factor to this trend is the UK’s Graduate Route (GR) programme, which was launched in 2021. This programme allows Pakistani students to kick-start their careers immediately after completing their course, with a two-year upper limit to find employment. Doctoral graduates (PhD) are given an additional year, providing them with a competitive edge in the job market.

Moreover, the UK’s master’s degree programme is another key factor attracting Pakistani students. The programme offers extensive transformational instruction in just 12 months, comprising a combination of classes, projects, studies, and papers. Compared to other countries where the postgraduate programme lasts two years, students in the UK can start working almost a year earlier, giving them a competitive advantage while also being more cost-effective.

As a global hub for education, the UK boasts four universities in the top 10 list of the Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2023. Graduates from the UK have access to the best-in-class industry professionals, research facilities, and infrastructure to acquire practical skills, making them highly employable. According to QS Graduate Employability Rankings, UK graduates are the most employable globally. Additionally, according to a Universities UK International (UUKI) report, 83pc of international graduates stated that their UK degree helped them secure a job.

For Pakistani students who cannot afford tuition fees, numerous scholarships and bursaries worth millions of pounds are available, including the Commonwealth Scholarships, Chevening Scholarships, and others. The British Council also provides exceptional scholarships to young, brilliant Pakistanis, such as the British Council Women in STEM Scholarships and GREAT Scholarships, opening up even more opportunities for them.

A UK education prepares young students to become the leaders of tomorrow, researchers who address global challenges, entrepreneurs, and policy leaders of the future. For Pakistani students considering postgraduate education abroad, the UK offers innumerable benefits for their future professional careers.

[Riaz Haq]

From Open AI's ChatGPT:


According to the latest data available from the Canadian government, there were 21,595 international students from Pakistan studying in Canada in 2020. Pakistani students make up one of the largest groups of international students in Canada. It's worth noting that this number may have changed since then, and the actual number may vary depending on the source of information.
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I'm sorry, but as an AI language model, I do not have access to real-time data on the exact number of Pakistani students in Malaysia. However, according to the Malaysian Ministry of Education, in 2020, there were a total of 19,711 international students from Pakistan studying in Malaysia. Please note that this number may have changed since then and may vary depending on the source of information.

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I'm sorry, but as an AI language model, I do not have access to real-time data on the exact number of Pakistani students in the UAE. However, according to the Pakistan embassy in the UAE, there are approximately 1.6 million Pakistanis living and working in the UAE, out of which a significant number may be students. The Pakistani community is one of the largest expatriate communities in the UAE.

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I'm sorry, but I don't have the latest data on the exact number of Pakistani students in Russia. However, according to the latest available statistics from the Russian government's Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation, there were 3,500 Pakistani students studying in Russia in 2019. Please note that this number may have changed since then, and the actual number may vary depending on the source of information.

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According to the latest available data from the New Zealand government's Ministry of Education, there were 3,245 international students from Pakistan studying in New Zealand in 2020. Pakistani students make up one of the significant groups of international students in New Zealand. Please note that this number may have changed since then and may vary depending on the source of information.


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According to the latest data available, there were 3,365 Pakistani students studying in Singapore in 2020. This information was provided by the Singapore government's Ministry of Education. Please note that this number may have changed since then and may vary depending on the source of information.

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I'm sorry, but I don't have the latest data on the exact number of Pakistani students in Italy. However, according to the latest available statistics from the Italian government's Ministry of Education, University and Research, there were 3,005 Pakistani students enrolled in Italian universities in the academic year 2019-2020. Please note that this number may have changed since then and may vary depending on the source of information.
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I'm sorry, but I don't have the latest data on the exact number of Pakistani students in Spain. However, according to the latest available statistics from the Spanish government's Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, there were 2,643 Pakistani students studying in Spanish universities in the academic year 2019-2020. Please note that this number may have changed since then and may vary depending on the source of information.
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I'm sorry, but I don't have the latest data on the exact number of Pakistani students in Thailand. However, according to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation of Thailand, there were 2,587 Pakistani students studying in Thailand in 2020. It's worth noting that this number may have changed since then, and the actual number may vary depending on the source of information.

[Riaz Haq]

From Open AI's ChatGPT:


I'm sorry, but I don't have the latest data on the exact number of Pakistani students in Ireland. However, according to the latest available statistics from the Irish government's Higher Education Authority, there were 2,410 Pakistani students enrolled in Irish higher education institutions in the academic year 2019-2020. Please note that this number may have changed since then and may vary depending on the source of information.

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I'm sorry, but I don't have the latest data on the exact number of Pakistani students in Switzerland. However, according to the latest available statistics from the Swiss government's Federal Statistical Office, there were 1,638 Pakistani students enrolled in Swiss universities and other tertiary education institutions in 2019. Please note that this number may have changed since then and may vary depending on the source of information.

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I'm sorry, but I don't have the latest data on the exact number of Pakistani students in Austria. However, according to the latest available statistics from the Austrian government's Ministry of Education, Science, and Research, there were 1,241 international students from Pakistan studying in Austria in the academic year 2019-2020. Please note that this number may have changed since then and may vary depending on the source of information.

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I'm sorry, but I don't have the latest data on the exact number of Pakistani students in Finland. However, according to the latest available statistics from the Finnish National Agency for Education, there were 387 Pakistani students studying in higher education institutions in Finland in 2019. Please note that this number may have changed since then and may vary depending on the source of information.

[Riaz Haq]

Open AI ChatGPT answers:

According to the latest available data from the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, as of 2021, there were approximately 50,000 Pakistani students enrolled in various universities and institutions in Saudi Arabia. This number includes students enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs as well as those enrolled in technical and vocational education and training programs. It is worth noting that this number may have changed since then, and for the most up-to-date information, it would be best to contact the relevant authorities or organizations in Pakistan or Saudi Arabia.

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According to the data provided by the Ministry of Education of Iran, as of 2021, there were approximately 12,000 Pakistani students studying in Iranian universities. This number includes students enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs, as well as those enrolled in short-term language courses and other training programs. However, it is worth noting that this number may have changed since then, and for the most up-to-date information, it would be best to contact the relevant authorities or organizations in Pakistan or Iran.

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I'm sorry, but I do not have access to real-time information on the exact number of Pakistani students currently studying in Egypt. However, according to the Embassy of Pakistan in Cairo, as of 2021, there were approximately 6,000 Pakistani students enrolled in various Egyptian universities. This number may have changed since then, and for the most up-to-date information, it would be best to contact the relevant authorities or organizations in Pakistan or Egypt.

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I'm sorry, but I do not have access to real-time information on the exact number of Pakistani students currently studying in Turkey. However, according to the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, as of 2020, there were around 4,200 Pakistani students studying in various universities across Turkey. This number may have changed since then, and for the most up-to-date information, it would be best to contact the relevant authorities or organizations in Pakistan or Turkey.

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I'm sorry, but I do not have access to real-time information on the exact number of Pakistani students currently studying in Iraq. However, according to the Embassy of Pakistan in Baghdad, as of 2020, there were around 2,000 Pakistani students enrolled in various Iraqi universities. This number may have changed since then, and for the most up-to-date information, it would be best to contact the relevant authorities or organizations in Pakistan or Iraq.
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I do not have access to real-time information on the exact number of Pakistani students currently studying in Poland. However, according to the data of the Polish Embassy in Islamabad, as of 2021, there were approximately 1,000 Pakistani students studying in Poland. It is worth noting that this number may have changed since then, and for the most up-to-date information, it would be best to contact the relevant authorities or organizations in Pakistan or Poland.

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I'm sorry, but I do not have access to real-time information on the exact number of Pakistani students currently studying in South Africa. However, according to the High Commission of Pakistan in Pretoria, as of 2020, there were approximately 1,200 Pakistani students studying in various universities across South Africa. This number may have changed since then, and for the most up-to-date information, it would be best to contact the relevant auth