The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Pakistan (Global UGRAD-Pakistan) provides emerging youth leaders from diverse communities across Pakistan with the opportunity to attend American universities and colleges for non-degree academic study.

During a semester of undergraduate classes and community engagement, participants strengthen their leadership, academic, and career-preparedness skills while building relationships with Americans. Participants return home as engaged leaders committed to tackling pressing challenges in their communities and fostering greater understanding between people of the United States and Pakistan.

The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Pakistan is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX.

• Since its inception in 2010, Global UGRAD-Pakistan has supported over 2,000 participants from across Pakistan. In 2020, nearly 97% of participants were “first generation” exchange participants to the United States, and 29% of participants were the only students from Pakistan studying on campus, sharing new perspectives with their American peers.
• Strengthened Leadership Ability: 99% of 2019–2020 participants reported greater confidence in their leadership skills after completion of the program, and 84% of alumni continue to regularly use the leadership skills and knowledge gained from the program.
• Engaged Community Leaders: Since program inception, participants have volunteered over 40,000 hours of service with organizations in their American host communities. Over 96% of alumni have engaged in community improvement activities since returning to Pakistan.
• Essential Academic and Professional Skills: Over 92% of participants reported feeling more knowledgeable about their field of study as a result of the program, contributing to their overall career preparedness.
• Fostering Mutual Understanding: 97% of program alumni maintain relationships with Americans they met through Global UGRAD-Pakistan, and over 90% have presented on their U.S. experience to their home communities in Pakistan.

• Strengthen participants’ leadership skills and experience
• Enhance participants’ academic competencies and career preparedness skills
• Increase participants’ community engagement abilities and commitment to service
• Contribute to increased understanding between the people of the United States and Pakistan through participants’ engagement in their host and home communities.

• Undergraduate study and academic skill-building: Participants attend a semester-long, academic program at U.S. universities and colleges, which includes coursework in their fields of study and in an American studies topic. Participants also take an additional course to strengthen their academic skills.
• Community service: Participants volunteer a minimum of 20 hours during the semester to give back to their American host communities and learn firsthand how to identify social problems and design and implement effective interventions.
• Country presentations: Participants share their country's history and traditions through interactive presentations on Pakistan at their host institutions or in local schools, retirement homes, or Rotary clubs.
• Digital Cultural Passport: Through the Passport, participants explore diverse U.S. cultural experiences across six areas: Arts and Music, Holiday and Diversity Celebrations, Sports and Leisure, Community Leadership in Action, Youth Concerns, and Local Pride, and forge bonds with Americans in their host communities.
• Alumni programming: Alumni lead Community Development Initiatives in Pakistan to create positive social change in their home communities and continue to apply and enhance their leadership skills.

E-mail: ugradpakistan@irex.org