UoS and CUC Beijing Launch Joint China Fellowship Program to Strengthen Academic and Research Ties

Independent Report
Islamabad, Oct 14 :
In a landmark step towards enhancing academic and research cooperation between Pakistan and China, the University of Sargodha (UoS) has launched a six-month China Fellowship Program in collaboration with the Communication University of China (CUC), Beijing.

The initiative, jointly organized by the Pakistan Institute of China Studies (PICS) at UoS and the Institute for a Community with Shared Future (ICSF) at CUC, aims to deepen scholarly understanding of China’s global development vision. The fellowship will be administered by ICSF and implemented by PICS, with successful participants receiving official certificates from CUC, Gwadar Pro reported.

According to Prof. Dr. Tahir Mumtaz Awan, Director of PICS, the fellowship is designed to “nurture scholars who can think critically, research rigorously, and contribute meaningfully to the Pakistan–China partnership.” He added that the program emphasizes key areas such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and China’s Global Development, Governance, Security, and Civilization Initiatives.

Eleven departments from the University of Sargodha have nominated students and faculty members for the program. Over the next six months, participants will undergo training in academic writing, policy briefs, and structured research, alongside lectures and study visits. Maintaining at least 80 percent attendance will be mandatory for certification.

By promoting greater insight into China’s development approach and the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the fellowship seeks to develop a new generation of Pakistani scholars capable of contributing to future academic, policy, and intellectual exchanges between the two nations.

The inaugural session of the China Fellowship Program was held today, October 14, at the University of Sargodha, with around 70 students and faculty members in attendance.