The Oxford Pakistan Programme (OPP) unveiled the Tareen Oxford Scholarship on Tuesday, which would provide means-tested support for Pakistani students, with a preference for talented South Punjab students.
The OPP stated in a statement that the scholarship would be provided to students who have been offered admission to one of the qualified graduate courses offered at the University of Oxford’s Kellogg College but do not have the financial resources to accept the offer.
“Preference will be given to students for whom the scholarship will be a life-changing opportunity, and who have the potential and commitment to contribute to the development of South Punjab,” according to the statement.
The scholarship will cover tuition and living expenses for the students as part of the OPP’s graduate scholarship programme, which awards at least three graduate scholarships each year to brilliant Pakistani and British Pakistani students.
The scholarship, made possible by Ali Tareen, an alumnus of Kellogg College in Oxford, will be formed as a five-year scheme, with cash donated annually and distributed on a rolling basis.
This change will play a critical, foundational role in uplifting bright young scholars from South Punjab, one of Pakistan’s poorest districts.
“The scholarship will not only benefit the awardees, but it will also have a positive ripple effect by raising the aspirations of other talented scholars in the communities from which Tareen scholars will be drawn.” It will also be a huge step towards promoting a more diverse and inclusive academic community at Oxford, according to the statement.
This programme will consist of two initiatives:
- An access programme for final year students applying for graduate degrees, which will feature an Access Conference for final year students from South Punjab who are in the process of applying for MSc and Ph.D. degrees abroad. The top 20 attendees at the Access Conference will be offered one-on-one mentorship with an Oxford student or recent alumni, free of cost.
- For FSc toppers and first-year public sector university toppers, 100 students will be selected from South Punjab who have either topped their FSc. boards or obtained the highest marks in their first year at university. These students will be provided mentorship on how to make the most of their next three to four years, guidance on career prospects, and one-on-one mentorship to help them aspire to be the best minds globally.
