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Months after a terrorist attack plagued their school in Pakistan, 12 students from the Peshawar Army Public School were selected to participate in a two-week educational program in the United States, which began in late July. The mission, the U.S.-Pakistan Global Leadership and STEM program, immerses students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics curriculum while promoting diversity and unity through global leadership training.
Ensuring an international focus, four American high school students, with similar academic and career aspirations, are joining the Pakistani students. Past similar opportunities resulted in broader, global networks for participants and influential careers. Though short in duration, this program’s immersive and global nature promises to supplement the students’ futures.
Ambassador Stuart Holliday remarked that global education opportunities, such as this, are influential, despite their short duration. Holliday, the President and CEO of Meridian International Center, proceeded to describe the long-lasting nature of relationships formed during immersive youth education programs:
“You’ll see connections that will have ongoing, very, very important relevancies. We’ve seen people—who have gone on to be mayors and civic leaders and business leaders—look back on their programs and say it was very impactful.”
While in Washington, DC, Pakistani participants predicted that their experiences will help them better understand American culture. When asked how their visit to the United States will help them improve their community in Pakistan, one student told the media that he plans to ask his government to keep Pakistan cleaner.
Meridian International Center, the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, and SUNY Polytechnic’s Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) organized the program. Aiming to prepare students for future careers in STEM fields, students will create business plans and participate in nanotechnology career briefings during the experience.
The program began in Washington DC, where students engaged in global leadership skills training, and ends in New York City, where the students will participate in leadership and cultural activities.
A Pakistani teacher, serving as a chaperone, spoke on behalf of the students. She revealed that the students are most excited to make and present projects on nanotechnology. She viewed the opportunity as, “very exciting and very thrilling for [the] students.”
This program serves as an example of endurance in the face of violent extremism. Though the students remain scarred by the terrorist attack that plagued their school in December, they are embracing the opportunity to move forward, forge global connections, and improve their community and themselves.
[gallery ids="https://www.diplomaticourier.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/US-Pakistan-STEM-Program-at-West-Point.jpg|,https://www.diplomaticourier.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/US-Pakistan-STEM-Program-with-Sec.-Kerry-handshake.jpg|,https://www.diplomaticourier.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/US-Pakistan-STEM-Program-with-Commissioner-of-NYPD.jpg|"]
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
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From Terror to Opportunity: Global STEM Education for Peshawar Students
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August 11, 2015
Months after a terrorist attack plagued their school in Pakistan, 12 students from the Peshawar Army Public School were selected to participate in a two-week educational program in the United States, which began in late July. The mission, the U.S.-Pakistan Global Leadership and STEM program, immerses students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics curriculum while promoting diversity and unity through global leadership training.
Ensuring an international focus, four American high school students, with similar academic and career aspirations, are joining the Pakistani students. Past similar opportunities resulted in broader, global networks for participants and influential careers. Though short in duration, this program’s immersive and global nature promises to supplement the students’ futures.
Ambassador Stuart Holliday remarked that global education opportunities, such as this, are influential, despite their short duration. Holliday, the President and CEO of Meridian International Center, proceeded to describe the long-lasting nature of relationships formed during immersive youth education programs:
“You’ll see connections that will have ongoing, very, very important relevancies. We’ve seen people—who have gone on to be mayors and civic leaders and business leaders—look back on their programs and say it was very impactful.”
While in Washington, DC, Pakistani participants predicted that their experiences will help them better understand American culture. When asked how their visit to the United States will help them improve their community in Pakistan, one student told the media that he plans to ask his government to keep Pakistan cleaner.
Meridian International Center, the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, and SUNY Polytechnic’s Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) organized the program. Aiming to prepare students for future careers in STEM fields, students will create business plans and participate in nanotechnology career briefings during the experience.
The program began in Washington DC, where students engaged in global leadership skills training, and ends in New York City, where the students will participate in leadership and cultural activities.
A Pakistani teacher, serving as a chaperone, spoke on behalf of the students. She revealed that the students are most excited to make and present projects on nanotechnology. She viewed the opportunity as, “very exciting and very thrilling for [the] students.”
This program serves as an example of endurance in the face of violent extremism. Though the students remain scarred by the terrorist attack that plagued their school in December, they are embracing the opportunity to move forward, forge global connections, and improve their community and themselves.
[gallery ids="https://www.diplomaticourier.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/US-Pakistan-STEM-Program-at-West-Point.jpg|,https://www.diplomaticourier.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/US-Pakistan-STEM-Program-with-Sec.-Kerry-handshake.jpg|,https://www.diplomaticourier.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/US-Pakistan-STEM-Program-with-Commissioner-of-NYPD.jpg|"]
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
