KARACHI: Engro Energy Limited’s strive for empowerment for the local communities and provision of quality education for the youth has enabled them to enter into a tripartite partnership agreement with five internationally recognised Chinese universities and the Thar Projects partner, China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) to award scholarships in Engineering and Non-Engineering disciplines.
As per the agreement, fully funded scholarships will be awarded to students from communities where Engro operates. Over 20 of the finest students who meet all the university academic requirements have been shortlisted through EEL’s testing and interview processes for a full three-year Master’s scholarship sponsored through the Chinese Government Scholarships (CSC), EEL or CMEC commencing from September, 2019.
In addition, to providing educational scholarships, the universities under the partnership will also provide on the job training and collaborative research opportunities to the shortlisted students along with capacity development opportunities between the university faculty and Engro employees.
Engro Energy and CMEC signed these agreements with Liaoning Technical University (LNTU), North China Electric Power University (NCEPU) in April 2019, while agreements with University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), Jiangsu University and Beijing Normal University will be inked in July 2019.
Commenting on the initiative, Ahsan Zafar Syed, the Chief Executive Officer of Engro Energy said: “At Engro Energy we strive to be a force of good in the communities that we operate. As agents of change, we believe that education and opportunities of higher learning provide maximum and lasting impact in societies; and our scholarship programs are means to this end. By equipping the future generations with internationally reputed skills and degrees through this program, EEL believes in laying foundations for a stronger and brighter Pakistan.”
Kashif Soomro, Director HR and Administration of EEL articulated that “In areas where EEL is present, our commitment is to deploy an inclusive model that focuses on the Human Development of those locals.” Since education is the premise of progress for every society, Soomro said over the past few years the concentration was primarily primary and secondary scholastic improvements.
“After hard work, dedication, and determination from the team, our mission of providing access to quality higher education has become a reality. This partnership has enabled students to study at renowned universities in China; henceforth impacting the lives of our talented scholars,” added Soomro.
Earlier in March 2018, Engro Energy Limited joined hands with its partner China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) to provide students from Thar with an opportunity to fulfil their educational goals and dreams of studying in China at one of the top universities of the country, North China Electric Power University. In the first year of the launch of the scholarship program; four students from Thar were given Scholarships in the field of Engineering after a rigorous screening, testing and interview process. With the number of students rising by almost 5 times in 2019, EEL intends to partner with more universities in the future for the same purpose, which is to change the face of education in Pakistan.