Centers for Advanced Studies Program

To strengthen a culture of applied research, USAID launched the U.S.-Pakistan Centers for Advanced Studies (USPCAS) in 2015.  USPCAS connects three U.S. universities with expertise in energy, agriculture, and water with four Pakistani universities to modernize curricula, conduct joint research, and foster student and faculty exchanges. 
 
The U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Study for Agriculture/Food Security has been set up at University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, in partnership with University of California Davis. The Center for Water at Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, is in partnership with University of Utah. Centers for Energy at National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, and University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar, are in partnership with Arizona State University. 
 
Objectives
 
The U.S.-Pakistan Centers for Advanced Studies (USPCAS) project was designed by USAID and the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) to strengthen a culture of applied research in Pakistan. 
 
Main Activities
  • Provide revised curricula as well as financial management, governance, teaching, and other reforms necessary to make university education and research more relevant to the needs of industry and government.
  • Facilitate relevant policy dialogue and reforms for each technical sector led by the policy thinktanks at each center.
  • Develop robust scholarship and exchange programs.
  • Lead networking activities.
  • Develop strong links to the private sector.
  • Construct, rehabilitate, and upgrade world-class research facilities at partnering Pakistani universities, including laboratories, classrooms, and libraries.

Partner Universities