SARGODHA: Pakistan Institute of China Studies (PICS), University of Sargodha, in collaboration with the Institute for a Community with Shared Future (ICSF), Communication University of China, Beijing, organized the first briefing session on the China Fellowship Program, marking a significant step toward enhancing academic cooperation and cultural exchange between Pakistan and China.
The event was attended by Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director of the Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future (PRCCSF), as the chief guest, along with Iqra Javiad, Board of Expert Member (PRCCSF), and Yusra Nasir, Research Associate (PRCCSF). Faculty members from various departments of the university were also present.
Opening the session, Prof Dr Tahir Mumtaz Awan, Director PICS, underscored the importance of international academic programs in equipping students with a global outlook. He highlighted that the China Fellowship Program provides young scholars with opportunities to engage in global debates while strengthening Pakistan–China academic and cultural ties.
Presenting the vision of PRCCSF, Yusra Nasir explained the center’s role in policy research, intellectual dialogue, and cultural diplomacy under the concept of building “a community with a shared future for mankind.”
Detailing the fellowship, Khalid Taimur Akram stated that it is a six-month program open to BS students from the sixth semester and MS students at any stage, conducted in both online and physical formats. The fellowship combines academic lectures with practical insights on themes such as the Belt and Road Initiative, CPEC, regional connectivity, and Pakistan–China relations.
He added that participants would be required to write research-based articles every ten days, with high-quality pieces being published nationally and internationally, thereby providing recognition to students as emerging researchers. The fellowship, he said, also offers valuable networking opportunities with scholars and practitioners.
The event concluded with an interactive Q&A session where students and faculty discussed the role of such initiatives in fostering people-to-people linkages, promoting academic diplomacy, and broadening research opportunities.
The session ended with a consensus that the China Fellowship Program would act as a transformative platform for Pakistani students, helping them expand their intellectual horizons, enhance their professional profiles, and contribute actively to global academic exchange.
Ultimately, the fellowship was described as a bridge of trust and collaboration between Pakistan and China, paving the way for long-term academic, cultural, and regional cooperation.
