20 IUB students win prestigious CPEC split-degree scholarships to study in China

Bahawalpur: In a major academic milestone, 20 students from the first-ever cohort (2024–2028) of the Bachelor of Science in Forestry program at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) have been awarded fully funded split-degree scholarships under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) education cooperation framework, the university announced.

The scholarships, which are part of a strategic academic exchange initiative between Pakistani and Chinese institutions, will allow these students to study for one year at Jiangsu Vocational College of Agriculture and Forestry and Yunnan University in China. They will complete the remaining three years of their degree at IUB in Pakistan.

These fully funded scholarships cover all academic expenses, including tuition fees, accommodation, international travel, and daily living costs, enabling recipients to experience world-class education while immersing themselves in cross-cultural learning environments.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Kamran congratulated the selected students, describing the achievement as a “landmark in IUB’s journey toward internationalization.” He noted that this opportunity reflects the university’s growing academic stature and its ability to forge meaningful global partnerships.

The split-degree programme stems from a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between IUB’s Institute of Forest Sciences and partner Chinese universities, demonstrating a commitment to deepening academic ties under the broader umbrella of CPEC.

Director of the Institute, Professor Dr Tanveer Hussain Turabi, along with his faculty team, was instrumental in securing this international collaboration. The Vice-Chancellor praised their dedication and noted that the programme will be expanded to future cohorts, making global exposure an integral part of the IUB student experience.

As CPEC evolves beyond infrastructure into knowledge exchange and people-to-people connectivity, initiatives like this signal the emergence of a new era in Pakistan-China educational cooperation. These scholarships not only enhance students’ academic and career prospects but also aim to build long-term bridges of friendship between the two nations.