In a landmark academic achievement, 20 students from the inaugural Bachelor of Science in Forestry (2024–2028) cohort 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 on Thursday.
The scholarships, awarded through a strategic partnership between Pakistani and Chinese institutions, will allow the selected students to complete one academic year in China at Jiangsu Vocational College of Agriculture and Forestry and Yunnan University, with the remaining three years of their degree program to be completed at IUB.
Fully covering tuition fees, accommodation, international travel, and living expenses, the program offers recipients the opportunity to receive world-class academic training while engaging in cross-cultural learning experiences.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Muhammad Kamran congratulated the selected students and called the initiative a “landmark in IUB’s journey toward internationalization.” He highlighted the university’s increasing global academic profile and its commitment to building meaningful international partnerships.
The split-degree program originates from a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between IUB’s Institute of Forest Sciences and its Chinese partner institutions. The agreement underscores the shared commitment to advancing academic collaboration under the CPEC umbrella.
Professor Dr. Tanveer Hussain Turabi, Director of the Institute of Forest Sciences, played a key role in securing the partnership, along with his dedicated faculty team. Acknowledging their efforts, the Vice-Chancellor stated that the program will be expanded to include future student cohorts, integrating international exposure as a core element of the IUB student experience.
The scholarship program reflects growing educational ties between Pakistan and China and marks an important step toward building academic and research capacity in fields critical to sustainable development and environmental conservation.