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Outreach Scholarship Program (OSP)
 At present the National ICT R&D fund has several
initiatives focused at providing education and training opportunities to
our young citizens. In 2006 a pilot program with the title “Outreach
Scholarship Program” was launched. Through this pilot program, 2500 students of rural colleges and high schools were given intense
short training to prepare for aptitude based university admission
tests. These courses were conducted in local colleges and schools by
their own teachers. Course material and teacher training was provided
before the start of courses. Based on merit determined by administering
National University of Emerging and Computing Sciences (NU-FAST)
admission test, two hundred best students were awarded a four year
scholarship. The scholarships covered total cost of an
undergraduate program in computer science and telecom engineering.
 In 2007 National ICT
R&D Fund executed a more comprehensive nation wide Outreach Scholarship
programme. 400 scholarships for three top universities, National
University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (NU-FAST), Ghulam Ishaq
Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (GIKI) and
National University of Science and Technology (NUST-IIT), were offered
to the talented students of non-metropolitan areas of Pakistan. A wide
range of human resource from local colleges was selected and given
training to become master trainers for the program. 6100 students
participated in the program and got training for applying theoretical
concepts to solve applied problems that are being asked in the
universities’ entrance exams. Training materials as well as practice
tests were given to the students along with a comprehensive practice
exam to prepare them for the entrance exam. For the convenience of the
candidates more than 40 examination centers were established through out
Pakistan. On the whole the programme remained extremely successful and
received applauds from all the concerned quarters.
Highlights of the OSP 2007:
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400 Telecom
Engineering and IT Scholarships worth Rs.545 million were offered to
the talented students of non metropolitan areas of Pakistan.
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6100 college
students of non-metropolitan areas of Pakistan trained in problem
solving skills.
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700 teachers
empowered by imparting training in modern pedagogical techniques.
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