Visiting fellowship programme to advance academic and public discourse on Pakistan

A visiting fellowship programme for Pakistani academics and professionals has been endowed, thanks to a gift from the Rangoonwala Foundation.

The foundation's generosity will enable three exceptional individuals per year to undertake a short period of research at the University of Oxford. The programme will be open to early-career academics and to senior people of public profile, including journalists, members of the judiciary, policy makers and politicians. This is a key part of the University's ambition to establish a robust programme of teaching and research on Pakistan.

THE PAKISTAN MONUMENT © SHUTTERSTOCK / SHAHID KHAN

During their time at Oxford, Rangoonwala Visiting Fellows will work to advance both academic and public understanding of contemporary problems and issues facing Pakistan. Their research will take place across a broad range of themes, including human development and wellbeing; sustainable economic growth and environmental change; and democracy, identity and nation building.

Professor Kate Sullivan de Estrada, Director of the Contemporary South Asian Studies Programme at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies, says: 'This is a very welcome boost to our activity in Pakistan studies and we extend our warm thanks to the Rangoonwala Foundation for their support in further developing Oxford-Pakistan relations.'

The Rangoonwala Foundation was established by the late philanthropist, social worker and industrialist Mohamed Aly Rangoonwala. Asif Rangoonwala, Chairman of the foundation, says: 'This is a wonderful opportunity to bring our Pakistani Scholars to Oxford and to bring Oxford to Pakistan.'