About Program

The Area Study Centre for Africa, North and South America at Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) and Ball State University (BSU) collaborated on a U.S. State Department funded university partnership cooperative agreement from 2012-2015. The proposed new project extends outcomes and best practices of this partnership to other Pakistani universities.

In specific, QAU and BSU will collaborate in assisting three Pakistani public sector women universities (Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Peshawar; Women University Swabi; and University of Swat, Women Campus) from underprivileged areas to strengthen their BS and MS programs (and PhD where applicable) in Literature, International Relations, History, Religious Studies, Art, Visual Communication, Popular Culture and Mass Media, and Research Methodology from a U.S. Studies perspective through curriculum enhancement, faculty development, research training, and the integration of an American Studies theoretical and methodological framework. Additionally, QAU and BSU will work with the target universities to develop Introductory American Studies classes and explore their potential to offer American Studies degrees. Further, QAU and BSU will provide seminars to enhance the research and publication knowledge and skills of faculty members, and BS, MS (and PhD where applicable) students affiliated with these universities as well as other universities.

Along with these initiatives, QAU and BSU will offer seminars on specific areas within American History, Literature especially multiethnic American Literature, International Relations, Religious Studies, Art, Visual Communication, Popular Culture and Mass Media, Library Science, and Research Methodology to students and faculty from these universities. All faculty and students involved in the project also will be encouraged to produce research to be published in a special issue of Pakistan Journal of American Studies (PJAS) entitled, “American Studies in Pakistan: Research Initiatives and Curriculum Paradigms.” This issue will be co-edited by QAU and BSU faculty.

The project will be conducted virtually October 2021 to September 2022. The continued collaboration between QAU and BSU and the inclusion of other Pakistani universities will strengthen American Studies in Pakistan; enhance the capacity of Pakistani faculty members and students to conduct, present, and publish research; and promote mutual understanding, respect, and further cooperation between the peoples of the U.S. and Pakistan.

Project Goals and Objectives

  1. Extend the knowledge and expertise gained from the QAU-BSU partnership to other Pakistani Universities, especially those from underprivileged areas.
  2. Strengthen four target universities’ BS and MS programs (and PhD where applicable) in Literature, International Relations, History, Religious Studies, Art, Visual Communication, Popular Culture and Mass Media, Library Science, and Research Methodology from a U.S. Studies perspective
  3. Provide curriculum enhancement, faculty development, and research training to the students and faculty of these universities.
  4. Assist target universities develop Introductory American Studies classes and explore their potential to offer American Studies degrees.
  5. Organize lectures and seminars to enhance the research and publication knowledge and skills of faculty members, and BS and MS (and PhD where applicable) students affiliated with these universities.
  6. Encourage the faculty of target universities to produce research as an outcome of the program that will be co-edited by QAU-BSU faculty and published in a special issue of Pakistan Journal of American Studies (PJAS) entitled, “American Studies in Pakistan: Research Initiatives and Curriculum Paradigms”.

Project Deliverables

  1. 24 lectures in target areas (American Literature, International Relations, History, Religious Studies, Art, Visual Communication, Popular Culture and Mass Media, Pedagogy, Faculty development, and Research Methodology)
  2. 24 seminars in target areas
  3. 24 workshops in target areas
  4. 71 mentoring sessions for students and faculty in teaching and research
  5. Curriculum/Syllabi development in each target area and a Special Issue of PJAS co-edited by QAU-BSU faculty

Expected Outcomes

1. Curriculum and Syllabi Development in the selected areas
2. Improved BS, MS, (and PhD where applicable) programs in American Literature, International Relations, History, Religious Studies, Art, Visual Communication, Popular Culture and Mass Media, Library Science, Pedagogy, Faculty development, and Research Methodology
3. Trained faculty in teaching practices
4. Trained students and faculty in research knowledge and skills
5. Created the groundwork for starting Introductory classes in American Studies
6. Assisted target universities in exploring the potential to offer American Studies degrees.
7. Organized lectures, seminars, and workshops to enhance the research and publication knowledge and skills of faculty members, and BS, MS, (and PhD where applicable) students affiliated with these universities.
8. Published a special issue of Pakistan Journal of American Studies (PJAS) involving participants in the project
9. Improved mutual understanding between the American and Pakistani people and allowed USG alumni to contribute towards creating meaningful change.