Quarterly Progress Report: July – September 2015

The centers received an immense response from students across Pakistan, with 560 applications received for admission. Out of these, 50 students who qualified the entry test and eligibility criteria were enrolled in Masters and PhD degree programs, with 14 female students making up approximately 30% of the total enrollment. An executive workshop on Water Governance was organized in Karachi on August 3, 2015, with around 120 participants from various organizations, including universities, federal and provincial governments, research organizations, NGOs, industries, USAID representatives, individuals, and government officials. The workshop was chaired by Syed Murad Ali Shah, Minister for Finance, and featured presentations from US Council General Brian Heath, Dr. Randy Hatfield, USAID senior policy advisor and program manager, University of Utah faculty, MUET vice chancellors, and USPCASW faculty. The groundbreaking ceremony of the new CAS-W building was held on September 17, 2015, with USAID Mission Director to Pakistan Mr. John P. Groarke as the chief guest. He expressed his views that the project is an example of the long-term commitment of the United States to helping Pakistan address its development priorities and that the facility will help address Pakistan's urgent needs for improved access to water. He also met with faculty and students, mentioning that the state-of-the-art laboratories and research facilities would provide opportunities for students and stakeholders to enhance learning and research. A delegation of six members from MUET, including the Vice Chancellor, Senior Deans, Faculty members, and the Project Director of CAS-W, visited the University of Utah in August 2015. The visit aimed to generate high-level synergy between university partners, increase networking, and discuss exchange visits. A Signing Ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the University of Utah and MUET was also held during the visit, with the high-level management of UU, including the president and vice president, USAID representatives, Pakistan Council General, and other guests participating. The Project Management Unit (PMU) held structured meetings on a regular basis to coordinate project implementation, including administration, monitoring, and reporting on project progress. During the 4th quarter, two PMU meetings were held, and a midterm review of the Annual Implementation Plan for year 1 of the project was conducted. The main objectives of the midterm review were to promote accountability and transparency, assess and disclose levels of project accomplishments, synthesize lessons to improve future interventions, and provide feedback on improvements regarding identified issues. The PMU provided a comprehensive and systematic account of the project's performance by assessing the implementation process and achievements in relation to project targets and results. It was determined that most of the activities were progressing as per plan, with the activities not carried out as per plan highlighted and planned to be completed in time.