Session Description:Access to higher education in Pakistan is around 10%, much lower than the global average of 30%. This means that millions of young Pakistanis are not able to fully realize their potential and play their role as productive members of society. However, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), the premier, private university in the country started a path-breaking program two decades ago to address this challenge by proactively reaching out to marginalized communities and bring the most talented students to study at LUMS. Since its inception in 2001, the program has proven to be a gamechanger by graduating around 1,000 alumni across 145 cities.

A dedicated team oversees the outreach efforts through a systematic, coordinated marketing campaign to ensure that the messaging and communications are compelling, effective and reaching the right segments of society. The National Outreach Program is also a great exemplar of an integrated Advancement team working across campus stakeholders to make the program successful.

This session will highlight the elements of successful outreach and sustainability of a program that not only won the global CASE Platinum Award 2021 in the Best Practices in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion category, but continues to unfold transformational opportunities for young women and men.