ISLAMABAD: The number of Pakistanis studying in the United States for the 2014-15 academic year rose to 5,354, an increase of 8.5 per cent over the previous year, according to the annual Open Doors report. They share Pakistani culture and values while receiving some of the best education in the world, said Cultural Attach Dr Daniel S Mattern while addressing the Pakistani students, who are leaving the US for study. Seventy students, who will study at American colleges and universities starting this fall, attended a pre-departure orientation in Islamabad hosted by EducationUSA at the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP). The students who participated in Wednesday’s pre-departure orientation will join a growing cadre of Pakistanis who are pursuing higher education in the United States,” said Dr Mattern. Similar orientation sessions were held in Lahore and Karachi for a total of 188 students. The students will be enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs at colleges and universities throughout the US. In addition to providing free educational advising services, USEFP manages a number of scholarship and professional development exchange programs, including the prestigious Fulbright Program. EducationUSA Pakistan’s Advising Manager Umair Khan congratulated the students and offered them tips. “Living in a foreign country is challenging and requires courage and a positive attitude. A majority of teachers in the American classrooms focus more on class participation, which may count towards final grades, “said Khan.