Dr Fouzia first Pakistani woman teacher to receive two fellowships at Oxford University
In an inspiring achievement for Pakistan’s academic community, Dr. FouziaFarooq Ahmed, Assistant Professor Department of History at Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), has been awarded two prestigious fellowships at the University of Oxford.
These accolades not only reflect her personal excellence but also underscore the high standards of education at QAU placing it in the global limelight.
Dr. Fouzia has been honored with the esteemed Torch Global Visiting Professorship at All Souls College, University of Oxford for the year 2024. Additionally, she has been selected for the Fellowship on Islam in South Asia at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies for the academic year 2025-2026.
These significant achievements are a testament to her scholarly contributions and growing recognition of Pakistani academics in the global arena.
The Torch Global South Visiting Professorships Programme, funded by All Souls College, is one of the most sought-after academic honors in the world. The programme brings leading scholars from the Global South to Oxford for one term, with only one scholar selected each year. This makes her selection particularly noteworthy, as she is the first female Pakistani scholar from a public sector university to receive this distinction.
While commenting on the latest recognition, Prof Fouzia expressed her gratitude to all her well-wishers saying it was rare for a scholar from Pakistan, especially from a public institution, to be selected for such a competitive fellowship. “It is a significant achievement that a Pakistani female scholar from a public sector university has brought this honor to Pakistan for the first time in its history,” she said.
In addition to the Torch Professorship, Dr. Fouzia was also awarded the highly competitive two-year Fellowship on Islam in South Asia at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. This fellowship is part of the center’s flagship Atlas Project, one of the largest and most-esteemed initiatives in the study of Islamic history. The rigorous selection process saw applicants from across the globe vying for the fellowship, making Dr. Fouzia’s success all the more impressive.
Reflecting on her journey, Dr. Fouzia emphasized the role that her education at Quaid-i-Azam University has played in shaping her academic career. She completed her Masters, M.Phil and PhD from the Department of History at QAU, which she credits for providing a solid foundation in her field.
“The fact that a scholar who has completed her Masters, M.Phil., and PhD from the Department of History at Quaid-i-Azam University has won these fellowships speaks volumes about the standard of education at Quaid-i-Azam University and the potential for achievement among its students,” she noted.
While these fellowships offer personal growth and substantial opportunities for research, Dr. Fouzia is keen to give back to her alma mater. She plans to share her experience and knowledge with her colleagues and students at QAU by organizing orientation sessions and hybrid seminars.
