The Pakistan Applied Linguistics Education Enhancement Program, also known as PALEEP, is a university partnership between SJSU-Linguistics and Language Development Department (SJSU-LLD) and the University of Azad-Jammu Kashmir-English Department. Throughout the grand period which will last till May 31, 2017, SJSU will work with AJKU to make AJKU-English department a world-class center for Applied
Linguistics. SJSU-LLD will do this by providing professional development courses to AJKU faculty and students, and by enhancing their undergraduate and graduate curriculum in linguistics and applied linguistics. AJKU faculty and research scholars will also visit SJSU to make use of the research facilities available at SJSU throughout the grant period. The overall mission of the project is to increase the research capacity of AJKU faculty through collaborative research, faculty exchanges, distance education, resource sharing and pedagogical and research material procurement for AJKU. San José State University is very excited for this partnership as it will enable SJSU faculty to collect data for their research from languages spoken in AJK region of Pakistan; they also think that this partnership will result in a lasting friendship between the SJSU and AJKU faculty members. On top of all this, SJSU LLD faculty members are also committed to reviving some of the endangered languages spoken in the AJK area. Domaki, at this time, has only about 25 speakers. PALEEP’s principal investigator and the project director is Dr. Swathi M. He is the Department Chair of the Linguistics & Language Development Department-SJSU. Dr. Roula Svorou who is the co-ordinator of the linguistics programs at SJSU is the deputy director of the project. Dr. Ayesha Sohail, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, the University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir is the contact person on the AJKU side. All administrative matters related to the project are handled by the SJSURF Fiscal Affairs Office. All questions concerning this contract should be directed to Professor Swathi M. He can be reached by e-mail: [email protected]