(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The Al Maktoum Foundation has sent over 750 female Emirati students in 10 batches to Scotland to attend a series of higher edutainment general courses as part of its pioneering education programmes.
The students have studied leadership, multiculturalism, religious pluralism, Islamic studies and the history of Scotland during the one-month programme at the Al Maktoum College of Higher Education (AMCHE) in Dundee, Scotland.
Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, said AMCHE was established in 2001 to bridge the gap between the Muslim and Western worlds by focusing on intelligent debates and scientific understanding of Islam and the role of Muslims in the contemporary world.
"With the 10 batches dispatched so far, we want to teach the Western peoples about the true teachings of Islam, and give Emirati women an opportunity to go through a new experience and culture. Our girls represented the modest and open-minded Emirati women to the European societies."
AMCHE has students and staff from all over the world. The college is an international one, teaching and researching on Islam and Muslims in conjunction with other religions and ethno-religious communities. Up to 140 students from over 30 countries have successfully graduated from the college's postgraduate degree programmes, mainly PhDs.
The college is an independent, not-for-profit educational charity. Its patron and sponsor is Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid, whose unceasing support for multiculturalism, education and the study of Islam and Muslims lay the foundation of the college.
Mirza Hussain Al Sayegh, board member of Al Maktoum Foundation, told Khaleej Times that Shaikh Hamdan is always very keen to meet the students after coming back from Scotland and listen carefully to their feedback. "The last two batches in August 2014 and February 2015 included 105 Emirati students and five Malaysian students, for the first time."
The students, nominated by 11 universities and colleges across the UAE, and the Malaya University, Kuala Lumpur, had to have full command of the English language to be eligible for participation in the programme.
Student-speak
The trip, which lasted three weeks in Scotland and one week in London, was a "valuable addition" for Amena Salah, an Emirati student of telecommunications at the Zayed University.
"I was very interested in joining the trip to gain a new experience, live and taste another culture, and meet and talk to different people," she told Khaleej Times. "We knew about Scottish history, women leadership, Islamic studies, arts and tourism."
Hala Abdullah, an Emirati student of humanities at the Zayed University, said she was interested in the differences in the Scottish culture. "It was not just fun or academic, but a mixture of both. We attended valuable lectures, spanning multi-culture studies and media, and went sightseeing as well."
Of the five Malaysian students was Noor Al Amira, a second year student of psychology at the Malaya University. "It was so nice to meet other girls from the UAE, and learn about education and culture of Scotland."
Fatima Al Zahra, a student of Islamic studies and science at the Malaya University, said: "I have learnt a lot about the people and environment in Scotland. I learnt that I should be more friendly to others, appreciate ideas and negotiate with others."
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