Al-Maktoum Institute to receive ZU students next January

Dr. Sulaiman Al Jassim, Vice President of Zayed University received Mirza Al Sayegh, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Scotland-based Al Maktoum Institute for Arabic and Islamic studies and Lord Thomas Murray Elder the Chancellor of the institute.

Dr. Sulaiman expressed his gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and the Minister of Finance for his continues care and attention extended to Zayed University students, and to different higher education institutes in the UAE.

He also stressed the importance of Al-Maktoum Institute in advancing the co-operation and collaboration between civilizations and educating the next generation of scholars - both nationally and internationally - in the study of multiculturalism to enable them to face the challenges and opportunities of today.

On his part received Mirza Al Sayegh explained that since it's establishment in October 2000 Al-Maktoum Institute aims to prepare the students on contemporary global issues of multiculturalism, leadership, cultural engagement and global awareness, and to be a place of knowledge and reflection on the issues facing a diverse and multicultural world in the twenty-first century. He added that the Institute will be offering two new programs in the year 2009, those are:

- Academic Training Program in Multiculturalism and leadership, which will promote the knowledge of UAE national students in the key contemporary global issues and will be held during the period from 23 January to 13 February 2009, in addition to Scotland Summer School, which will focus on learning about history, culture, and traditions of Scotland in the contemporary world, and is set to take place during the period from 30 June to 15 July 2009.

Al Sayegh explained that these programs consist of lectures, seminars, class discussions and debates that have been tailored to advance the overall learning and understanding of Islam and the challenges of global dialogue exchange.

Lord Elder expressed his admiration and appreciation for the role that Zayed University is undertaking in graduating society leaders who are expected to work on promoting mutual understanding and respect. He added that Al-Maktoum Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies has a graduation roll of 64 from over 20 different countries across the world in its first six-years of existence. It has also hosted over 200 female students from UAE through summer schools and short academic programs.