Cambridge essay competition attracts students from eight countries in the Middle East and North Africa

Students in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have submitted entries for the competition.

The title of the essay is 'How does an international education with Cambridge improve your understanding of the world?' and hundreds of students aged 14 to 18 in Cambridge Centres throughout the region have put pen to paper in a bid to win one of the great prizes on offer.

CIE has teamed up with Hewlett-Packard, Hilton UK and Ireland, the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce and Cambridge University Press to offer students and their schools a wide range of prizes. The four first-prize winners - one boy and one girl from two different age bands - will win a trip to the UK to visit Cambridge and London. The office of Mr Kofi-Annan, Secretary-General, United Nations has also commended CIE on this initiative.

The team at CIE's offices in the centre of Cambridge who organised the competition have been reading the essays as they arrive. Mr Paul Lewis, CIE's Director for the Middle East and North Africa: 'The standard of these essays is remarkable. So far, I have been impressed how students have grasped the subject and demonstrated a real understanding of topical issues and cultural differences. Some have also shown great creativity and originality which is a pleasure to see.'

A judging panel will convene in April to decide which essays will be given first, second and third prizes. The winners will be announced in May.