MALAYSIAN AGENCIES IN UAE JOIN FORCES TO PROMOTE EDUCATION

By Muin Abdul Majid

DUBAI, Aug 3 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia Education Promotion Centre (MEPC)
Dubai has joined hands with other Malaysian agencies based in the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) in efforts to woo more people to study in Malaysia.

Its director, Shushilil Azam Shuib, said MEPC felt that this approach would
work well in drawing more Middle East and North African students to further
their education in Malaysian institutions of higher learning.

Citing an example, he said MEPC Dubai would be joining the Malaysia External
Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) on a trip to northern Iraq soon.

"It's a new market for us. We'll use the opportunity to approach
corporations as well as education officials there to promote Malaysian higher
education," he told Bernama here.

This is part of MEPC Dubai's planned promotional activities from October
onwards that would also include Tripoli and Benghazi in Libya, Sudan, Bahrain,
Kuwait and UAE.

"We'll be organising a special education promotion programme involving the
expatriate community in Port Sudan," Shushilil Azam said.

The education official said besides working together with Matrade, MEPC
Dubai would also tap the connections between the Malaysian embassy in Abu Dhabi
and the consulate in Dubai with various UAE ministries and government agencies.

Elaborating on this aspect, Malaysian ambassador to the UAE Yahaya Abdul
Jabar reckoned that this Gulf nation had certain schemes of sending government
officials and students for further studies abroad.

He said during a recent meeting with high-ranking officials from the UAE
Finance Ministry, he had highlighted Islamic finance and economic courses
available in Malaysia.

"They appear to be keen to take advantage of such educational opportunities
in Malaysia. God willing, we may welcome several UAE government officials in the
future," he said.

"I feel that this will be beneficial to Malaysia as the Emirati officials
may get to know our country and culture better. Hopefully, this will translate
into more opportunities for Malaysia, including in the business sector," the
envoy added.

Yahaya said he had also encouraged senior UAE Health Ministry officials to
send doctors and nurses for certain courses in Malaysia.

Matrade's senior trade commissioner Datuk Dzulkifli Mahmud said small and
medium businesses in the UAE were invited to send staff members for short
courses offered in Malaysia aimed at enhancing SME operations.

Meanwhile, Shushilil Azam said during January-July 2010, MEPC Dubai had
rendered assistance to 2,000 people keen on studying in Malaysia.

He expected the figure to touch 4,000 by the end of the year.
-- BERNAMA