Abu Dhabi: A visiting US official Saturday called on the Middle East countries to benefit from the United Arab Emirates (UAE)'s example of tolerance, WAM news agency reported.

Goli Ameri, assistant secretary of state for Educational and Cultural Affairs said in an interview here with Al Ittihad newspaper that she was impressed with the advancement of UAE's higher education institutions, including Zayed University and the Higher Colleges of Technology.

She expressed admiration for the great role played by the Zayed House for Islamic Culture in training scholars and Imams in the US and other Western countries.

Ameri admitted that numbers of Emarati students in the US dropped sharply due to strict visa rules following Sep 11 attacks.

She revealed that around 800 Emarati students are currently enrolled in the US universities.

"We are trying hard to increase the number of Emarati students coming to the US for college and postgraduate studies. Nevertheless, I can say the situation is much better now," she said.

 

Source : IANS