Between June18 and 23, the Emirates Foundation for Philanthropy is hosting 40 students and two faculty members on a cultural visit to the UAE from North Carolina State University, USA. The visit is part of the ongoing cultural student exchange programme between the UAE and the USA.
During their stay in the UAE, the students will visit the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, Al Arabiyya Television Station, the General Women’s Union, the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research, and the offices of “The National” Newspaper. They will also meet with Ahmad Bin Shabib, First Deputy Speaker of the Federal National Council, and with. Dean Tarik Yousef of the Dubai School of Government.
The visit has been organised as part of North Carolina State University’s Middle East Studies Programme. Each year, students involved in the programme enjoy five weeks of cultural immersion in Cairo as part of their course. This year, the university has included a six-day tour of the UAE to expose the students to different aspects of Middle East society and culture.
The purpose of the UAE trip is to introduce the students to the newly developing Gulf region, particularly in the UAE, where globalisation is embraced while local heritage is preserved. By meeting with political, business and cultural leaders in the UAE, as well as with a group of Emirati student volunteers, the American students will develop an appreciation of developments in the UAE and of the nation’s achievements.
North Carolina State University is known for its leadership in education and research, and is globally recognised for its science, technology, engineering and mathematics programmes. Its Middle East Studies Programme, which has until now been a minor subject, will be offered as a degree course from next year.
