VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Ambassador to Qatar, Ridwan Hassan, met with Qatari Minister of Education and Higher Learning, Mohammed Abdul Wahed Al Hammadi, in Doha on Tuesday to discuss ways to boost bilateral cooperation in the field of education.

At least two thousand Indonesian students are currently enrolled in different schools and universities in Qatar, according to the Qatari Ministry of Education and High Learning.

Most of them are studying in Qatar as their parents are working in the country, the Indonesian Embassy in Qatar said in a press statement released on Wednesday.

Some of them are pursuing higher education in one of the world's richest countries at their own initiative, it added.

Some Indonesian students have received scholarships from the Qatari government. A total of 11 Indonesians are studying at Ma’had Diniy (senior high schools) on scholarship from the Qatari government.

During the meeting with Al Hammadi, the Indonesian ambassador expressed the hope that the Qatari government would provide scholarships to more Indonesian students. He also invited more Qatari students to pursue higher education in Indonesia.

As a rapidly growing nation and a major player in the region, Qatar needs to know more about Indonesia, Hassan said.

At the meeting, Hassan and Al Hammadi also discussed the Indonesian Islamic International University (UIII), which is expected to help the Islamic world spread the message of rahmatan lil alamin (blessing for the whole universe) and return to the grand tradition of Muslims in the field of science and technology.

Al Hammadi expressed keen interest in UIII and voiced the hope that the Qatari government would take concrete steps to help Indonesia promote the university.

"We are waiting for broader cooperation with this university," he said. (Antaranews)