MADINAH UNIVERSITY INCREASES INTAKE OF INDONESIAN STUDENTS

Madinah, 22/11 (ANTARA) - The Islamic University of Madinah admitted 51 students from Indonesia in 2008 or over 100 percent more than in the previous year.

The fact was learned by Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Salim Segaf Aldjufri during a visit to the university on Saturday.
At a meeting with the university's rector, Muhammad bin Ali al-'Uqla, and several of the academic staff, Aldjufri who is himself a
graduate from the univeristy, expressed gratitude for the increased acceptance of Indonesian students.

Salim's meeting with the rector, lecturers and his fellow university alumni allso touched on the quota of scholarships for Indonesian students.

According to Aldjufri, more than 70 percent of the students at the Islamic University of Madinah were from foreign countries.

"And Indonesia is represented by quite a big number of students here. Therefore we came to thank them (the university)," he said.

The ambbassdor revealed the university was also planning to grant scholarships to female students.

The number of Indonesian students living in Saudi Arabia at this moment is about 250 , 159 of whom are studying at the Islamic University of Madinah.