Indonesia, Oman Agree To Hold Long-Distance Course Program

LONDON, UK, March 1 (Antara) - The Islamic College of Al Hikmah 2, Brebes, Central Java, and the College of Sharia Sciences (CSS) in Oman have agreed to hold a long-distance course program for Indonesian students. According to a statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Muscat received by Antara here, Wednesday (March 1), the plan was discussed during the meeting between Indonesian Ambassador to Oman Musthofa Taufik Abdul Latif and Minister for Endowments and Religious Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Abdullah al Salmi at the Office of the Minister of Religious Affairs of Oman. Earlier, Rector of Al Hikmah 2 Ahmad Najib Afandi had met Dean of CSS Abdullah Al Hashimi to discuss the plan for the educational program. CSS currently has some five thousand students studying based on that method. The long-distance class is an option for those who have limited time and are unable to attend regular university classes owing to distance constraints. Such a class uses video conferencing, and the lecture materials can be accessed online. CSS has confirmed that the implementation of Oman's long-distance learning program for Indonesian students is free of cost. Ambassador Musthofa remarked that the educational program should be lauded as a form of Oman's concern for Indonesia as its fellow nation. The ambassador expressed hope that cooperation between the two countries would be expanded in other fields.