Azhar Grand Imam: 80 scholarships for Thais
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
THE grand imam of al-Azhar University in Egypt called yesterday for stronger educational ties with Thailand, including academic exchanges and more scholarships for Thai students wishing to continue their education at al-Azhar.
The Thai government website quoted Dr Muhammad Sayid Tantawy as saying his university has allocated about 80 scholarships for Thai students to study at al-Azhar each year.
He would like to see stronger ties with universities in the country.
The Shaykh of al-Azhar was visiting Thailand at the government's invitation. Yesterday he lunched with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and met with army chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin.
He was granted an audience with HM the King of Thailand afterwards.
The Shaykh was to leave Bangkok for the deep south later in the day.
He was to be conferred with an honorary doctorate on Islamic Studies from the Prince of Songkhla University (PSU) in Pattani.
The honorary degree is in recognition of his role in promoting peace and moderate Muslim ideology, PSU's President, Associate Professor Boonsom Siribumrungsukha was quoted as saying.
Boonsom said Tantawy was an "internationally recognised religious leader who takes part in peace building in the region and the world".
Former prime minister and vice chairman of the university council Chuan Leekpai will preside at the campus ceremony here.
Separately, Surayud met with Abdullah Bin Ahdulmohsin Al Turkei, secretary general of the Muslim World League, who paid him a courtesy call at the Government House in the afternoon.nationmultimedia.com
The Thai government website quoted Dr Muhammad Sayid Tantawy as saying his university has allocated about 80 scholarships for Thai students to study at al-Azhar each year.
He would like to see stronger ties with universities in the country.
The Shaykh of al-Azhar was visiting Thailand at the government's invitation. Yesterday he lunched with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and met with army chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin.
He was granted an audience with HM the King of Thailand afterwards.
The Shaykh was to leave Bangkok for the deep south later in the day.
He was to be conferred with an honorary doctorate on Islamic Studies from the Prince of Songkhla University (PSU) in Pattani.
The honorary degree is in recognition of his role in promoting peace and moderate Muslim ideology, PSU's President, Associate Professor Boonsom Siribumrungsukha was quoted as saying.
Boonsom said Tantawy was an "internationally recognised religious leader who takes part in peace building in the region and the world".
Former prime minister and vice chairman of the university council Chuan Leekpai will preside at the campus ceremony here.
Separately, Surayud met with Abdullah Bin Ahdulmohsin Al Turkei, secretary general of the Muslim World League, who paid him a courtesy call at the Government House in the afternoon.nationmultimedia.com
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