NEWS DETAILS
FEBRUARY - 2010
15/02/10: EDUCATION CRITICAL TO SOLVING MODERN CHALLENGES: US SECRETARY OF STATE.
- Qatar Foundation welcomes Hillary Clinton to student town hall meeting
- Education key to unlocking potential of young people and ensuring their future
- Clinton invites Muslim students to study in the US
| US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today highlighted the importance of education in bridging past and present, as well as cultural and geographical divides, in a lively town hall discussion with students from Qatar Foundation's universities and educational institutions. She said the US was doing its part to try and resolve global differences by investing in educational opportunities that would encourage students from Muslim countries to study in the US.
Speaking about the critical role of education in meeting the challenges of today's world, Ms Clinton said she was delighted with the commitment that Qatar has made to education and that she had been following closely the progress of Education City. "Education City is so important for Qatar and beyond,"" she noted. ""It sends a strong message not just here in the region, but around the world." A champion of social justice and a proponent of rights for women, Ms Clinton fielded questions from students on Iran's nuclear capabilities, US foreign policy, especially in Gaza, its plans for its missile defence shield in Eastern Europe, and its role in peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine. She said the role of frank and open discussions like the town hall meeting was important in strengthening relations between the US and other countries around the globe. "We must look for ways to celebrate our differences while finding a common cause in the human objectives of peace and prosperity," she said. "What kind of future will we provide for students, including the ones here today?"" She noted that education and cultural values were not mutually exclusive. "It's not what you wear that's important, but what you have in your minds and your hearts," she said. |
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US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton greeted by Dr. Mohammad Fathy Saoud, President Of Qatar Foundation at QF Headquarters |
Students from each of the six American universities at Education City were invited to participate in the event, as were students from Qatar Foundation's other educational partners, including The Leadership Academy, Qatar Academy and the Learning Centre.
Students said they wished that the discussion had been longer. Ali Fayad, a senior student from Lebanon at Texas A&M University in Qatar, said: "I think it was a good opportunity to clarify some points especially with regard to US foreign policy."
Sharifa Abdulhameed, a Qatari freshman studying at Northwestern University in Qatar wondered if American women had the same informal access to Ms Clinton as Qatari women have to their mentor Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Misned, chairperson of Qatar Foundation. "I liked the fact that she (Ms Clinton) welcomed us to come and study in the US. That makes me feel welcome as well as protected and respected," Abdulhameed said.
Carnegie Mellon Dean Chuck Thorpe said: "Secretary Clinton understands and appreciates the mission of Education City. Itıs clear her visit to Carnegie Mellon Qatar is just the beginning. Under the guidance of HH Sheikha Mozah, there is no place better than Education City to talk about empowering Arab and Muslim women. Carnegie Mellon and Education City both already embody many of the ideals the Secretary talked about."
Clinton's visit coincides with the one year anniversary of the Obama administration in the US and what Clinton described as "the opening of a new page of relations with the Islamic world."
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