<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Saudi students drawn to Singapore
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Nidaa Abu-Ali
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Saudi Arabian students (from left) Roaa Barashi, 23, Ruba Melibary, 24, and Ghadeer Melibary, 23, are studying in Singapore. Some 60 Saudis came here in three batches between last year and early this year. They were drawn by the high global rankings of Singapore's universities and the widespread use of English. -- ST PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->Mr Jihad Gari gave up a good job as an operations manager in a big corporation back in Saudi Arabia to come here three months ago.
His mission: To pursue a master's degree in industrial engineering.
<TABLE width=200 align=left valign="top"><TBODY><TR><TD class=padr8><!-- Vodcast --><!-- Background Story --><STYLE type=text/css> #related .quote {background-color:#E7F7FF; padding:8px;margin:0px 0px 5px 0px;} #related .quote .headline {font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:10px;font-weight:bold; border-bottom:3px double #007BFF; color:#036; text-transform:uppercase; padding-bottom:5px;} #related .quote .text {font-size:11px;color:#036;padding:5px 0px;} </STYLE>Acceptance important
'I chose a country where I would be comfortable in, where Muslim women wearing the veil are accepted. I enjoy being in a country that has a large Muslim community. There are mosques everywhere in Singapore.'
MS ROAA BARASHI, 23, who hopes to get a master's in management information systems
Understanding Singlish
'When I arrived eight months ago, it was difficult to understand Singlish. But after a while, I started to adapt to the accent and even know a couple of Singlish words now.'
MR MOHAMEMD BAJUNAID, who is studying accountancy at Singapore Management University
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>'I want to invest in myself and return to my country with a higher degree,' said the 27-year-old, who is here with his wife and one-year-old daughter.
He is now closer to his goal, having recently completed an English course at the British Council. His wife is learning English too, and she hopes to secure a master's degree in information systems.
The couple hold scholarships from the Saudi government.
They are among the wave of Saudi scholarship holders who are heading East, eschewing the traditional route to the United States and Britain. Many are motivated by the rising power of Asian nations like China.
Some 60 Saudis came here in three batches between last year and early this year, drawn by the high global rankings of Singapore's universities and the widespread use of English.
The students are aged 18 to 27. Many are women accompanied by a spouse, brother or male relative.
Riyadh has also set up cultural offices in several Asian countries to support its students. The one here opened in August last year.
The Saudi cultural attache here, Dr Abdul Ghaffar Ba Zuhair, noted that before the office opened, there were only 14 Saudi students here.
He said Singapore's family-friendly environment is a big draw, as is the similarity between Asian and Middle East cultures.
'There is less of a culture shock. Religious freedom is also an important factor,' he added.
Ms Roaa Barashi, 23, who hopes to get a master's in management information systems, said: 'I chose a country where I would be comfortable in, where Muslim women wearing the veil are accepted. I enjoy being in a country that has a large Muslim community. There are mosques everywhere in Singapore.'
Ms Roaa is here with her brother Faris, 19, who wants to pursue an engineering degree. They are currently studying English at the British Council.
But many Saudi students find housing rents here high. They said their scholarships are not enough to cover living expenses and they need support from their families.
Then, there is also the matter of coping with Singlish.
Said Mr Mohamemd Bajunaid, who is studying accountancy at Singapore Management University: 'When I arrived eight months ago, it was difficult to understand Singlish. But after a while, I started to adapt to the accent and even know a couple of Singlish words now.'
Nidaa Abu-Ali is a research assistant at the Middle East Institute in Singapore.
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Nidaa Abu-Ali
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
Saudi Arabian students (from left) Roaa Barashi, 23, Ruba Melibary, 24, and Ghadeer Melibary, 23, are studying in Singapore. Some 60 Saudis came here in three batches between last year and early this year. They were drawn by the high global rankings of Singapore's universities and the widespread use of English. -- ST PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->Mr Jihad Gari gave up a good job as an operations manager in a big corporation back in Saudi Arabia to come here three months ago.
His mission: To pursue a master's degree in industrial engineering.
<TABLE width=200 align=left valign="top"><TBODY><TR><TD class=padr8><!-- Vodcast --><!-- Background Story --><STYLE type=text/css> #related .quote {background-color:#E7F7FF; padding:8px;margin:0px 0px 5px 0px;} #related .quote .headline {font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:10px;font-weight:bold; border-bottom:3px double #007BFF; color:#036; text-transform:uppercase; padding-bottom:5px;} #related .quote .text {font-size:11px;color:#036;padding:5px 0px;} </STYLE>Acceptance important
'I chose a country where I would be comfortable in, where Muslim women wearing the veil are accepted. I enjoy being in a country that has a large Muslim community. There are mosques everywhere in Singapore.'
MS ROAA BARASHI, 23, who hopes to get a master's in management information systems
Understanding Singlish
'When I arrived eight months ago, it was difficult to understand Singlish. But after a while, I started to adapt to the accent and even know a couple of Singlish words now.'
MR MOHAMEMD BAJUNAID, who is studying accountancy at Singapore Management University
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>'I want to invest in myself and return to my country with a higher degree,' said the 27-year-old, who is here with his wife and one-year-old daughter.
He is now closer to his goal, having recently completed an English course at the British Council. His wife is learning English too, and she hopes to secure a master's degree in information systems.
The couple hold scholarships from the Saudi government.
They are among the wave of Saudi scholarship holders who are heading East, eschewing the traditional route to the United States and Britain. Many are motivated by the rising power of Asian nations like China.
Some 60 Saudis came here in three batches between last year and early this year, drawn by the high global rankings of Singapore's universities and the widespread use of English.
The students are aged 18 to 27. Many are women accompanied by a spouse, brother or male relative.
Riyadh has also set up cultural offices in several Asian countries to support its students. The one here opened in August last year.
The Saudi cultural attache here, Dr Abdul Ghaffar Ba Zuhair, noted that before the office opened, there were only 14 Saudi students here.
He said Singapore's family-friendly environment is a big draw, as is the similarity between Asian and Middle East cultures.
'There is less of a culture shock. Religious freedom is also an important factor,' he added.
Ms Roaa Barashi, 23, who hopes to get a master's in management information systems, said: 'I chose a country where I would be comfortable in, where Muslim women wearing the veil are accepted. I enjoy being in a country that has a large Muslim community. There are mosques everywhere in Singapore.'
Ms Roaa is here with her brother Faris, 19, who wants to pursue an engineering degree. They are currently studying English at the British Council.
But many Saudi students find housing rents here high. They said their scholarships are not enough to cover living expenses and they need support from their families.
Then, there is also the matter of coping with Singlish.
Said Mr Mohamemd Bajunaid, who is studying accountancy at Singapore Management University: 'When I arrived eight months ago, it was difficult to understand Singlish. But after a while, I started to adapt to the accent and even know a couple of Singlish words now.'
Nidaa Abu-Ali is a research assistant at the Middle East Institute in Singapore.
