This month marks the 16th annual International Education Week, an event that celebrates the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. Along with the thousands of American universities currently hosting students from the Kingdom, I extend a warm welcome to Saudi youth studying in the United States.
Studying abroad can be one of the most important decisions in a young person’s life, leading to unparalleled personal and professional development.
During my time as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, I have greatly enjoyed the opportunity to chat with young Saudis who have studied in the US. I am impressed with the adventurous spirit that these young women and men display by traveling to our country and learning about people and a society that are different from their own.
I have also met many Saudi leaders from government and business who studied in the US and it always results in their many stories noting the benefits of that education, the friends and families they met, and how they brought all those experiences back home, helping them in their future careers.
Our world is becoming increasingly interdependent. Countries whose citizens are able to interact comfortably and confidently on the world stage will be more competitive in this new global landscape. Youth who study abroad are developing a diverse set of knowledge, skills and abilities that are positioning them as the drivers of the 21st-century economy. They have better opportunities to become leaders, using the knowledge they gain to help build prosperous, interconnected societies. For years, Saudi Arabia has ranked among the top four countries sending students to America.
The United States is committed to supporting international academic exchange. Each year we send close to 300,000 students abroad to study in every corner of the globe and in turn we host more than 886,000 international students from over 200 countries at our universities and colleges.
We commend the Kingdom for its tremendous efforts in advancing education for the people of Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom’s preparation for the future is apparent in the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program, which provides the next generation of Saudi leaders with a strong educational foundation and serves as a launching point for exciting and fulfilling career options.
I am proud that the United States remains the number one choice for Saudis seeking to study abroad. Their presence in our classrooms and our communities enriches the campus experience, providing for a two-way exchange of American and Saudi culture, traditions
and heritage. These students are receiving a world-class education in areas such as medicine, engineering, science, business, and information technology — fields that will help them shape the development of the Kingdom in this fast-changing world.
We are honored that you entrust us with what you hold most dear — your sons and daughters — and we will continue to welcome young Saudis to the United States. In our country they will receive a first-rate education and form lifelong friendships. I encourage the youth of the Kingdom to embark on their own international education adventures so they may know the world, and the world may know them.
• The writer is the US Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
