(Left) Yemen’s Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Professor Dr. Mohamed Mohmed Almotaher and UCSI University’s Vice President of Student Affairs, Associate Professor Lachman Tarachand exchanging the Memorandum of Understanding

From left: UCSI University’s Yemeni students, Mahmood Abdullah Ali Al-Dumagy, Ali Mohammed Mahmood and Mohammed Abdulhameed Ahmed Ali

Kuala Lumpur, 19 December 2008 - Yemen’s Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Professor Dr. Mohamed Mohmed Almotaher and UCSI University’s Vice President of Student Affairs, Associate Professor Lachman Tarachand signed a Memorandum of Understanding which provides subsidized tuition fees for Yemeni students at UCSI University.

Yemen students who are sponsored by the Yemeni government or Malaysia’s Ministry of Higher Education will be eligible for a discount to alleviate the cost of producing quality graduates for a nation facing economic challenges.

Yemen is ranked 153 out of 177 on the Human Development Index of 2007 – 2008. The report shows that half of its population still live under the poverty line and suffer widespread unemployment and illiteracy. Despite this, the oil-rich country is determined to produce quality graduates to develop its economy and international standing. Striving to be on par with the rest of the world in the education sector, the country has invested millions to build new universities, colleges and schools.

Prof. Dr. Mohamed reiterated however that it was still vital for Yemeni students to seek tertiary education in more developed countries like Malaysia. “The experience they gain from seeing other countries will broaden their minds, and open possibilities for what they can do for our country upon their return,” he said. Impressed with UCSI University’s homegrown degree programmes and state-of-the art facilities, he has also expressed his desire to send more Yemeni students here, after hearing much positive feedback from current students.

It doesn’t take long for new Yemeni students to settle down in their new surrogate home. Mahmood Abdullah Ali Al-Dumagy, who has been at UCSI University for two months says that he is really grateful to study in Malaysia and UCSI University. "I can walk into the computer lab anytime I want to and surf the Internet, which was unimaginable back in Yemen," he says. Another Yemeni student, Ali Mohammed Mahmood says that he was awed when he stepped into the engineering lab. "I spend most of my time there now, as I am able to experiment, and work on my research whenever I am free."

Most of all, their educational experience here will enable them to serve their country and help their families. Mohammed Abdulhameed Ahmed Ali hopes that he will be able to complete his Masters degree here, and return to Yemen to build his hometown and provide for his family. "UCSI University and Malaysia will always be in my heart for helping me out with my higher education, but home, is still home, and I hope I can take whatever that I have learnt here to make a better tomorrow for Yemen," he says.