US STUDENT STUDY ISLAM AT UIN 

Students from nine universities in the United States visited the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) in Jakarta on Thursday (26/6) to learn about Islamic teachings and culture from Muslim communities, The Jakarta Post reported. The students came from Chatham University, Cascadian Community College, SUNY Plattsburg, the Institute of International Education, Shoreline Community College, St Edward University, Fairfield University, State University of New York and St Michael's College.

Sixteen students visited the UIN campus on Jl. Raya Ciputat, Tangerang, on Thursday (26/6) afternoon to learn how Islamic education methods are applied at the university. "We come to learn about the Islamic education system and methods applied by the Islamic community here because we realize that Islam is very rich in culture," the President of Chatham University Esther L. Barrazone said.

Barrazone said she was very pleased to learn about Islam at UIN and if the current system could be developed into collaboration with the US universities, it would bring progress to Islam itself. William Christopher, the President of Cascadian Community College, said building an inter-cultural collaboration was a good way to develop ties. He expressed his hopes for more cultural interaction to take place in the future. (Trade & Investment News, 30/6/08)