The 50 female students from the UAE and Qatar on the Al-Maktoum Institute’s 2011 Academic Training Programme (ATP) in Multiculturalism and Leadership visited the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh today (Thursday, February 3.)
They experienced First Minister’s Questions when Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond spent 30 minutes answering questions from Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs.)
David Whitton, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, who is the Labour Party’s deputy finance spokesman, welcomed the students.
Mr Whitton is also former adviser to the Institute and he received an Honorary Fellowship in 2008 in recognition of his “tireless support” for it.
“I was pleased to be able to meet the students from the UAE and Qatar taking part in the Al-Maktoum Institute’s latest Academic Training Programme,” said Mr Whitton.
“I hope they all found the visit both interesting and enjoyable.”
Before a conducted tour of the Parliament building, the students were also addressed by Trish Godman, the Parliament’s Deputy Presiding Officer.
The students, the biggest group to come to Scotland so far, are taking part in the 11th educational programme of its kind, including Summer Schools, organised by the Institute since the first in 2003.
They bring the total number of students visiting Dundee for programmes at the Institute to over 400.
Institute Principal, Professor Malory Nye, said: “The visit to the Scottish Parliament is always of great interest to the students, particularly as they have an opportunity to see it in action from the main debating chamber.
“And, of course, they will also visit the House of Lords in London as part of the ATP programme.”
