Delegation discusses the opportunities and challenges of American universities
operating outside the United States

Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, November 12, 2008 (ME NewsWire) –George Mason University’s Ras Al Khaimah Campus (GMU-RAK), the first full branch campus of an American university in the UAE, welcomed a US congressional delegation today.

The delegation was led by Representative Ruben Hinojosa of Texas and Chairman of the Sub-committee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness and was joined by US Ambassador Richard Olson, US Consul General Paul Sutphin, Rep. Ruben Hinojosa from the District of Texas, Rep. Mazie Hirono from the District of Hawai’i, Rep. Grace Napolitano from the District of California, Rep. Ed Pastor from the District of Arizona, and Rep. Henry Brown from the First District of South Carolina.

During the meeting, Zaid Adib Ansari, Acting Vice President of GMU-RAK gave the delegation an overview of the ongoing developments of George Mason University’s campus in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. GMU-RAK currently offers six undergraduate degree programs in business administration, electronics and communications engineering, economics, applied computer science, biology and tourism and events management.

Ansari said that the Government of Ras Al Khaimah attached prime importance to education and that GMU-RAK was established to expand the educational choices available in the UAE by making the emirate a hub for quality higher education.

Representative Ruben Hinojosa praised the strong US-UAE bilateral relationship and spoke of the professional and educational exchanges between the two countries. Discussions also centered around the opportunities and challenges of setting up international American branch campuses.

George Mason University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master‘s, and doctoral degrees. George Mason University’s Ras Al Khaimah Campus is licensed under the Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research in the UAE.

*Source: ME NewsWire
*View this release online and download high resolution images and logos at:
http://www.me-newswire.com/content/view/358/lang,en/

CONTACT:
Sara Aly, Marketing Director
Phone: +971 50 627 1357
Email: saly@gmu.edu
Website: www.gmu.edu/rak