ASEAN Women Circle Riyadh Visits Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University
RIYADH 18 March 2019 — Members of the ASEAN Women Circle (AWC)-Riyadh, in coordination with the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited for the first time Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University (PNU) on 28 February 2019.
Representing the Philippines includes the ladies from the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, led by Madam Jo C. Alonto, spouse of Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Adnan Alonto, and composed of Cultural Officer Naive L. Mamhot; Bernadette L. Aro, spouse of Minister and Consul General Christopher Patrick Aro; Lourraine Earl G. Estomo, spouse of Third Secretary and Vice Consul Alexander Joseph Estomo; Raina Andrea C. Quibral-Ferrera, spouse of Third Secretary and Vice Consul Von Ryan Ferreira; Nicole E. Zurita, spouse of Third Secretary and Vice Consul Paolo R. Zurita; Gera C. Dizon, spouse of Attaché Edgar V. Dizon; Ana Maria M. Duqueza, spouse of Attaché Ariel M. Duqueza; and Maria Donna M. Ocampo spouse of Attaché Donald D. Ocampo.
Spanning more than 800 hectares, the PNU is the largest women’s university in the world. The University boasts of ultra-modern facilities, including an 11-kilometer driverless monorail inside the campus.
PNU’s vision is to become a beacon of knowledge and ethical practices of women through its mission of becoming a comprehensive university for women, distinguished with its academic leadership and scientific research that contributes to building a knowledge-based economy with society and international partnerships.
The visit included a welcome reception hosted by the officials of PNU, as well as a meet-and-greet with selected international scholars hailing from the ASEAN-member countries. After a brief overview on PNU, the ladies proceeded to visit the University’s impressive and state-of-the-art automated Central Library, and visited the Simulation and Medical Skills Center that features highly-innovative training facilities for its medical students.
To conclude the tour, the group visited the Saudi Driving School located within the campus. Following the issuance of a Royal Decree allowing women to drive beginning June 2018, PNU launched the driving school where applicants can take their theoretical and practical training and tests, including a training in a simulation lab.
The visit aims to enable the members of AWC-Riyadh to gain a better perspective of Saudi’s Arabia educational system and capacity, particularly in relation to its vision to engage women as a critical resource for its socioeconomic development. AWC also intends to impart to ASEAN countries the rewarding programs of the institution.
Established in 1986, AWC–Riyadh aims to promote camaraderie and cooperation among women from ASEAN countries, as well as to share and promote their respective socio-cultural aspects. The current member-countries include, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. END
For more information, visit www.riyadhpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinKSA.
