(WASHINGTON, DC) - Saudi Minister of Higher Education Dr. Khalid Al-Angary and Saudi Ambassador to the United States Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir on Friday held a town hall meeting with Saudi students to discuss issues facing the students in the United States and the recent graduates. The event was held at the embassy in Washington, D.C. and included more than 100 participants.

Minister Al-Angary said that there are currently about 150,000 Saudi students studying abroad on the King Abdullah Scholarship Program and more than 72,000 students are studying in the U.S. Ambassador Al-Jubeir said the Kingdom does not have one ambassador in the U.S. but 72,000 ambassadors. Furthermore, he said each of the students represents their faith and country and urged them to take full advantage of their studies in the U.S.

The ambassador also praised the students on their accomplishments and the scholarship selection process. He noted that the dropout rate from the program is about one percent, well below the national average in the Kingdom.

Ambassador Al-Jubeir said the success of the King Abdullah Scholarship Program goes beyond the education of the Saudi youth. It is also the exposure to new perspectives and ideas from around the world, he said, while promoting cultural exchanges that will benefit generations to come.