Dr. Fawzi Bukhary, 30 , is the first Saudi student to be awarded the Certificate of Outstanding Academic Achievement in the field of molecular genetics by the University of Queensland, Australia. Molecular genetics, a relatively new field, is a highly competitive research area and the Certificate is awarded only to those who have attained a particular grade point average. Dr. Bukhary, one of thousands of Saudi students sent abroad by the government for higher studies, told the Gazette that studying in Australia had been a unique opportunity for which he was very grateful. ”Although, many countries are well recognized for their educational systems, Australia is an especially good place to study,” he said. “It is well-known in several fields including medicine, science, engineering, and business. Also, some Australian universities are among the top 100 universities worldwide, with the University of Queensland being ranked 33rd in the world.” He added that the country had a well established educational system which underwent continual evaluation and improvement. But he pointed out that it was only a matter of time before the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia developed an equally well-recognized educational system especially since the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah, was instituting dramatic educational reforms. “I believe in less than five years we will have one of the best educational systems in the world,” he said. The Saudi Arabian Embassy in Australia has recognized Dr. Bukhary's achievement by awarding him an extra month's salary for academic excellence. A letter of recognition may also be issued which he said “would provide great motivation for other students to try to excel in their studies.” According to Dr. Bukhary, he and his family faced little difficulty in adjusting to life overseas. “Being raised in Makkah and then moving to Australia was a new experience for my family and me. However, we found that Saudis, and Muslims in general, can feel quite at home there. I saw many Muslim ladies wearing ‘hijab' on a daily basis without encountering any problems. Also, there are mosques in Brisbane, which was the city where we were living. It is a small, quiet city perfect for students,” he said. People rarely achieve things all by themselves, and Dr. Bukhary said that he felt compelled to thank all of those who had supported him in his endeavors. “I have to thank my parents, brothers, sisters and friends, and especially my father who always motivated me to do good work,” he said. “I would also like to thank Dr. Saeed Al-Asmary, the Director General of Medical Services in the Taif Region for his support. And, of course, I could never have accomplished anything without the loving support of my wife and son.” __
