By Jonathan Smith, Managing Editor

The ambassador to the United States from Madagascar visited campus Monday in preparation for the possibility of sending students from his country to the university.

Ambassador Rajaonarivony Narisou said ACU’s academic and religious focus makes the university an “ideal place for education.”

“We hope these prospective students will get some skills,” Narisou said. “Having skills is good, but the combination of skills with moral values would be better. The combination of the two things is really the driving force behind my visit here.”

Dr. John Tyson, vice president of development, developed a plan to bring more than 20 students from Madagascar to come to ACU and presented it to Madagascar’s president while visiting the country in November.

About 18 United States representatives from the participated in Madagascar’s first America trade mission in November, and Tyson attended, representing higher education. After several presentations to the government, Tyson said the president was receptive to the idea of sending students to ACU. Part of the reason, Narisou said, is because the president is a Christian businessman.

“He thinks in order to really promote integrity, we’ve got to promote an awareness of the Bible, and moral values need to be developed,” Narisou said.

Narisou said he was surprised and impressed by the number of countries, about 60, represented by ACU students.

While visiting, Narisou also toured campus and met and talked with students.

“Just this morning, I had this prayer with all these students,” he said. “That was the very first time I had seen something like this in my life. I said, ‘OK, it would really teach students how to behave correctly with a fear of God.'”

Narisou will go back to Madagascar this week to report to the president and said he hopes to be able to send students as soon as possible, even as early as next school year.