Honorary Doctorate in Humanities for Shaikh Khalifa from Lawrence Tech
Manama, Bahrain –
On June 24 2008 President Lewis N. Walker of Lawrence Technological
University in Southfield, Michgan, awarded an honorary doctoral degree in
humanities to His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman
Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of the island Kingdom of Bahrain.
The Prime Minister was honored for his leading role in establishing a dynamic free market economy and creating the infrastructure for an innovative and socially and environmentally sustainable society. Last year he received the UN Scroll of Honor award for distinguished achievement in housing and modernization.
The Prime Minister was honored for his leading role in establishing a dynamic free market economy and creating the infrastructure for an innovative and socially and environmentally sustainable society. Last year he received the UN Scroll of Honor award for distinguished achievement in housing and modernization.
“His Highness has seized every opportunity to
advance the people of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the region,” Walker
said. “Bahrain has become an example of tolerance and cultural
understanding that the rest of the world can learn from.”
Representatives from Lawrence Tech who traveled to
Bahrain to participate in the academic convocation honoring the Prime
Minister included Provost Maria Vaz; Hsiao-Ping Moore, dean of the
College of Arts and Sciences; Devdas Shetty, dean of the College of
Engineering; Joseph Veryser, associate dean of the College of
Architecture and Design; Ghassan Azar, chair of the Faculty Senate;
Stephen Rost, chair-elect of the Faculty Senate; Melinda Weinstein,
chair of the Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and
Communication; and Scott Schneider, the university’s grand marshal.
“Perhaps some have wondered why a technological
university is honoring a leader of government. There is an easy answer
really. All the great technological achievements and advancements of
our civilization are for naught unless we as nations, as societies, and
as individuals can find a way to live and thrive together,” Walker said
in his remarks at the convocation ceremony held at the Gudaibiya Palace
in Manama, Bahrain. “Details of His Highness’s remarkable life are well
known in Bahrain, but what I seek to emphasize is that he has been a
steadfast and courageous leader, a man who has reached out and built
many strong relationships in the quest for creating an ever better life
for Bahrain’s citizens.”
President Walker became aware of the Prime Minister’s achievements when he and Vaz traveled to Bahrain in January
to discuss the possibility of offering Lawrence Tech degree programs
there in engineering, computer science, architecture and management.
Lawrence Tech currently has international academic
agreements with universities in Egypt, Jordan, Sharjah in the United
Arab Emirates, Germany, China, Taiwan, India and Canada. Students from
several of these universities have come to the United States to study
for bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Lawrence Tech.
During the most recent academic term, Lawrence
Tech had 664 international students from 40 overseas countries – around
15 percent of the overall student body. Most international students at
present come from India, China and Saudi Arabia.
Lawrence Tech seeks to prepare its students for
leadership roles in the global economy, and Walker believes a good mix
of international students helps achieve that goal. “It helps our American students to have fellow
students from different countries, cultures and backgrounds on campus,”
Walker said. “It enhances the educational experience at Lawrence Tech
and helps prepare all of our students for working more effectively in
the global economy.” Walker believes the international students benefit
from the style of education at Lawrence Tech that stresses the
importance of critical and analytical thinking that can lead to
innovation and entrepreneurship.
Earning a degree at an American university makes
it easier for these students to get jobs with American and
international companies. Those who return to their own countries have a
much better understanding of the business community in the United
States. “Moreover, as we build Lawrence Tech’s reputation
and partnerships overseas, it strengthens our value to the businesses
and industries we serve right here in Michigan and the Great Lakes
region,” Walker said. “Thriving in the global economy is largely a
process of building strong relationships. Assuring that the next
generation of overseas leaders will have local ties aids such
developments.”
Lawrence Technological University, ltu.edu, offers
over 80 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degree programs in
Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering and
Management. Founded in 1932, the 4,500-student, private university
pioneered evening classes more than 75 years ago, and today has a
growing number of weekend and online programs. Lawrence Tech’s 102-acre
campus is in Southfield, with education centers in Lansing, Livonia,
Clinton Township, Traverse City and Petoskey. Lawrence Tech also offers
programs with partner universities in Canada, Europe, the Middle East
and Asia.
