BEIRUT – The President of the American University of Technology (AUT), Dr. Ghada Hinain, has announced the University’s decision to award an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters (Doctorate Honoris Causa) to HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh , Founder and Chairman of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global (TAG.Global) for his lifetime achievement in the service of humanity in the areas of knowledge and innovation.
The award ceremony took place during the opening ceremony of 250 graduates in the presence of MP Simon Abi Ramia, Representative of Lebanese President Michel Aoun, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati.
Dr. Hinain addressed those attending the ceremony saying, “We at the University have succeeded in turning crises into points of strength, determination and strong will for a brilliant life. Today, despite the current crisis in Lebanon and the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic, political and economic clashes, regionally and internationally, we have our youth who have managed to combine science and technology with the values and national ethics.
She added that Lebanese youth is the real fortune, identity, civilization and heritage, noting that Lebanon is different from other countries and the world desperately needs our country, Lebanon.
For his turn, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the honor of the PhD degree. He addressed the graduates and informed them about the story of his life since his displacement from Palestine and his refuge in Lebanon, and the sufferings he went through which constituted the main motive for excellence and success. in building the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global, the global organization for professional services, education and technology products, operating in more than 100 offices around the world.
Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh, further, called on the graduates to embrace innovation and inventions in the field of knowledge which is considered the key to overcoming all crises, noting that innovation is not limited to anyone, and that one inventor could be the savior of an entire nation.
In this context, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh cited the examples of Google, Amazon and Facebook, saying that the budget of each of them is equivalent to the budgets of all the Arab countries put together, explaining that these companies are purely inventions of knowledge and computer programming software.
“My deep belief in the importance of invention and innovation guided me to create the first such university in the world, Talal Abu-Ghazaleh University College for Innovation (TAGUCI), which graduates students in based on presenting an invention, not just passing exams.”
At the end of the ceremony, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh presented technological devices, manufactured by Talal Abu-Ghazaleh for Technology, a member company of TAG.Global, to outstanding graduates.
A host of Lebanese dignitaries attended the ceremony, including the Eparchy of the Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Byblos, Michel Aoun; representative of the Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros, MP Salim Sayegh; representative of the leader of the Lebanese Kataeb party, Samy Gemayel, MP Ziad Hawat; representative of the leader of the Lebanese Forces party, Samir Geagea, former MP Edy Maalouf; representative of the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, Gebran Bassil and Rebecca El Hosry; representative of the leader of the Marada movement, Sleiman Frangieh. This is in addition to MPs dib Abdel Massih, Walid Baarini, George Atallah and Taha Naji, representing MPs Strida Geagea and Ashraf Rifi, Mufti of Byblos Sheikh Ghassan Al-Lakis,
Head of the Syndicate of Editors Joseph Al-Kosseifi, President of the Bar Association of North Lebanon, Mary-Thérèse Kawwal, President of the MENA EdTech Alliance, Dr. Rabie Baalbaki, and Vice-President of the Alliance for International Partnerships and Relations Coordinator, Ms. Nora Al-Murabi, Acting Mayor of Jbeil, Ms. Natalie Marai El Khoury, and the Head of the Jubail District Mayors Association, Mr. Michel Gibran, along with a host of mayors and mukhtars. This is in addition to the Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda, HE Mr. Hanna Akar, the Palestinian Ambassador to Lebanon, HE Mr. Ashraf Dabbour, represented by Mr. Mustapha Abu Harb, Chargé d’Affaires to the Iraqi Ambassador, Mrs. Ban Al-Hoshi, President of the American University of Technology (AUT), Dr. Ghada Saqer Hinain, and members of the AUT Board of Trustees, as well as a number of high-ranking personalities, representatives parties and parents of students.
