Ohio University presented the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Yang Amat Berhormat Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, a doctorate degree on humane letters on Jan. 15 to go along with the ninth annual Tun Abdul Razak lecture.
More than 350 people attended the ceremony to see Najib receive the degree presented by OU Trustee David Brightbill and Bryan Benchoff, vice president for University Advancement and president and CEO of The Ohio University Foundation, according to an OU news release.
Ming Li, interim executive director of the Center for International Studies, had recognized different qualities as Najib received the award including the modernization of Malaysia as well as the
“Najib fulfills many of the requirements for the award based on his outstanding record of accomplishments as a national and international leader who deals with society’s most pressing problems,” Li said in the news release.
Malaysia has a 32-year-old partnership with OU that develops a relationship between both parties. From that partnership, the university has a faculty chair position that was created to foster understanding of Malaysian culture.
Najib said in the news release that OU played a part in educating many Malaysians after the nation gained independence in 1957 and helps the growing development of the country.
“It is against this backdrop that Ohio University’s staff worked with the Mara Institute of Technology in business, accounting and communication. Many of the Institute’s staff and students travelled to Ohio to study,” he added.
In the release, OU president Roderick McDavis stated that this partnership helps portray the importance of continuing relations with Malaysia and that through this partnership, the university and Malaysia has both benefited.
“The research and outreach produced through this partnership have aided understanding of and appreciation for Malaysia across American institutions of higher education,” he said.
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