AUW confers seven honorary doctorates, graduates 235 women from 11 countries

The Asian University for Women (AUW) held its 12th commencement ceremony today, conferring honorary doctorate degrees on seven distinguished individuals and graduating 235 women from 11 countries.

The ceremony, held at a city hotel in Chattogram, celebrated AUW’s mission of providing high-quality education to women from diverse backgrounds across Asia and beyond.

AUW conferred honorary doctorates on seven notable figures for their contributions to humanity, education and peace: Professor Irene Tracey, vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford (Doctor of Sciences); Akie Abe, former first lady of Japan (Doctor of Humane Letters); Baroness Janet Royall, former principal of Somerville College, Oxford (Doctor of Arts); Dr M Osman Farruk, former Bangladesh education minister (Doctor of Sciences); Dr Teruo Fujii, president of the University of Tokyo (Doctor of Sciences); Naoki Ito, former Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh (Doctor of Arts); and Matiur Rahman, editor and publisher of Prothom Alo (Doctor of Creative, Responsible, and Courageous Journalism).

Of the 235 graduates, 152 were from Bangladesh and 51 from Afghanistan. The class also included students from India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and Yemen.

Presiding over the ceremony, AUW Chancellor Cherie Blair urged the graduates to carry forward the values of leadership in an era of rapid technological change. “The skills and qualities you have gained here go far beyond the technical,” she said, emphasising that innovation must serve social justice and human rights.

AUW Vice-Chancellor Dr Rubana Huq highlighted the university’s unique inclusivity, noting that the graduates included Afghan women, Rohingya refugees and former garment workers. “We are not just a university,” she remarked, urging the class to practise ethical leadership rooted in compassion.

AUW Founder Kamal Ahmad reflected on the university’s growth over 18 years, expanding from 127 students to more than 2,000 from 22 countries today. He announced AUW’s commitment to educating and professionally placing 10,000 displaced and refugee women in partnership with UNHCR.

He also shared progress on the university’s permanent campus in Chattogram, designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano.

Receiving his honorary degree, Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman spoke on the indispensability of independent journalism. He expressed concern over recent attacks on major media houses like Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, but remained hopeful. “I have not lost hope because I have seen these young people who have not abandoned their way of searching for democracy,” he said.

Baroness Janet Royall echoed the sentiment of empowerment, telling the graduates, “Education brings confidence, confidence brings hope, and hope brings success.”