New Era University College in Malaysia Confers Honorary Doctorate
From left to right: Dr. Yap, Mr. Lim, Mr. Harada, Vice-Chancellor Mok, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Azizan Bin Othman
On August 26, 2023, New Era University College (NEUC) in Selangor, Malaysia, conferred upon Daisaku Ikeda, Soka University founder and SGI president, the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters in recognition of his service and contributions to society. The conferral ceremony was held in NEUC’s auditorium, with some 550 people in attendance, including a Soka Gakkai delegation from Japan and Soka Gakkai Malaysia representatives. Dong Jiao Zong Higher Learning Centre Bhd Board of Directors Acting Chair Lim Joo and NEUC Board of Governors Chair Yap Kon Sang entrusted the honorary degree certificate to Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada, who accepted it on Mr. Ikeda’s behalf.
Established in 1997, NEUC is a nonprofit,
private university college with around 3,600 students offering instruction in
both English and Chinese. It has partnerships with more than 150 universities
around the world and houses the largest collection of Chinese language titles
in Malaysia. Mr. Ikeda’s honorary doctorate is the first to be conferred by the
university.
Certificate of the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters conferred upon Daisaku Ikeda
In the citation, NEUC Vice-Chancellor Mok
Soon Chong summarized some of the tenets of Mr. Ikeda’s philosophy and his achievements
as a peacebuilder, philosopher, promoter of education, author and poet. He also
described Mr. Ikeda as “a nonpolitical leader of international stature,
respected by world leaders and scholars, an icon and a shining symbol of
peace.”
Mr. Lim and Dr. Yap also delivered addresses at the conferral ceremony.
In his acceptance message, read by Mr. Harada, Mr. Ikeda stated that he wished to offer the honor to his predecessors, first Soka Gakkai president Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and second president Josei Toda, in the spirit of the Chinese adage, “when you drink water, think of its source.” He also stated that as a new member of the NEUC community, he was determined to strive alongside NEUC throughout his life “to bring about an eternal victory for humanity through the network of education.”
[Adapted from articles
in the August 28, 2023, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, Soka Gakkai, Japan]
