Page 13 - MUAJ Profile

12 C ONTENT S C ONTENT S 13
Her Majesty Queen Rania in UM University
Just like the hundreds of stu- and bridging the cultural divide, Expressing her sincere appreciation for the
Queen Rania receive an honorary degree in International Relations from UM dents rushing to their seats at and she did not miss the chance recognition, the Queen said, “I will do my
the University of Malay early to remind the audience why that best to live up to the promise of this doc-
Friday morning, Her Majesty is so necessary.
Queen Rania Al Abdullah arrived
on campus donning a cap and Citing recent polling figures, the
gown in time to receive an hon- Queen said: “Thirty nine percent
orary degree in International of Americans admit to feeling
Her Majesty Queen Rania oldest university. Muslims. Over one in five say
Relations from the country’s at least some prejudice against
they wouldn’t want a Muslim
Received by His Royal Highness as a neighbor. And Americans
Sultan Azlan Shah, who serves as don’t have the monopoly when
Al Abdullah Honored in walked in to a very welcoming recent tensions in a number of
university chancellor, Her Majesty it comes to mistrust of Islam -- as
and receptive crowd. Other high European countries have made
profile attendees included Crown clear.”
Prince Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah and
Malaysia for Improving ty’s first female vice-chancellor. appealing to youth to be part of
Datuk Rafiah Salim, the universi- Queen Rania, who has been
a global dialogue, encouraged
Queen Rania, who was honored the University of Malay com-
for her fresh approach in improv- munity to build on their values
International Relations. cultures, joins Nelson Mandela, “Young women and men … see
ing dialogue across nations and of cross cultural appreciation.
former Japanese Premier Zenko the challenges around them not
Suzuki, Indonesian Vice President as inevitable or insurmountable,
Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, and but rather as invitations to do
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei their part to change things for
MAY 16, 2008 as fellow honorary alumni. the better,” she said reminding
the crowd that both Jordan and
While accepting the degree, Her Malaysia boast extremely young
Majesty commended Malaysia’s populations with the majorities torate – because I believe international rela-
role in fostering an open and under 30 years of age. “Personally tions is an area where our world needs some
accepting society. “This is a place speaking, I think our world needs help! And I am proud to join the University
Her Majesty Queen where Eid, Chinese New Year, more of that youthful energy and of Malaya in that effort.”
Diwali, and Christmas are shared idealism,” she added.
Queen Rania also oversaw the signing of a
Rania Al Abdullah celebrations… Malaysia may be “The more we learn about others’ memorandum of understanding between
truly Asia, but it is also truly multi-
arrived on campus cultural,” she said. lives, the more dimensions we the University of Malay and the University
add to our own. And when we put of Jordan, which will enhance student and
donning a cap and gown in Drawing on the common bond ourselves in someone else’s shoes faculty exchanges, cooperation on research,
between Jordan and Malaysia, Her and view the world from his or her and exchanges of publications and reports
time to receive an honor- Majesty said, “We in Jordan salute vantage point it enhances our and library cooperation between the two
your achievements – and share ability to empathize, compromise, institutions.
ary degree in International your forward-looking perspec- collaborate and move forward The first MoU between Jordan and Malaysia
tive. For centuries, my country has together,” she emphasized.
Relations from the country’s been a place that brings East and was signed in 1995, which brought signifi-
West together as an historic trade According to Queen Rania, one cant cooperation between the education
oldest university. route, a meeting place for travel- way to tackle this growing rift is ministries including mutual assistance the
ers, and a home to many ancient by person to person interaction. “I technical and vocational educational areas
civilizations. Jordan is a leading believe that if more people from such as electric engineering, mechanical
voice for tolerance and moder- the West could actually come engineering, civil engineering and home
Her Majesty commended ation – proud of our past, confi- to know the Muslim world they economics.
Malaysia’s role in fostering an dent in our future, and open to might find their preconceptions
melt away and their perspectives After the event, Her Majesty met with many
the world.”
open and accepting society. Many of Queen Rania’s programs said. university, including a number of Jordanian
enhanced and improved,” she of the international students studying at the
focus on finding a common students.
ground between East and West