His Majesty is conferred with an Honourary Doctorate degree

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Wadaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam continued the state visit programme to the Republic of Indonesia with the conferment ceremony of the Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humanities and Culture by the Gadjah Mada University, UGM, Yogyakarta. 

The conferment of the Honourary Doctorate Degree upon His Majesty was in recognition His Majesty’s remarkable to the development of the people of Brunei Darussalam, particularly in the areas of religion, social welfare and education.  Also cited was His Majesty’s role in promoting the image of Brunei Darussalam in international and regional affairs and also in enhancing the close and friendly relations between Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Indonesia. 

In the acceptance titah, His Majesty expressed appreciation and gratitude for the conferment by such a prestigious university as the UGM, Indonesia.  His Majesty also said that besides producing graduates with vision and high expertise as well as dynamic leadership, the university had succeeded in its efforts to raise the quality of life and development of the Indonesian people.  His Majesty was of the view that the development of a country ultimately depends on the expertise and the level of its people’s knowledge, which has become the main basis for investing in human resources. His Majesty also stated that this conferment of the Honourary Doctorate was an honour to His Majesty and the people of Brunei Darussalam, serving as a means of reaffirming the friendship which had long existed between the two countries.

His Majesty also expressed happiness over the good relations between UGM and the University of Brunei Darussalam and welcomed students from Indonesia to further their studies in institutions of higher learning in Brunei Darussalam. 

His Majesty expressed the hope that the two universities could enhance cooperation at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels, as well as in research, for their mutual benefit.

The UGM, which was founded in 1949, was the first university established by the Republic of Indonesia.  It is one of the oldest universities in the region.  The UGM has evolved over the years to become an institution of higher learning and is the biggest in the country.  The UGM has a total of around 50 thousand graduates who are studying in various faculties. 

So far, UGM has conferred Honourary Doctorates to five heads of state of ASEAN member countries.  These were His Majesty King Bhumipol Adulyadej, King of Thailand, His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia, His Majesty Sultan Azlan Shah, the Yang Dipertuan Agong of Malaysia, His Excellency President Diasdado Macapagal, the Former President of the Philippines and His Excellency President Soekarno, the First President of the Republic of Indonesia.