Below photo shows: Datuk Siti Azizah Bte Sheikh Abod and Nurul Rosemiemmy Binti Khasimi from the Office of the Prime Minister of Malaysia; Mohammed Al Jalahma, Chair of the AUW Trustee Committee on Campus Construction and Deputy Secretary-General of Kuwait Public Awaqf Foundation; Kamal Ahmad, Acting Vice Chancellor, AUW; and Omar Shareef, Chief Operating Officer, AUW.
The newly appointed US Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan Mozena and US Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) visited AUW on January 9-10, 2012.
During their visit the distinguished guests held discussions with students and faculty and toured AUW's planned campus facilities. The picture shows Amb. Mozena and Congresswoman McCollum with AUW students.
The AUW Board of Turstees meets in Chittagong. Read more.
The AUW announced the winners of the Cherie Blair Fellowships for 2011-2012. Read the article.
(Image credit: The Daily Star, Metropolitan, December 9, 2011)
Masooma Maqsoodi and Mursal Hamraz recently joined a presentation by the US-Afghan Women's Council.
Pictured from left to right: Kamal Ahmad, AUW Founder; Irina Bukova, UNESCO Director General and AUW Patron; Mursal Hamraz, AUW Student; Melanne Verveer, US Ambassador for Global Women's Affairs; Masooma Maqsoodi, AUW Student; and Dr. Phyllis Magrab, Vice Chair of the US-Afghan Women's Council.
The Asian University for Women is pleased to annouce the Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor Fellowships at AUW. Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor is an AUW Patron, and the wife of Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. Read the article
The Asian University for Women is now part of United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI),
a global alliance of institutions of higher education and research. As a member,
AUW pledges to undertake at least one activity every year in support of principles relating to the power of education to transform societies and effect change.
"As the first woman Director-General of UNESCO, I am all the more committed to
advancing the rights of women and encouraging their full participation in political,
economic and social development... I am very honoured to join other
eminent personalities on the Asian University for Women's Council of Patrons. I will do my utmost to lend my voice to the noble ideals of your institution."
-Irina Bokova
Ms. Irina Bokova, the first woman Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, is now a Patron of the Asian University for Women. Ms. Bokova previously served as Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to France and Monaco, among other distinguished positions. She is the
Founder and Chairperson of the European Policy Forum.
The AUW Council of Patrons is chaired by the Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Kasina Wazed and co-chaired by Madame Lone Dybjkaer of the Danish Parliament. Other members include Ms. Anson Chan from Hong Kong, Dr. Condoleezza Rice from the US, and Ms. Emma Bonino from Italy.
Project Director Mushtaque Habib (left) assists Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina lay the foundation stone, as AUW Chancellor Cherie Blair, World Bank Managing Director Dr. Ngozi N. Okonjo-Iweala, and Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni look on.
On April 26, Asian University for Women held a foundation stone laying ceremony at the its permanent campus site in Pahartoli with the Hon'ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the Chief Guest. AUW Chancellor Cherie Blair chaired the ceremony. The special guests were Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni, Education Minister Nuruk Islam Nahid, and World Bank Managing Director Dr. Ngozi N. Okonjo-Iweala.
Below are some excerpts of the speeches delivered that day.
The Hon'ble Prime Minister:
"I am pleased to observe that the Asian University for Women has been functioning well in terms of imparting excellent education. I am sure once the campus premises are completed the results would exceed all our expectation.
...Indeed, the Asian University for Women captures the common desire of women of not only Asia but of all women worldwide to contribute to their nations and to humanity."
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala:
"Let us work together with all governments in Asia to create opportunities for women to take their rightful place in society. Today, the Asian University for Women takes a significant step in that direction, and I am delighted to be a witness to this historic moment."
Founder Kamal Ahmad:
"When people ask me what traits do you look for in your students, I often say that we look for three things beyond academic excellence: We look for a demonstration of courage, for how can you be a leader without courage; we look for a measure of outrage at injustice, for how can you change anything unless injustice troubles you; and we look for a measure of empathy, for a person who does not care about others cannot bring about the change this world needs."
Many AUW students attended the event that celebrated their future campus.
Student Government President Nawra Mehrin:
"At the Asian University for Women, we believe that education is a fundamental human right, but that this right comes with a responsibility to make a difference. It is our belief that education is not a luxury but a responsibility that society owes to itself. With immense optimism, we are working not just to create for ourselves a bright future but to rewrite the history of women and show the world that when women thrive, all of society benefits and succeeding generations are given a better start in life."
Hon'ble Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni:
"We know the heart of any real university is its students and faculty. Its pulse is in the rhythm of learning and knowing. The excitement is in the discovery of knowledge. The inspiration is in finding ways to channel that knowledge in a way that serves humanity in the best possible way.
...What has been envisioned for the Asian University for Women is truly remarkable...It will demonstrate that education of the highest quality is not a monopoly of any one region of the world. In fact, intelligent people anywhere can come together and build places of learning that can be as good and as enduring as any others."
Other notable guests included Ellen Goldstein, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh (right), and several ambassadors.
Please go to the Archives section for older news and events.
