Abu-Ghazaleh Delivers LAU Commencement and Receives Honorary Doctorate Degree   

 

BEIRUT- HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from the Lebanese American University (LAU), for his leading role in the development of the business sector globally, expansion of his global reach, and most importantly, instilling cultures of caring, generosity and service within.

 

Honorary Doctorate is the University's highest honor and was awarded to Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh during the 93rd Annual Commencement Exercises held in Beirut and attended by President General Michel Aoun rep and Minister of Defense HE Minister Yaacoub Riad Sarraf, MP HE Dr. Qasem Hashem, Representative of the Lebanese Parliament President, Minister and Former MP HE Ghtas Khouri, Representative of the Lebanese government, Mr. Ghandi Halabi, Mrs. Maria Fouad Eid, HE Mr. Mohammed Shuqair, chairman of the Lebanese Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Ghaith Barazi, Mrs. Nuha Abu-Ghazaleh, Ms Samar AlLabbad, Mr. Talal Luay Abu-Ghazaleh and Mr. Bilal Luay Abu-Ghazaleh.  

On receiving his Honorary Doctorate Degree, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh thanked LAU's President Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra for this honor reminiscing his own graduation ceremony in the 60s, presenting his personal experience and asking LAU graduates and students to remember the "Prescription for success."

Addressing attendees, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh focused on his 10 Prescriptions for Success that encourage graduates and students to face the challenges in life through hard work and dedication.

"Just like your non-stop heart, rest is bad for your health. At school, you learn lessons and sit for exams, at the workplace you face exams and learn from them," he said.

Best known for his portrayal of suffering as a blessing, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh stressed on happiness as an enabler asking graduates and students to be always happy. "The objective of education is innovation so you should always "Invent."

 

"Hope brings luck: Be hopeful always. Look for the first mover advantage: Resist the herd instinct and Welcome adversities and failures: Turn them into blessings and successes," he added.  

 

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh also stated that retirement should not be on the graduates' agenda.

While receiving the Honorary Doctorate, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh thanked LAU saying: "I am extremely grateful to the Lebanese American University for conferring this honorary doctorate degree upon me. I am truly honored and humbled." 

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh offered to link LAU, as a priority, to the Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN) Point of Presence in London (POP) and to the European network GEANT, through ASREN Internet line dedicated to research and education, funded by the EU and Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org).

Meanwhile, LAU President Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra highlighted the achievements of LAU through the years until 2018 saying: "The University is proud of its graduates and their success is a continuation of its success."

He stressed on developing work to serve the youths and innovators asking students to seek after their ambition and beliefs.

LAU ranked the 15th best university in the Arab region and among the best 700 universities in the world.

Partially raised in Lebanon, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh is a proud refugee who began his career in accounting and introduced Intellectual Property Rights to the Arab world. Today, his organization has more than 110 offices around the world working in many fields headed by a unique focus on technological and educational development.    

Abu-Ghazaleh has received numerous awards and honors, Legion of Honour ‘Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur', Decoration of Independence of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Honorary Doctorate Degree of Arts from Canisius College , Decoration of the Republic of Tunisia and The International Lifetime Achievement Award, Gold Mercury International Award, “Arab ICT Personality” of the Year, Man of the Year Award from the Palestine International Institute and The Arab Award for Innovation in addition to others and is a major patron of arts and culture.