On February 24, 2009, Malaysia’s leading distance learning institution, Open University Malaysia (OUM) conferred the Honorary Doctor of Arts (Humanities) to SGI President Daisaku Ikeda in a special convocation held at Soka International Friendship Hall, Tokyo, Japan.

OUM Chancellor Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, conferred the award to President Ikeda, who became the first international recipient to receive an Honorary Doctorate from OUM. The convocation was attended by His Excellency Dato’ Mohd Radzi Abd Rahman, Malaysia’s Ambassador to Japan as well as key officials from Malaysian agencies in Japan, OUM, SGI and SGM.

The Honorary Doctorate was awarded in recognition of President Ikeda’s profound contribution and outstanding work in promoting world peace and character development through education. This is President Ikeda’s second honorary doctorate award from Malaysian universities. In 2000, he received an honorary doctorate from Universiti Putra Malaysia.

Speaking at the convocation, Datin Seri Jeanne said: “OUM shares the same aspirations as Dr Ikeda and SGI. We have institutions of higher education established worldwide which help to provide people with the opportunity to improve their standard of living through lifelong learning.”

Vice-Chancellor Prof Tan Sri Anuwar Ali, in his speech, said that OUM is honoured to confer Dr Ikeda with the honorary doctorate. “This special Convocation is held to honour a visionary person for his remarkable contributions towards the development of education and world peace. He is none other than SGI President, the Honourable Dr Daisaku Ikeda.”

In May last year, Datin Seri Jeanne was conferred the Award of Highest Honour by Soka Women’s College, Soka University, Japan. Datin Seri Jeanne was very impressed by the endeavour of President Ikeda in the development of education.

OUM is one of the leading distance learning universities in Southeast Asia. Currently, there are about 78,000 students in the university. More than 60 programmes on education and management are offered.