This year Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s honorary doctorates cover fields ranging from digital innovation to women’s opportunities, the pharmaceutical industry, theoretical physics and health care access and include the co-founder of Microsoft as well as SA’s first female deputy-president.
An honorary DPhil will be awarded to Microsoft co-founder and entrepreneur Paul Allen, in recognition of his provocative and catalytic contribution to innovations and inventions that have brought the technology of the digital age within reach of millions of people around the world and for his entrepreneurial capability in the field of computing and informatics.
South Africa’s first female deputy-president and United Nations Under-Secretary-General, Executive Director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka will be awarded an honorary DPhil degree. This is in recognition of her contribution to society through her ground-breaking work to create opportunities for women to participate in the economy in traditionally male-dominated sectors such as mining and energy, and the resultant impact on improving the lives of poor people and developing the community.
Port Elizabeth-based pharmaceutical company Aspen’s co-founder Stephen Saad will receive an honorary DCom degree in recognition of his exceptional entrepreneurial and financial skills, which he has used to revolutionise the generic pharmaceutical industry in South Africa and make a positive difference to the lives of many South Africans.
Neil Jeffrey Turok will receive an honorary DSc degree acknowledging his significant and ground-breaking contributions in theoretical physics and his support for mathematical sciences in South Africa. He has also been very active in the promotion and popularisation of science.
Political activist and medical doctor Masilamoney Pather will receive an honorary DPhil degree posthumously for his selfless work for social justice and for ensuring that the poorest of the poor experienced the dignity of access to professional health care services.
The honorary doctoral degrees will be awarded on Wednesday, 9 April 2014 at 14:30
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Alan Straton
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