Doctorates for Prince Jigme
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck of Bhutan is to be awarded an honorary doctorate by Bangkok's Rangsit University (RSU) next Sunday, RSU's public relations director said yesterday.
Somkiet Rungruengviriya said the University Council had agreed to confer an honorary doctorate in philosophy, politics and economics on the prince in recognition of his contributions in leadership, wisdom and strategies in developing his country and his people and in enhancing their quality of life. The RSU discussed the award with the Bhutanese Embassy in Thailand, and RSU president Dr Arthit Ourairat went to Bhutan to personally invite the prince to the conferral ceremony on November 26 at Rangsit University, Somkiet said. Somkiet also praised the leadership shown by the prince and His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck of Bhutan in employing a national policy focusing on Gross National Happiness (GNH), instead of Gross National Product (GNP). At the ceremony, the RSU will hand out bulletins to 3,000 graduates containing information about Bhutan, the crown prince's biography and the background of the university to promote a good relationship between the RSU and the Kingdom of Bhutan, said the president's assistant for students affairs, Anan Harnpanitchpan. A CD of a special song entitled "Precious Prince Of Hearts" composed for the prince would be attached to the bulletins, he said. On Wednesday, Khon Kaen University said it planned to confer an honorary doctorate in agricultural science on Prince Jigme at a conferral ceremony on December 20-21 in recognition of his interest in agricultural development. The university expects to receive a reply from the prince by the end of the month. If not, the university said it was willing to take the degree to the prince in Bhutan. On November 24, Prince Jigme is scheduled to visit Bhutan's "Himalayan Garden of Peace" exhibit, which occupies 500 square metres of the international garden at the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006 exposition in Chiang Mai. This sparked a rush for expo tickets for that day among people wanting to catch a glimpse of the prince, who has been popular in Thailand ever since his visit to Bangkok in June to attend celebrations for the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne.
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