Manila, 19 February 2009 — The Wisdom International School for Higher Education Studies (WISHES) in Mindanao awarded an honorary doctorate, the Doctor of Humanities (Honoris Causa), to Khaled Almaeena, editor in chief of Arab News, on Monday.

The award was in recognition of Almaeena’s outstanding accomplishments in the media and his exemplary humanitarian activities, particularly for the Filipino community in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. WISHES President Omar M. Mababaya awarded Almaeena the doctoral degree.

Manila, 17 February 2009 — Arab News Editor in Chief Khaled A. Almaeena yesterday exhorted Filipino Muslims and other Muslims living as minorities in other countries “not to wallow in self-pity” and to strive for higher education instead of complaining of discrimination.

In a keynote speech at the opening of the International Symposium on Muslim Education at the Manila Hotel, Almaeena said Muslim minorities “should try to absorb themselves and be part of the system ... rather than say that we are being victimized.”

“They may be victimized but through education they can achieve anything ... while maintaining one’s identity, one can try to be part of the system,” he said.

RIYADH, 6 May 2008 — Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), was awarded an honorary doctorate in business administration during a conferment ceremony here on Sunday at Kingdom Resort.The award was conferred by the Commission on Higher Education, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CHED-ARMM) and Wisdom International School for Higher Education Studies (WISHES) and coordinated by Integrated Mindanao Economic Forum (IMEF). The ceremony was attended by a CHED-ARMM/WISHES delegation from the Philippines that included Dr. Norma M. Sharief, CHED-ARMM regional chairman & managing commissioner and Dr M. Mababaya, IMEF board chairman & WISHES president.

The honorary doctorate was awarded in recognition of Prince Alwaleed’s efforts on many fronts, including his investments through KHC locally, regionally and internationally and his philanthropic contributions on a global scale. Prince Alwaleed, in his acceptance speech, said: “...Saudi Arabia and the Philippines have enjoyed very close ties, stretching back for decades...I would like to express my sincere gratitude for this honor and recognition that you have bestowed upon me on this memorable occasion.” (Arab News, 6 May 2008)

Prince Alwaleed is the Board Chairman & CEO of the Kingdom Holding Company. The Prince was born in 1955.  He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Menlo College in California and a Masters of Social Science from Syracuse University in New York.  Prince Alwaleed has also received numerous honorary degrees, including an honorary Doctorate in Business Management from Kyungwon University in Seoul, Korea, honorary Doctorates in Law from the University  of Syracuse, Exeter University in the United Kingdom and the American University in Cairo, an honorary Doctorate in Humanities from the Al Aqsa University in Palestine and honorary Doctorates in Letters from the University of New Haven in Connecticut, the University for Development Studies in Ghana and the University of Uganda.

Conference on Relevant Higher Education Curricula for Muslims in the Philippines 

WISHES recently co-sponsored with the Commission on Higher Education - ARMM, Philippine Muslim Teachers (PMTC) and King Faisal Center for Islamic, Arabic & Asian Studies (KFCIAAS) the “All Lanao Educators Conference on Relevant Higher Education Curricula for Muslims in the Philippines”, held at Mindanao State University Mamitua Saber Research Center on August 16, 2007.  The conference adopted unanimously the curriculum presented by Dr Norlain Dindang, WISHES Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The delegates – most of them presidents or heads of colleges and higher institutions in the Lanao areas – formed the Muslim Educators and Researchers Federation of Asia (MERFA). This was, in fact, one of the key action items proposed by Dr Dindang.