EDMONTON, June 8 /CNW Telbec/ – His Highness the Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and Founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Alberta on June 9th in recognition of his efforts to improve the lives of millions of the world’s poorest people and build a global culture of tolerance.
During his visit to Edmonton, the Aga Khan will meet with Premier Ed Stelmach and University of Alberta President, Dr. Indira Samarasekera as well as witness the signing of an agreement to enhance collaboration with the University of Alberta The Ismaili Imamat has a long tradition of leadership in educational development, going back to the founding of Al-Azhar University and the Academy of Science, Dar al-Ilm, in Cairo, over 1000 years ago. Today, AKDN operates two universities, the Aga Khan University, which was founded in Pakistan over 25 years ago and has campuses in 8 ountries, and the University of Central Asia with campuses in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
The Network’s multiple endeavours in the areas of education currently include over 300 schools and advanced educational programmes that provide quality pre-school, primary, secondary, and higher secondary education services to students throughout the world.
AKU has enjoyed more than a quarter century of close associations with several universities in Canada and across the world including University of Alberta, McMaster University, the University of Waterloo, University of Toronto, Harvard University and Oxford University.
The partnerships with Canada extend well beyond education: Aga Khan Foundation Canada, (AKFC) has been active with the Canadian International Development Agency for over 25 years in leading edge development initiatives in Africa and Asia.
Notes:
His Highness the Aga Khan
His Highness the Aga Khan is the 49th hereditary Imam (Spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and Founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). The AKDN is a group of private, non-denominational
development agencies working to empower communities and individuals to improve living conditions and opportunities, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East. The Network’s nine development agencies focus on social, cultural and economic development for all citizens, regardless of gender, origin or religion. The AKDN’s underlying ethic is compassion for the vulnerable in society. Its annual budget for philanthropic
activity is in excess of US$500 million.
Recent Canadian Initiatives
In 2006, the Aga Khan and the Government of Canada signed a funding agreement towards the development of a new international initiative, the Global Centre for Pluralism in Ottawa, dedicated to the creation of successful societies. The Centre is founded on cherished Canadian values of tolerance, openness and understanding towards the cultures, social structures, values and faiths of other peoples and that these values are now essential to the very survival of an interdependent world.
The Aga Khan, an Honorary Companion of the Order of Canada, last visited the country in December 2008, as part of the commemoration of his fifty years as the 49th hereditary Imam (spiritual leader) of the Ismaili Muslims. During the commemorative visit, the Aga Khan inaugurated the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa, in the presence of the Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Stephen Harper.
The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, serves a permanent representational role for the activities of the Imamat in Canada, and as stated by His Highness the Aga Khan represents “a new creative link between the spiritual dimensions
of Islam and the cultures of the West, and even more particularly, it represents another new bridge between the peoples of Islam and the peoples of Canada.”
Other projects under development in Canada are the Aga Khan Museum, housing exceptional collections of Islamic art, the gardens and the Ismaili Centre in Toronto.
Ismailimail 
WE ARE PROUD THAT THIS IS AGAIN A CONFIRMATION OF THE WORK WHICH IS DONE BY THE IMAM THAT IS ELIMINATING GLOBAL POVERTY AND IS BEING RECOGNIZED BY WAY OF A DOCTORATE DEGREE.
HOPEFULLY ALL OF CAN CONTINUE TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY TO THE WORK OF THE IMAM AS IT IS HIS CENTRAL FOCUS ELIMINATING GLOBAL POVERTY
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