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The University of Namur awards honorary doctorates every year, alternating with one of its seven faculties. Each honored personality, through his or her career, meets the vision and values defended by the university.
Honorary Doctors 2024
In 2024, the theme "Honor the Heralds" has been chosen to honor four committed personalities who through their art, profession, or vocation, in the manner of those heroic messengers of the Middle Ages, carry loudly the voice of those denied a voice.
"It is by allowing ourselves to be inspired by our new honorary doctors and by submitting ourselves without complacency to criticism, that we wish to continue our progress towards ever greater responsibility, in the service of social and environmental justice" - Annick Castiaux, Rector of UNamur.
The insignia of Doctorates Honoris Causa were awarded at the official academic commencement ceremony on September 30, 2024.
Father Pedro, a lifetime of commitment to the poorest of the poor
Animated by a desire to help the most disadvantaged, Father Pedro Opeka, a Lazarist priest, devotes his life to improving the living conditions of marginalized populations in Madagascar. A strong humanitarian commitment that has taken concrete form with the creation of the "Akamasoa" association.
Sponsor: Géraldine Mathieu, Professor of Family Law and Youth Law
Sponsor: Laurent Ravez, Professor of Philosophy and Ethics
Bob Rugurika: fighting for freedom of expression
Bob Rugurika is a Burundian journalist and director of Radio Publique Africaine (RPA), a private radio station renowned for its human rights reporting. He has become a symbol of freedom of expression in Burundi.
Sponsor: Anne-Sophie Collard, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Economic, Social and Management Sciences, Professor of Communications
Sponsor: Jean-Marie Baland, Professor and Director of the Department of Economics
Bouli Lanners
At 59, Philippe Lanners, the man everyone calls "Bouli", is an emblematic figure of Belgian cinema, shining far beyond our borders. Director, screenwriter and actor, he has made a name for himself through his talent and social commitment. His career has been marked by a profound humanity and a strong commitment to various societal issues such as the environment, agriculture, health or social security.
Zeina Abirached
Zeina Abirached is an illustrator and comic strip artist. Born in Beirut, she grew up at the heart of the Lebanese civil war. An influential childhood that would become a source of inspiration for her work.
She studied graphic design at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts before moving to Paris in 2004. There, she studied animation at the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs. In 2006, she began to tell the story of her experiences as a child during the war in her first two albums, "(Beirut) Catharsis" and "38, rue Youssef Semaani".
Honorary Doctors 2021
The theme "Deep impact" refers to the actions and societal commitments of the four personalities honored at this ceremony. Through their respective backgrounds, each person encounters the vision defended by our institution, which places people at the heart of its priorities. Each personality reflects the values upheld by UNamur, namely
- openness to the world
- excellence in a resolutely human approach integrating proximity, solidarity and respect
- environmental, social and social sustainability
- freedom of opinion
Honored personalities
- Gaël Giraud, economist and Jesuit priest
Sponsor: Sophie Béreau, professor in the Department of Management Sciences
Sponsor: Jérémy Dodeigne, president of the Institut Transitions and professor in the Department of Political, Social and Communication Sciences
- Ilham Kadri, CEO of the Solvay Group
Sponsor: Carmela Aprile, professor in the Department of Chemistry and member of the Namur Institut of Structured Matter
Sponsor: Oscar Bernal, director of the Department of Management Sciences
- Sebastião Salgado, Brazilian economist
Sponsor: Anne Roekens, director of the Department of History
Sponsor: Vincent Englebert, professor in the Faculty of Computer Science
- Carola Rackete, German activist and campaigner
Sponsor: Laura Manne, student in Political Science
Sponsor: Stéphane Leyens, professor of philosophy and director of the University Forum for International Development Cooperation.
