The Al-Maktoum Institute in Dundee has conferred an Honorary Fellowship on Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health and Sport in the Scottish Government.
The SNP member for Dundee East has been an enthusiastic supporter of the vision, ethos and activities of the Al-Maktoum Institute since it opened in 2002 and has visited it on several occasions.
“I am very pleased to be honoured in this way,” said Ms Robison, who was elected in 2003 as constituency member for Dundee East and re-elected in 2007.
“The Al-Maktoum Institute has played an increasing part in bringing together different communities within Scotland itself and between Scotland and the wider world, and in developing a deeper understanding between the peoples of Scotland and the Middle East.”
Institute Principal, Professor Malory Nye, said: “We are delighted to confer the Honorary Fellowship on Shona Robison, who has taken a close interest in the work of the Institute, as well as our vision for multiculturalism. Like the Institute, she is involved a great deal at community level with the people of Dundee as she cares very much about community projects.
“Shona Robison is our 11th Honorary Fellow and a most welcome addition to our Honorary Fellowship roll.”
The ceremony took place in Edinburgh’s Balmoral Hotel on Tuesday, July 20, during the Concluding Ceremony for the Institute’s Summer School students, who spent the final week of their visit in the capital for a week of activities organised by Edinburgh College of Art.
The 36 students – from eight different colleges and universities in the UAE and Qatar, plus eight chaperones – took part in the seventh such Institute Summer School.
The Ceremony was attended by representatives from the universities and colleges and Institute Board Chairman, Mr Mirza al-Sayegh.
“The UAE and Qatari students met with Ms Robison when they visited the Parliament in June and are very proud to be here to see this Honorary Fellowship conferred on her,” said Professor Nye.
“Previous groups have returned home with a very positive and glowing view of Scotland so we hope this group will feel the same way to help strengthen the already strong links between Dundee, Scotland and Dubai.”
