Jigme Wangchuk

Malaysia’s Asia Metropolitan University (AMU) conferred Honorary Doctorate in Innovation Education on former education minister Thakur S Powdyel in recognition of his significant contribution to global education thought.

AMU is a full-fledged university offering a wide range of programmes and is fast becoming “The University of Choice” within the local and global education landscape.

Pleasantly surprised, the impassioned educator and acclaimed author of My Green School, said: “Sweet are the tidings of affirmation when they are least expected! The bestowal of this special honour came to me as an absolute surprise but most pleasant coming as it did from one of the most futuristic universities in the region. I am most grateful to Asia Metropolitan University for opening their door and their heart to welcome this humble educator from Bhutan to be a part of their honour league.”

Early this year, My Green School was translated into Bahasa Melayu, an Austronesian language officially spoken in Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore and unofficially spoken in East Timor and parts of Thailand. The book has already been through some 18 translations in the major languages around the world.

The former minister attended the award ceremony virtually on account of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic situation.

“As a matter of fact, this award belongs to all my fellow-educators who have shared their journey with me, to generations of my students, to my teachers and mentors, to my fellow-citizens and well-wishers, to my family that has stood by me in sun and rain, and indeed to my country from whom I have derived the motivation to keep going,” said Thakur S Powdyel. “It is most humbling for me to witness that the little that I may have done to help with the development of our beloved country and the advancement of global education thought has been acknowledged by this iconic university far from home.”

Among thinkers of global education My Green School is widely described as the best knowledge gift from Bhutan.

“All I wish for is to see that my beloved country becomes a shining example of good practice in the world, and that Education returns to reclaim its high honour as the Noble Sector it was meant to be,” said former Sherig Lyonpo.

The confirmation of the award, he said, came at a most auspicious time, following the approval of the University Senate’s submission by the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Malaysia. “I was then engaged in a most sacred project dedicated to the life and deeds of Bhutan’s Founder-Unifier. I immediately dedicated this Award to the Great Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel Rinpoche in humility and prayer.”