Dr Yunus appointed chancellor of Malaysia’s AI university

Grameen Communications Chairman and Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus has been appointed the inaugural chancellor of Malaysia’s Albukhary International University (AIU), the New Straits Times reported.

The Malaysian newspaper referred to Yunus as the father of microcredit and wrote that, “Yunus is appointed based on his contribution, knowledge, expertise and experience in developing the world-recognized Social Business agenda through various forms of awards he received.”

“The founder of Grameen Bank and father of microcredit, an economic movement, has helped lift millions of families around the world out of poverty.”

Yunus is also the chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University, UK.

Among Yunus' many awards and honours included all the three highest US Civilian awards - Presidential Citizens Medal, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.

He is also one of only seven people in history that has received these awards, along with recipients Martin Luther King Jr, Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela.

Dr Yunus has written four books about micro-lending and social business: "Banker to the Poor" (2003), "A World without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism" (2008) and "Building Social Business" (2010) and "A World of Three Zeros" (2017).

In 2009, Forbes named Professor Yunus one of its "10 Most Influential Business Gurus."

“The application of social business values, especially the Seven Principles of Social Business introduced by Professor Muhammad Yunus is implemented through the curriculum, academic, non-academic and research activities that would add value to students who are expected to be successful Social Entrepreneurs upon graduation," the report quotes Vice Chancellor and President of AIU Prof Dr Abd Aziz Tajuddin as saying in a statement.

AIU was founded by Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary and placed under the Albukhary Foundation.

It is a non-profit Private Higher Education Institution, with a primary focus on the field of higher education, especially in providing opportunities to obtain tertiary education to outstanding students yet, from the financially-deprived family background.