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UJ BESTOWS HONORARY DOCTORAL DEGREE ON INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED PROF KHALED BEN LETAIEF
The Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Johannesburg, Professor Tshilidzi Marwala and the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE), Professor Daniel Mashao, conferred an honorary doctoral degree on internationally renowned New Bright Professor of Engineering and Chair Professor, Professor Khaled Ben Letaief. This auspicious occasion took place during the institution’s graduation ceremony held on 12th October 2022 in the Sanlam Auditorium at the University’s Kingsway Campus in Auckland.
Professor Mashao says: “For the faculty that forms part of an institution that aims to be an international university of choice, anchored in Africa and dynamically shaping the future; the collaboration with Prof Letaief improves our international standing. The appointment of Prof Letaief shows what is possible when we emphasize excellence, the sky is the limit.”
The honorary doctorate was awarded in recognition of Prof Letaief’s international extraordinary contributions to wireless communications with major impact in academia and industry. Notable among his contributions are his revolutionary work on multiuser OFDM and more recently on 6G, and machine learning in wireless communications. Undoubtedly, his breakthrough work has significantly changed the landscape of the field and influenced the scientific community and industry alike. The Faculty of Engineering and The Built Environment is greatly honored to confer the honorary doctorate on him.
In his acceptance speech Prof Letaief said: “I thank the University of Johannesburg for bestowing upon me this great honor. This is very special to me and especially gratifying to be receiving it from a distinguished South African university that has already anchored itself as the international university of choice in Africa and is continuously shaping the future. […] I am proud to be African as well as proud to now be associated with a leading University with African roots that has evolved into a diverse, inclusive, transformational institution and which has already contributed much to the African continent evolving.” The full acceptance speech is accessible from here: https://youtu.be/k4GHKcOSGFY
“I nominated Prof Khaled Professor because he is an internationally renowned and prolific scholar who distinguished himself as an extraordinarily impactful leader who has made pioneering contributions to wireless communications with major impact in academia and Industry. Notable among his contributions are his revolutionary work on multiuser OFDM and more recently on 6G, and machine learning in wireless communications. It was really an honour to attend his honorary doctorate ceremony and I am proud of my university for acknowledging the efforts of great researchers and academics,” said Prof Ouahada Khmaies, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Science.
Prof Letaief joins recently appointed FEBE honorary doctorate graduates – including Chinese President Xi Jinping (for his role in advancing the Fourth Industrial Revolution); former Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Chancellor, Prof Philip L. Clay (widely known for his work in U.S. housing policy and community-based development ); Prof Romain Murenzi (renowned physicist and former Rwandan science minister); Richard Goldstone (in recognition of the remarkable contributions he made to intellectual and public life)among others.
In this picture from left to right: Prof Sune Von Solms (Head of Department Electrical and Electronic Engineering Science), Prof Thokozane Shongwe (Acting-Vice Dean: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies), Prof Didier Nyembwe (Vice Dean: Teaching and Learning), Prof Ouahada Khmaies (Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering), Prof Khaled Ben Letaief (Honorary Doctorate recipient), Prof Saurabh Sinha (Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation), Prof Daniel Mashao (Executive Dean: FEBE), Prof Bettine van Vuuren (Registrar)
Prof Khaled Ben Letaief (Honorary Doctorate recipient)
Article by: Ms Precious Maputle, FEBE Marketing Coordinator[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
