Professor Miraoui Receives Prestigious Professor Honoris Causa from NPU
The President of Cadi Ayyad University and President of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), Professor Abdellatif Miraoui, was awarded the title of Professor Honoris Causa by Professor Wang Jinsong, President of Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), during an official ceremony held on April 24, 2015, in Xi’an, China.
This honorary title is one of the most prestigious distinctions granted by NPU. It recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to their field of expertise or have played a key role in advancing scientific and academic excellence. Professor Miraoui is the eighth recipient in the university’s history, joining the ranks of renowned figures such as Professor Robert A. Mundell of Columbia University and Professor Theodor Wolfgang Hänsch of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.
The ceremony was attended by officials from the city of Xi’an, representatives of Chinese universities, and members of the NPU academic community. In his acceptance speech, Professor Miraoui expressed his sincere gratitude to Northwestern Polytechnical University for the honor. He also highlighted the long-standing collaboration between him and NPU, and affirmed his commitment to strengthening partnerships between NPU and Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech.
He took the opportunity to showcase the major strengths that position Cadi Ayyad University as a leading institution in Morocco, particularly in scientific research, research and development, and pedagogical innovation. He also emphasized the university's notable achievements in international rankings, including:
• 1st in North Africa
• 6th in the MENA region
• 50th among universities from BRICS and Emerging Economies
• Top 400 globally in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings
Professor Miraoui concluded his speech by dedicating this distinction to all faculty members, administrative and technical staff, and students of both Cadi Ayyad University and the University of Technology of Belfort-Montbéliard (UTBM).
It is worth noting that Professor Miraoui has previously received several awards and distinctions, including an Honorary Doctorate (Doctor Honoris Causa) from the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca in Romania.
Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), located in Xi’an—a city renowned for its rich cultural heritage—is a multidisciplinary institution specializing in science and technology. Founded in 1957, NPU comprises 16 academic schools and serves a student population of over 26,700.
NPU is especially recognized for its excellence in aeronautics, astronautics, and marine engineering. The university operates under the supervision of the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and in 2012, it was ranked 4th in the most prominent national ranking of Chinese universities.
