MBI Al Jaber, a dedicated philanthropist who has supported several other higher education institutions in Britain, has played a leading part in promoting understanding between students from conflict areas in the Middle East.

Commenting on the gift, Sir Tim said “This very generous gift goes a long way to completing the financing of our auditorium building, the single most important capital project on Corpus’s central site since the completion of the New Building in 1964. We are tremendously grateful to Sheikh Mohamed for his generosity.”

Following plenary sessions with Heads of State and a series of successful workshops, the dinner honoured Ms. Asha-Rose Migiro, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, and endorsed Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber, Chairman of the MBI Al Jaber Foundation, as Spokesperson for the UN Global Forums on Reinventing Government.

The Gala Dinner was attended by Heads of State and Ministers participating in the 7th Global Forum on Reinventing Government which this year is focusing on the theme of “Building Trust in Government.” During her speech, Ms. Migiro acknowledged the vital role of the Forums in exploring strategies and innovations that generate improvements in governance and earn the trust of citizens.

On behalf of the Secretary-General, Ms. Migiro thanked MBI Al Jaber for the role he has played as UN Spokesperson for Global Forums on Reinventing Government. The appointment, made in March 2007, was for MBI Al Jaber’s dedication to governance and public service and his commitment to the promotion of public and private partnerships.

The book, commissioned by HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal and sponsored by MBI Al Jaber, is composed of material originally gathered together for an exhibition in the grounds of Curzon House, home of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in London.

In addition to the more well-known figures such as H. St. John Philby and Wilfred Thesiger, the book also profiles the contributions to the study and recording of the early Kingdom of lesser-known explorers and travellers, including some formidable females. Beautiful early photographs and delicate watercolours form the illustrations for the book, which also includes excellent maps of the travellers’ journeys and short accounts of their visits to the peninsula.

The book is published by Stacey International. Anyone interested in purchasing the book can do so through their website.

MBI Al Jaber is the Founder and Chief Executive of MBI International and patron of the MBI Al Jaber Foundation. A successful self-made businessman, he devotes much of his time to promoting education and democracy throughout the Arab world. In 2005 he was nominated as UNESCO Education, Tolerance, and Cultures to build Peace and Democracy Special Envoy.

The interview was introduced by Professor Malcolm Grant, President and Provost of UCL, who discussed MBI Al Jaber's life works in context of UCL’s global perspective.

Professor Michael Worton, UCL Vice-Provost (Academic & International) then led the interview with MBI Al Jaber with some searching questions about Middle East politics, education and culture.

MBI Al Jaber's positive and proactive stance was nowhere better reflected than in his views on educational reform in the Arab world. His work with UNESCO into this area aims for an updating of the curriculum and wide retraining of teaching staff to ensure that acquire the education that they need to compete on the global stage, ensuring that Arab nations are not held up by what he called an “illusion of wealth” – such as money from foreign aid or oil supplies – but by a true wealth embedded in the education and skills of the nation.

Education and scientific research minister Nagi Ould Mohamed Mahmoud and his colleague in charge of Basic and Secondary education, Cheikh Ahmed Ould Sid`Ahmed, met a UNESCO team led by Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber on the issue.

Both sides agreed to strengthen co-operation and support reform of the educational system with emphasis on scientific disciplines and foreign languages.

They also agreed to set up the necessary infrastructure to support the training and re-training of personnel and the setting up of a joint committee for basic education.

This series was established with the generous support of Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber, chairman and CEO of MBI International, a hotel and development conglomerate based in London, Paris, and the Middle East.

The roundtable - consisting of Council members, noted Middle East experts, and U.S. foreign policy practitioners - will examine the prospects for political change in Syria, Egypt, Libya, and the Arabian Peninsula.

Steven A. Cook, the Council's Douglas Dillon fellow, is directing the series.

Over the past seven years, Kitâb fî Jarîda has published 66 authors with an average print run of three million copies per author, distributed free of charge in all the Arab countries. In this way, more than 200 million copies of Arab literary masterpieces have been distributed.

This cultural outcome must be seen as a first in the Arab region in terms of importance, the number of books distributed and the active participation it has stimulated. In this regard, the Director-General expressed his congratulations to the Committees on their selection of authors and titles, "all of which are highly representative of the masterpieces of Arab literature."

MBI Al Jaber, who owns hotels throughout France, was presented with the award by Monsieur Leon Bertrand, Minister of Tourism. In his congratulatory speech Monsieur Bertrand said:

"Your Excellency,

Tourism, education, and culture have always had very close ties to one another. In fact, it would not be too much to say that they are all correlated.

When taking a close look to history, one realizes that the very first 'tourists' were the young descendants of English aristocracy. In fact, most of them went along a journey called 'the big tour' that lead them in Italy, considered as the root of antique culture and civilisation.

Hence, it is not surprising for our ministry of tourism and my office to be located here, neighbouring the UNESCO, veritable temple of culture.

It is also not a coincidence if I am about to honour and distinguish today, a man who is a major actor in the tourism industry and a passionate supporter of UNESCO's program throughout the Arab world.

Tourism is not only sun seeking, it is also a wonderful opportunity in discovering new cultures. It gives the possibility for people to exchange and communicate, and thus, enrich themselves with a better understanding of the people. It fosters the capacity of every human to insert himself into the world community.

These are all the values we share, your Excellency, and I am proud to celebrate them by offering you the golden medal of tourism.

Far beyond your generosity toward future generations, which you help through all your charity and educational foundations, you are a successful and wise businessman.

You are the founder and executive president of MBI international, a holding that operates in 3 distinct sectors: - Construction & Development Industry; building luxury compounds in your natal country, the kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Food Industry; in the Arabic Peninsula and North Africa - Hotel Industry; throughout Europe and the Middle East.

This international implementation does not hinder you from keeping very close relationships to your Saudi roots.

You created and founded 'JJ Worldwide' in 1989, in order to manage your assets in the tourism industry. Well, your group owns today 45 hotels and resorts in Europe and the Middle East. These hotels range range from the ultimate luxurious category to economy hotels.

One of the jewels of your collection is certainly the Grand Hotel Wien, a member of the prestigious 'Leading Hotels of the World', without forgetting the Berners Hotel in London or the Pinheiros Altos Golf Resort in Portugal.

However, it is in France that is concentrated most of your acquisitions: 35 hotels, 13 of which are in Paris. Paris, city of light, city of romance, where two of the most important vessels of this naval fleet are present: the Balzac and the 'Hotel de Vigny', only 'Relais Chateau' in Paris. The Balzac is currently under renovation, in order to offer the finest decoration and the best quality service.

These investments are essential in view of embellishing and modernising France's hotel industry and this ceremony is an initiative to show you our gratefulness and thanking you for all of your contribution to France's position as a luxurious destination.

It is also in France where you have made good friendships and good friends, among them is Xavier Bonnel whom I salute.

Your group continues to grow and prosper on the emerging markets of the Middle East. Two projects are currently under process: the construction of an Amarante four stars hotel in Cairo and the renovation of two leisure cruising ships on the Nile.

The expansion of your hotel activities clearly shows the overall dynamic in worldwide tourism. The growth of international tourists flows raised by 10% in 2004 as it already rose by 5.9% for the January-July 2005 period.

Tourism and the hotel industry are inherently, in their very essence, global industries. The majority of Parisian palaces belong to foreigner investors, and inversely, our hotel groups pursue their expansion abroad. We are therefore in a win-win situation where the nationality of a hotel owner is less important than the occupancy rate of his hotel, considering that it favours employment and economic activity.

Let me remind you that it is in the hotel and restaurant industry that employment have been the more created in 2004 (+2.8%).

France has always occupied a special place in the tourist's heart and it is our responsibility and duty to offer to our hosts a real sense of hospitality and a quality of service at the height of our reputation.

The hotels that you are running, your Excellency, highly contribute to the development of our economy. It was therefore natural to thank you with this golden medal of tourism, in this highly symbolic place, the UNESCO.

You are one of the most generous contributors and, since March 2005, the personal envoy of the Director-General Mr Koïchiro Matsuura 'for education, human rights, tolerance and culture in order to build peace and democracy'

It is our honour and pleasure to associate this distinction to your commitment toward peace, as tourism could be one of its vectors.

Thank you"

"Mr President, Excellencies, fellow students, ladies and gentlemen, - 'forging links through education' - this is the phrase used by my foundation, the MBI Al Jaber Foundation. Forging links makes a strong connection, a chain, which joins two different things.

I am here today because I believe that education is the key to joining the two worlds in which I live.

I am an Arab, proud of my traditions and history. I am also a businessman, operating in a global marketplace, and based between Europe and the Middle East. The region I come from is much in the news, at the top of the international agenda and likely to stay that way for some time. Unfortunately, most of the news is bad, and I am saddened that so much focus should be on events that may well have occurred but are in no way representative. The information revolution has not yet led to a revolution in understanding. As the world becomes more complex and more inter-dependent, it becomes more and more important to understand our neighbours and to learn from them.

As an Arab I have been conscious since my early years of the great contribution of Arab civilisation to learning - in Baghdad, Cairo, Damascus, Granada, right across the vast area that was the early Islamic Empire. This was a tolerant civilisation, where Moslems, Jews and Christians lived, and still live, side by side; where Jewish scholars wrote in Arabic and where Christian craftsmen decorated beautiful mosques. These things are often forgotten or distorted by the media and certain education systems in some countries.

And we are a people that has always been proud to trade and do business. Indeed, our Prophet was himself a businessman and married the first business woman of Islam. We believe that business-people have a major role in society, creating jobs that give dignity to the worker, and paying back to society the benefits they have accumulated. Today, education is more important than ever. Why is it so important? It is needed, not only to promote economic growth, create employment opportunities, and foster civic participation but also to ensure continued personal development. Education makes links, and as such it is a key factor to strengthening human security through the development of stable societies, greater tolerance, and dialogue among civilizations and people of diverse cultures.

I have made a commitment to make my contribution: I have made a commitment to funding scholarships over the past 10 years and assisting those who are willing to listen as well as speak; I have made a commitment to UNESCO with my educational reform initiative; I am making a commitment today to you and your University, through new scholarship programmes.

You have made a commitment to continue your studies, and through these you will make your own contributions to a better world. Don't leave it all to the politicians. Whether as doctors, teachers, artists, journalists or - as in my case, in business - we all have important contributions to make. I wish you the best of luck."

Chairman of the Court of Governors, Vice-Chancellor, fellow students, ladies and gentlemen,

May I first offer my sincere and humble thanks for the honour you have paid to me today, and I am sure that I speak for my fellow honorand, Sir Eric Richardson, in wishing the University and all who study and teach in it, every success in the future. Never has there been a greater need for study, sound learning and genuine understanding.

Westminster has long had a strong international tradition, and this has been demonstrated today by the awards to graduates from many countries. As the world becomes more complex and more inter-dependent, there is a risk that people will fall back on comfortable stereotypes, branding groups who are in some way different - by colour of their skin, religion or language - as good or bad, friend or enemy.

I am an Arab, proud of my traditions and history. The region I come from is much in the news, at the top of the international agenda and likely to stay that way for some time. Unfortunately, most of the news is bad, and I am saddened that so much focus should be on events that may well have occurred but are in no way representative. The information revolution has not yet led to a revolution in understanding.

As an Arab I have been conscious since my early years of the great contribution of Arab civilisation to learning - in Baghdad, Cairo, Damascus, Granada, right across the vast area that was the early Islamic Empire. This was a tolerant civilisation, where Moslems, Jews and Christians lived side by side; where Jewish scholars wrote in Arabic and where Christian craftsmen decorated beautiful mosques. Baghdad was known as the City of Peace.

Our travellers roamed all over the known world, a Moroccan - Ibn Battuta - reaching Beijing. Our greatest Political Scientist - Ibn Khaldoun from Tunis - described the threat of Big Government. Great advances were made in medicine, astronomy, mathematics, geography.

And we are a people that has always been proud to trade and do business. Indeed, our Prophet was himself a businessman and married the first business woman of Islam. We believe that business-people have a major role in society, creating jobs that give dignity to the worker, and paying back to society the benefits they have accumulated.

I am, as you have heard from the Vice-Chancellor, a businessman, with interests in three continents. But I am also a student, and it was the opportunity to study with scholars in London that first retained me here in London.

The reason is simple. If we do not know where we come from, we cannot understand where we are; and if we do not know where we are, we cannot know where we are going.

I have a passion to understand the origins of the current problems that we face. I need that understanding for my business, for the future of my family, and to satisfy my curiosity. And if I, a successful businessman, need to learn from those who have studied the evidence and scorned the propaganda; then how much more important is it that the politician, the diplomat, the journalist and the general public should be educated too. And so I have attempted to repay the teachers and make my contribution to a saner world by supporting educational reform, funding scholarships and assisting those who are willing to listen as well as speak.

People created today's problems - ignorant people, often fired up by information that is biased and usually plain wrong. And people can solve the problems. No danger is unavoidable, no problem too difficult to resolve. Who, twenty years ago would have believed it possible that the Soviet Empire would crumble, China achieve two-figure growth rates, or Northern Ireland fall quiet?

There is nothing unique about my part of the world. We Arabs, whether Moslem or Christian, and our neighbours in Israel are not a hopeless case. The Semitic peoples have been the greatest of travellers, a truly globalised people for hundreds of years. It is my conviction that with true knowledge, understanding and tolerance we can work together to bring about peaceful reform and progress, laying the foundations of a prosperous and peaceful environment for our people, and giving them the chance to enjoy the benefits that are accepted as normal here in the West.

Like you, I have made a major commitment to learn. I hope that as you now go out into the world entering your chosen professions and occupations, you will make a new commitment to keep studying - for the world changes at a dizzying pace - and to make your own contributions to a better world. DonÍt leave it all to the politicians. It is too easy to blame them. Whether as doctors, teachers, artists, journalists or - as in my case, in business - we all have important contributions to make. Westminster University has given you the best possible foundation for that endeavour.

This is your century, and I wish you every success.

This is almost certainly the first major intervention by a significant regional business leader designed to help build civil society in the region. In Paris last week (19 September 2003), MBI Al Jaber and the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura formalised mutually agreed programmes and projects that will be sponsored by the MBI Al Jaber Foundation, including a project to reform the education system at all levels in the Arab world, the Arabization of internet domain names, and Kitab Fi-Jarida, an innovative programme designed to bring literature to the mass market through serialisation in popular newspapers.

This is the latest demonstration of MBI Al Jaber's commitment to education and reform in the region. Under his patronage, the MBI Al Jaber Foundation has defined its mission to promote better understanding between the peoples of the Middle East, North Africa and the wider world, fostering links of cooperation amongst nations through education, science, culture and communication, with the aim of creating a healthy society where peace and democracy prevail.

Through his Foundation he has for many years offered scholarships to students from across the Arab world for postgraduate study at some of the world's finest educational institutions. He is also dedicated to the pursuit of better education and opportunities for women, recently donating some £4 million to the Dar Al-Hekma private college for girls in Jeddah. Of the 19 students to graduate this year, 7 have won MBI Al Jaber Foundation scholarships to continue their studies in London.

MBI Al Jaber has proposed to UNESCO the formation of a group of scholars and Arab Educational experts to include ALESCO (Arab League for Education, Science & Culture) based in Tunis & ISESCO (Islamic Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organisation ) based in Rabat, as a forum for educational strategies towards building modern societies in the Arab World.

MBI Al Jaber said: "I have always strongly believed that peace and stability in the Middle East can only be brought about with better education, which in turn is a prerequisite for democracy. UNESCO's pursuit of peace and security based on human rights and fundamental freedoms is totally in accordance with my own beliefs."

Robert Springborg, a political scientist who has done a great deal of work on democratization and globalization, we recruited from his position as Director of the American Research Centre in Cairo.

Professor Springborg has established a strong reputation for consultancy research projects and has worked for the US administration, the World Bank and the European Union. He is joined in London by his wife, Anne-Marie, who is an Economist by training and more recently a judge/jurist.

In addition to holding the MBI Al Jaber Chair, Professor Springborg is also the first Director of the new London Middle East Institute.

Dr Bruce Ingham of SOAS presented MBI Al Jaber his degree and spoke as follows -

"Sheikh Mohamed's widespread business interests in the service sector and particularly in the leisure and resort industries, initially in Saudi Arabia and later as Chair of a world-wide concern, have brought him into contact with the community, and especially the younger generation, from a variety of countries.

These contacts have produced in him a keen desire to work for the benefit of the people of the Arab world particularly through strengthening human resources through education and cultural enrichment and to promote positive interaction between the Arab world and Europe."

Objectives

• To make literature freely available to individuals and households, particularly those who lack the financial means to buy books.
• To enable Arabs in different cities and countries across the region to share the same texts simultaneously, thereby creating in international literary community.
• To encourage familiarity with Arabic contemporary art through the use of images by leading artists.
• To increase cultural awareness and literacy in Arab countries.
• To increase cultural and scientific interaction between the various parts of the Arab World through recognition of a common heritage.
• To increase the recognition of quality writers and artists from the Arab world through the wide publication and distribution of their work.
• To encourage a new generation of learners and readers to seek knowledge for its own sake, and for the sake of civilization and humanity.

Achievements to date

For the past ten years more than eighty books of traditional and contemporary Arabic masterpieces have been edited and distributed via a network of more than twenty daily newspapers in the Arab world. This amounts to an average of about three million copies of each book, giving a total free distribution in the whole region of two hundred and fifty million books (250,000,000).  This accomplishment was noted by UNESCO in its 170th Executive Board.

Soros, an American billionaire financier who established the Open Society Institute to promote civil society and rule of law in nearly all of the countries in the developing world, especially in Eastern Europe and the former soviet republics, expressed his enthusiasm about exploring cooperation in the Arab world in cultural and educational matters with Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber, a businessman recently appointed UNESCO Special Envoy for Education, Tolerance, and Cultures to build Peace and Democracy in the Region.

Dr. Ebtisaam Fakahani, dean of the college, said the time had come for education to move away from memorization and dictation to a system where students apply their minds, master the art of comprehension, develop creative skills and gain real experience.

The chairman of the college's board of trustees, Zuhair Fayez, underlined the government's efforts to encourage private education, especially women's education, and the application of technology to further develop and advance knowledge.

His Majesty the King was received by Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed, who is chairman of the Darul Ilm organization which runs the college. During the function the founders and donors were also honoured. King Abdullah handed over the graduation certificates to the parents of the students.

On behalf of the parents, Nabeel Ahmad Baashan said the presence of His Majesty King Abdullah was an honour to education and testimony to the unity that bound the people and the leadership of the country together. Encouraging education had been a policy of the state since the establishment of modern Saudi Arabia.

Baashan thanked the donors and others who supported the college for their generous contributions and thanked the teaching staff for their untiring efforts, which culminated in the successful graduation of the first group of students.

Iman Nafiz Murad, whose daughter Sabah Al-Safdi was among the graduates, spoke on behalf of the mothers of the students and thanked the crown prince and all those who helped the students achieve the success they deserved.

Opened in September 1999, Dar Al-Hekma College is built on the Islamic faith, academic excellence and intellectual curiosity. It was founded when prominent members of the Jeddah community recognized that there was a need for sophisticated higher education for young Saudi women, with high quality academic programs.

The founders asked the Texas International Education Consortium to work with local and international experts to plan the college and design its curricula.

The college is a private, non-profit institution whose mission is to provide selected degree programs to academically qualified women. Its emphasis is on fostering creativity and women's role in society.

The college considers itself a "creative learning community for students who are actively engaged in the teaching and learning process."

Academic programmes are offered in Arabic and English and have a strong foundation in general education, including Islamic heritage and civilization and exposure to other world cultures. The three majors - Business Information Systems, Special Education, and Interior Design - are supplemented by an array of student activities including sports and a student newspaper.

Abdul Wahah Bashir: Arab News Staff AN photo by Adnan Mahadhi

In a press statement, he also disclosed plans to complete the southern part of the existing college building to accommodate more students.

Fayez said an SR21 million donation by prominent Saudi businessman Mohammed Bin Issa Al Jaber will be used to carry out the projects.

The chairman commended MBI Al Jaber's continuous support for educational institutions within and outside the Kingdom. He said the new college building would be named after MBI Al Jaber and one of its laboratories after the Mohammed Bin Issa Foundation.

Ms. Battaini-Dragoni praised MBI Al Jaber for his Foundation achievements. Both parties shared their views on several areas of mutual interest.

President Pottering thanked MBI Al Jaber for his efforts towards the advancement of education in the Middle East and for supporting projects aimed at building bridges between Europe, the broader Middle East region and the wider world.

President Pottering is shortly to visit officially the region due to his respective particular interest in it.

He is photographed here just after the award ceremony alongside the General Secretary of UNESCO, Mr. Koïchiro Matsura.

This nomination is the fruition of MBI Al Jaber's many activities in support of Arab culture through his bold and efficient actions at a time when the Arab world is undergoing major changes. MBI Al Jaber is a result-oriented businessman who brings wide-ranging endeavours in support of higher learning to the Arab world.

In 2003 and subsequently 2006, MBI Al Jaber signed ambitious agreements with Mr Matsuura to promote educational and curriculum reform and teacher training in order for students from the region to compete better with their counterparts in the world. In addition, MBI Al Jaber and UNESCO are committed to improving Arabic internet applications as well as the Kitâb fî Jarîda Project, in which a free literary book is periodically inserted inside dozens of Arab newspapers across the region.

MBI Al Jaber is playing an increasingly important role in confronting the negative impact of certain aspects of the cultural and educational scene in the Arab world. The necessity and effectiveness of these successful pilot projects have prompted the Director-General of UNESCO to further strengthen additional cooperation between UNESCO and MBI Al Jaber as part of UNESCO's mandate as an international organization paving the way to peace via cooperation and tolerance through education, teaching, culture and communication.

In addition to outlining MBI Al Jaber's contribution to the city in the realm of business, including his famous hotels, Mr. Haeupl pointed out the numerous educational initiatives of MBI Al Jaber and his MBI Al Jaber Foundation, which contributes to a better understanding between people of the Middle East and the rest of the World, especially with Europe.

In Vienna, the Foundation supports Arab students to study at Modul University Vienna as part of its scholarship programmes, and MBI Al Jaber personally has also provided scholarships to young Austrian citizens of Vienna allowing them to study in the international atmosphere of MODUL.

The talk, which will be in the form of a conversation with Vice-Provost Professor Michael Worton returns to some of the topics previously addressed in March 2006 when MBI Al Jaber spoke on ‘Educational Reform and the Culture of Democracy in the Arab World’.  

‘Education, Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy in the 21st Century’ takes place on Thursday 22 October 2009 in Room 106 Roberts Building, UCL at 7 pm and will be followed by a reception.

Those interested in attending should contact our Conference Organiser, Ms. Suhad Jarrar-Browne, at events@mbifoundation.com by 9th October 2009.

The Economic and Business History Research Center (EBHRC) was established in 2004 to create a repository of primary recordings of first hand accounts to Egypt’s contemporary history with regard to its economic and business history. The primary aim of EBHRC is to preserve the heritage and untold history of Egypt through the memories of the Egyptian people.  EBHRC identifies, acquires, classifies, and makes available for qualified researchers selected documents, collections of private papers, records of oral history, and rare publications relevant to the social and economic history of Egypt, focusing on the business history of Egypt. 

EBHRC also receives financial and scholarly support from Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Washington. Founding faculty includes Professor Abdelaziz Ezzelarab of the Economics Department and Director of EBHRC, Professor Ellis Goldberg of the Political Science Department and Director of the Middle East Center at University of Washington, Professor Roger Owen of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University, Professor Emeritus Robert Tignor of the History Department at Princeton University and Professor Robert Vitalis of the Political Science Department at the University of Pennsylvania.

The Center is the only one of its kind; EBHRC runs the only Business History programme on and in the Middle East. 

EBHRC will be holding its sixth AUC Annual Forum On The Economic and Business History of Egypt and the Middle East this May.   

For more information on the EBHRC, please visit http://www.aucegypt.edu/ResearchatAUC/rc/ebhrc/about/Pages/default.aspx. 

This honour is in recognition of his services to higher education in the UK in general and to Corpus Christi in particular including the major donation to the new auditorium at the College named the MBI Al Jaber Building.

The Fellowship will be conferred at a ceremony which also marks the official opening of the MBI Al Jaber Building, on 23rd October 2009.  The citation, read by the Right Honourable Lord Patton of Barnes, follows:

“Sheikh Mohamed bin Issa al Jaber, whom I now present for admission to an Honorary Fellowship, is a highly successful businessman who has shared the fruits of his labours to promote peace and understanding between the peoples of the Middle East and to advance learning and research in relation to the Middle East at the highest level in the United Kingdom and in other countries. Through his expertise and entrepreneurship he has built up a world-wide chain of hotels, which includes some famous establishments.

He has helped to provide vision and leadership among young Arabs by providing scholarships for them to study at the School of Oriental and African Studies and other institutions of higher learning in London and has been a benefactor to University College London. Sheikh Mohamed has established The Olive Tree scholarship scheme at City University to encourage mutual understanding and to create a community of graduates committed to the pursuit of human rights and economic welfare.

It is for his support for Corpus Christi College that we especially honour Sheikh Mohamed today.  He has made possible the construction of the most important building to be constructed on the main site in three hundred years, the MBI al Jaber Building.
I present a man of the highest distinction in business and educational philanthropy.

Admission by the President
You are at once a humane supporter of education and a promoter of peace and understanding. Your services to Corpus Christi College are of the highest distinction. Acting on my own authority and that of the College, I admit you to its roll of honorary fellows.”

Other Honorary Fellows of this ancient college include illustrious persons from all walks of life such as the novelist Vikram Seth and the statesman William Waldegrave. World famous tenor, Dr. Ian Bostridge, is also an Honorary Fellow of Corpus and will give a recital at the opening ceremony.

Photo by Simon Chapman Photography

http://www.ccc.ox.ac.uk/p/Emeritus-Honorary-and-Foundation-Fellows/

The opening of the MBI Al Jaber Building marks the culmination of a project started in June of 2007, when the MBI Al Jaber Foundation announced its pledge of £1 million towards the project. The new Building has been built into the bastion of the ancient City wall, and preserving the original features of the bastion such as the arrow-slots and embrasures of the bastion, cuts an impressive sight on the campus amid the College’s ancient beautiful buildings and many picturesque gardens.

The MBI Al Jaber Building, which holds a 150-seat lecture theatre and two seminar rooms, will provide a state of the art venue for drama, musical performance and lectures. The auditorium has modular seating that can accommodate various smaller events and meetings.  Large picture windows bring natural light into the auditorium and sliding glass screens to the foyer open to the first floor terrace in front of the Building which provides views of both the Cathedral and the colleges' gardens.  The Handa Terrace, donated by Mr Haruhisa Handa, is the Building’s rooftop garden boasting beautiful views across Christ Church Meadow to the river.

The building has already received favourable reviews from architectural historians and Sir Tim Lankester, President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, England, noted that it was "the most important building on Corpus’s central site in the last 300 years."

In 2005, the Foundation previously made a grant to help the College with the architectural competition for the design of the building: /projects/corpus-christi---a-new-building-

Corpus Christi College was founded in 1517, with an aim to advance understanding and encourage new ways of thinking.  Its small tight-knit community consists of 240 undergraduates and 115 graduate students and a staff of 40 academic Fellows, distinguished teachers and researchers in their fields. For more information on the College: http://www.ccc.ox.ac.uk

Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber, in conversation with Professor Michael Worton, Vice-Provost of UCL, discussed a wide range of subjects, from philosophical, economic and personal perspectives. Topics included social responsibility as the motivation for philanthropy, the power of literature and the MBI sponsored Kitab fi Jarida programme, the general encouragment of the human philanthropic impulse, the paramount need for transparency rather than mere regulation of financial institutions in the present economic climate, and the MBI Al Jaber's view of the role of calculated risk-taking for young entrepreneurs in business. He made very clear the close connections between all of this and his own daily business life and personal outlook.

During the conversation, Professor Worton cited the recent report by the Centre for Social Cohesion ‘A degree of Influence’ praising MBI Al Jaber as an example of best practice, as his MBI Al Jaber Foundation donates to universities without conditions and not to promote any personal or business agendas. MBI Al Jaber commented further on this by emphasising that his motivation stems from a sense of responsibility towards elevating educational levels in the Arab world as a key issue towards development and peace, as well as bridging the gap with the rest of the world.

During the reception which followed, courtesy of UCL, MBI Al Jaber gave sufficient time for every single guest who approached him to discuss the subjects raised earlier and also other topics of interest.  The lecture and reception were attended by MBI Alumni and staff, UCL students and staff, other UK universities students and staff, and representatives of diplomatic missions in London.

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0911/09110402

2009-12-08 - زينب حسن

ايماناً منه بقدرة العرب على القيام بالفعل استناداً الى تاريخهم ومواكبتهم للعصر بكل ادواته الفكرية والثقافية والاقتصادية ناهيكم عن السياسية ، وانطلاقاً من انه يسعى دائماً للتميز الذي استحق عليه لقباً بأنه اكثر رجال الاعمال تميزاً، ولأنه انسان عربي قادر ومتميز اصدر الكاتب ورجل الأعمال محمد بن عيسى الجابر المبعوث الخاص لمدير عام اليونسكو للتسامح والديمقراطية والسلام ، كتاباً جديداً بعنوان : "نعم.. العرب أيضًا قادرون" .
والكتاب الذي صدر في مئتين وخمسين صفحة من القطع المتوسط، يشتمل على ستة فصول إضافة إلى خمسة ملاحق مع مقتطفات من مقابلة أُجرِيَتْ مع المؤلف مطلع كانون الثاني (يناير)2009.
وقدَّم للكتاب وزير الثقافة المصري والفنان التشكيلي فاروق حسني فكتب "الذين يتطلعون إلى الغد يستمدون من ماضيهم وتجاربهم مرتقين لهذا التطلع.. الذين يقرأون واقعهم جيدًا يستخلصون صعوباته، ويدركون المساحات المتاحة لمشاركاتهم في صناعة هذا الواقـع، بعـد إدراكهم لمقدراتهم ونصيبهم الحضاري، وكيفية استعماله للوصول إلى التحقق والحضور المتماثل مع حضور الآخر من شركاء الواقع، الذي هو شريك في المستقبل أيضًا".
" "نعم.. العرب أيضًا قادرون" إنه الإيجاب الذي يميز المنفتح، والإجابة التي تسبق آلام الصياغة للسؤال عن قدراتنا كأمة في الإسهام اللائق في صياغة اللحظة الراهنة أو المقبلة في المصير الإنساني.. هذا الإيجاب الذي يصنع الانحياز لفكرته، ويجذب القارئ من قلق الحياد السالب إلى رحابة الإيجابية في النظرية والفعل اللذين يدعوان- الكاتب والكتاب - إلى تبنّيهما كأُسس داعمة؛ للمشاركة الحضارية الواجبة على العرب في هذا العصر".
وفي كلمة على الغلاف آثر المؤلف الذي وُلد في جدة عام 1959 أن يلخِّصَ كتابه في بضعة أسطر فقال:
"نعم، العرب قادرون على مضاعفة الجهود على المستويين العام والخاص: بغية تحقيق التكامل الاقتصادي والاجتماعي العربيين، وتحقيق التنمية الاقتصادية والاجتماعية كذلك، وجعلها أكثر قدرةً على الاندماج في الاقتصاد العالمي، والتعامل مع التجمعات السياسية والاقتصادية الإقليمية والدولية، وبالتالي مواجهة تداعيات الأزمة المالية العالمية على الدول والشعوب العربية.
نعم، هناك وعي عربي رسمي وشعبي قادر على خلق دينامية جديدة، تعيد للأمة دورها الفاعل ومساهمتها الإيجابية، للمشاركة في بناء صرح الحضارة الإنسانية المعاصرة، وضمان مستقبل أفضل للأجيال العربية الصاعدة والقادمة".
وصاحب الكتاب "نعم.. العرب أيضًا قادرون" محمد بن عيسى الجابر هو شريك اليونسكو في عديد من مشروعاتها الثقافية والتربوية الكبرى في الوطن العربي، والناطق الرسمي باسم الأمم المتحدة لمنتديات الحكم الرشيد.
يذكر ان محمد بن عيسى الجابر الحاصل على درجة الزمالة من جامعة اوكسفورد البريطانية أنه على مدى ستة قرون، كانت الحضارة العربية حضارة عالمية، منفتحة على الشعوب كافة، أخذت إبداعات من حضارات قديمة وكيّفتها في البوتقة الإسلامية، وفي صلب حضارة أمة متعددة وموحّدة في آن، وكانت اللغة العربية هي الحاملة للإبداعات في الفقه والحديث وتفسير القرآن، والنحو والبلاغة والشعر، والفلسفة والتصوف والفلك وعلوم الرياضيات والكيمياء والعلـوم الطبيعية والتجريبية.
هذا و يناقش الكتاب في فصوله الستة قضايا، مثل:
العرب بين الأمس واليوم، والعولمة فرصة لنهضة عربية حقيقية، والواجبات الأدبية، والحكم الرشيد والإصلاح الإداري، والتنمية المستدامة، والاقتصاد الحر: أزمة عابرة أم تحول حضاري؟.
ويختم محمد بن عيسى الجابر كتابه بملاحق حول: القرارات الصادرة عن القمة العربية الاقتصادية والتنموية والاجتماعية التي انعقدت في الكويت في التاسع عشر والعشرين من كانون الثاني (يناير) 2009، أما الملحق الثاني فهو قرارات قمة G 20 المنعقدة في لندن في الثاني من نيسان (أبريل) 2009.
والملحق الثالث حول أزمة الإنترنت والرهن العقاري، وأما الملحق الرابع فعن فيدرالية الصحفيين المهنيين في كيبك "كند: مرشد الواجبات الأدبية "مقتطفات" والملحق الأخير: محمد بن عيسى الجابر: أتعلم من تجارب الآخرين: مقتطفات من المقابلة التي نشرت في مجلة "الاقتصاد والأعمال" اللبنانية العدد 349 كانون الثاني (يناير)2009.
ويذكر محمد بن عيسى الجابر حائز على لقب شخصية العام 2008 لحوار الثقافات والأديان والمحاضر في العلاقات الدولية والإدارة والتنمية المستدامة في جامعة هوبكنز – واشنطن - وعدد من الجامعات في لندن وفرنسا أنه بدأت النهضة بصفتها حركة لغوية أدبية، ناتجة عن الاحتكاك بأوروبا. ومن أبرز رجالاتها: بطرس البستاني "توفي 1883"، وناصيف إبراهيم اليازجي، وإبراهيم الدسوقي، ومحمود سامي البارودي، وأديب إسحق، وإبراهيم المويلحي، وما تميزوا به هو المعاجم والشعر والأدب، ولم يكونوا مصلحين اجتماعيين أو دينيين، بل كانوا مصلحين للّغة والأسلوب وإعادة استكشاف الماضي للتعبير عن الحاضر، فانتزعوا اللغة العربية من علماء الدين ، ووظفوها في عالم العلمانية والحداثة.
أما من نَهل من فكر التنوير الفلسفي المتزامن مع الاكتشافات العلمية وانبثاق الدولة الوطنية والإصلاح الديني، فأشهرهم الطهطاوي "1801-1873"، والكواكبي "المتوفي 1902" ، وخير الدين التونسي، وأنطوان فرح، وقاسم أمين.
وقد ازدهرت النهضة في مصر بفضل جمال الدين الأفغاني، ومحمد عبده، ورشيد رضا، في عهد الخديوي إسماعيل "1863-1871"؛ فصارت مصر هي مقر النهضة، فاحتضنت انبعاث العروبة الثقافية، مثلما استقبلت تيار الإصلاح الديني.
وكان هاجس هؤلاء العلماء والمفكرين هو النهضة والإصلاح الديني والسياسي والاجتماعي بمنظار تحديثي علماني عقلاني.
ولا شك أن مصطفى كمال في تركيا، وبورقيبة في تونس، وناصر في مصر، قد تأثروا بهذا التيار الإصلاحي النهضوي، الذي أنبت مثقفين متنورين من أمثال محمد حسين هيكل، وعلي عبد الرازق، ولطفي السيد، وسلامة موسى، وطه حسين.. ثم جاءت الستينيات والسبعينيات من القرن الماضي لتطرد الإسلام من ساحة النقاش.. وأخذ البعض يمجد الثورة الماركسية والقومية، ومجَّد البعض الآخر أيديولوجية التغيير الأميركية، إلى أن استعادت الثورة الإيرانية المفهوم التقليدي للثورة، الذي أنهى المعادلة المساوية بين الثورة والتقدم والتحرر من الدين، وأصبح مفهوم الثورة الخمينية هو العودة الصريحة إلى الإسلام التقليدي.
ويشير محمد بن عيسى الجابر الحاصل على وسام الشرف من مدينة فيينا والحائز على ميدالية اليكسو الذهبية لدعمه الإصلاح التربوي في الوطن العربي، إلى أن الوضع الراهن يمتاز بوجود تيارين فكريين متصارعين:
الأول: يدعو إلى الحداثة، والتفكير بمسائل؛ مثل: الأصالة والحداثة، العروبة والإسلام، الديمقراطية والحرية، والنهضة والحضارة والتغريب.
ورغـم أن هذا التيـار يسعى إلى إحلال متصاعد للعقل الناقد، فإنه لا يزال قليل الإبداع.
الثاني: هو التيار الإسلامي الذي يسعى تحت شعار إعادة "أسلمة" المجتمع، إلى تحويل الدين لمجرد هوية ثقافية، تدعو إلى تطبيق أحكام العقاب في الشريعة؛ وبهذا التوجه يُختزل القرآن الكريم عمليًّا في الحدود والعقاب، دون التركيز على الإيمان والأخلاق والعقيدة البحتة. بل اتجه هذا التيار إلى مجال العمل السياسي، عبر تأكيد الدين كهوية ثقافية وسياسية، فمجّد الجهادية، كما بناها الفقهاء، في أحكام كانت متماشية مع العهود القديمة، ولكنها تتعارض مع قيم الحداثة من حرية وحقوق إنسان، وحقوق المرأة. وأصبح هدف هذا التيار هو الإطاحة بالنظم التحديثية من جهة، وإعادة "أسلمة" المجتمع من جهة أخرى.
ولكن هذا التيار الرافض مباشرة للآخر، يواجه تيارًا إسلاميًّا معتدلاً، يحرك أعماق الإسلام ، ويدعو إلى الإصلاح الذاتي، والانفتاح على الآخر والحوار معه في إطار حوار الأديان والحضارات. وهذا التيار الوسطي والمعتدل يهدف إلى التعايش بين الأديان والشعوب بسلام وتعاون وحسن جوار.
لاشك أن تعاقب المغول والتتار والعثمانيين على حكم العالم الإسلامي، قد أحدث انهيارًا في الحضارة والثقافة العربية الإسلامية التي شهدتها دمشق وبغداد والقاهرة وبلاد المغرب العربي.
وتلا هذا الانهيار سبات عميق، أعاد إلى المجتمعات العربية الإسلامية القيم القبلية والصراعات بين القبائل والأقطار، فانطوى كل بلد على ذاته، وأهمل متابعة ما يجري في الغرب من تحولات، بدءًا من القرن السادس عشر.
صحيح أن الإمبراطورية العثمانية قد خضعت لتعاليم القرآن، وتبنّت الأعياد الإسلامية، وأصبح السلطان ابتداءً من القرن السادس عشر، خليفة للمسلمين، إلا أن هذه الخلافة من غير العرب أدت إلى انفصام صلة الخلافة بالماضي العربي؛ حيث يتضافر الانتماء الإسلامي والانتماء العربي؛ فالعثمانيون المشهورون بحماستهم الحربية قد أعادوا الحياة إلى جبهة الجهاد، ولم تكن مرجعيتهم عربية، وقد غلبت على إيمانهم الشعائر الاجتماعية ذات الطابع السطحي.
أما علمـاؤهم، فقد اشتهروا في مجـالات الفنون المعمارية والهندسية والطبية، ولم يولوا اهتمامًا خاصًّا للتراث العربي الإسلامي واللغة العربية، كما كان حال البخاري والترمذي والنسائي والطبري، وجلّهم من أصل إيراني، وكانت لغتهم عربية وتخصصوا في الحديث وتفسير القرآن وكتابة التاريخ الإسلامي، واعينَ التقـاليد العربية، والأنساب. وهؤلاء أحبّوا الثقافة العربية الإسلامية التي كانت ثقافتهم الحق وطوَّروها.
ولذا فلا مقارنة بين الشعور الإسلامي لمثل هؤلاء، وشعور عالم تركي من القرن السادس عشر أو السابع عشر؛ حيث انفصمت النخبة التركية عن عراها مع العروبة، فهناك عالم ذهني ثقافي بأكمله قد جهله العلماء العثمانيون، حتى ولو برعوا في اللغة العربية.
وهكذا ساد الركود الفكري الديني والفلسفي بداية من القرن السابع عشر؛ حيث أغلقت الخلافة العثمانية باب الاجتهاد. وبالرغم من أن جامعة الأزهر وجامع الزيتونة والقرويين قد حافظوا على الميراث القديم، إلا أن الركود الفكري ساده، وكذلك الجمود الفقهي.
وقد أدى إغلاق باب الاجتهاد إلى الموت البطيء لتسع عشرة مدرسة فقهية، ساهمت في تكييف الإسلام مع التطور الحضاري العربي الإسلامي، وفي بناء عصور الازدهار الحضاري.
وقد أدّى تفكك الإمبراطورية العثمانية إلى اجتهادات فقهية وفتاوى، لا ترتقي إطلاقًا إلى المستوى العلمي والديني والفلسفي للمدارس الفقهية الإسلامية السابقة.
لكن الاستعمار كان الحافز ليقظة العرب، وقد أثبتوا في القرن العشرين قدرتهم على المواجهة والمجابهة، وتمكنوا من التحرر من الاستعمـار، باستثناء فلسطين التي بدأت قضيتها كمشكلة دولية، ولا تزال الظروف غير مؤاتية لحل دولي لها، بالرغم من تضحيات شعبها الكبيرة وإصراره على التحرر والاستقلال، وصراعه المستمر من أجل البقاء.
ويشير الكاتب محمد بن عيسى الجابر عضو مجلس الأمناء لجامعة اوكسفورد ونائب رئيس مجلس الأمناء لجامعة مودول في فيينا إلى أن الوطن العربي بدأ يُقلّص تدريجيًّا الهوة السحيقة مع الغرب، ولكن رغم إنجازاته الكبيرة في نشر التعليم والتقدم الصحي والبناء والتصنيع وتحديث الفلاحة والزراعة ، ومواكبة التطور في مجال الاتصال والإعلام، فإنه مازال بعيدًا عن المستوى الاقتصادي والعلمي والثقافي والتقني والعسكري للعالم الغربي، فلا يزال أمام العرب تحدي الإبداع التكنولوجي والإلكتروني والتقدم في العلم ونمو الاقتصاد المنتج والمجدد.
وصحيح أيضًا أن للعرب لغة ودينًا وثقافة موروثة، ولكنها حاليًا لا تساهم في بناء الثقافة الحديثة؛ فالثقافة المبدعة اليوم لم تعد إسلامية كما كان عليه الحال في القرون الوسطى، عندما كانت علوم القرآن والحديث والفقه وأصول الفقه والكلام والفلسفة والتصوف، وكذلك علوم التاريخ والعلوم الطبيعية والفلك والعلوم التجريبية، تقود العالم ثقافيًّا إلى حدود القرن الخامس عشر الميلادي؛ فقد ماتت تلك الثقافة الدينية والدنيوية مع نهاية القرن الخامس عشر.
أما النتاج الإبداعي العربي اليوم - إذا ما نظرنا إليه كمحصِّلة عامِّة تشمل كل الدول العربية وليس كأفرادٍ أبدعوا هنا وهناك وخصوصا خارج العالم العربي – في مختلف الأشكال الحديثة للإبداع كالسينما والرواية والمسرح والفنون التشكيلية، ناهيك عن الفلسفة والتاريخ والعلم والتكنولوجيا والمعلوماتية والموسيقى والفضاء الخارجي..فإننا نجد هذا النتاج لا يرقى إلى مستوى المساهمة والمشاركة الفعلية في بناء الثقافة الإنسانية المعاصرة.
ولا تزال الثقافات العربية إذن في عمومها مطبوعة بتقليد حضاري، منغرس في التاريخ وفي الحنين إلى الماضي، وفرز هويات ولغة وانتماء ديني، والتفاخر والاستهلاك والتقليد، دونما تفاعل بين الحضارة العربية الإسلامية والثقافات المعاصرة.
فالمرجو اليوم - كما يشير محمد بن عيسى الجابر - هو متابعة التقدم الحاصل في الغرب، في المجال الفكري والعلمي والفني والأدبي ودراسته وهضمه، ثم وضع استراتيجية عربية ثقافية وحضارية في المجال العلمي والفكري والفني، كما هو الحال في الصين والهند والبرازيل.
وما يشجع على السير في هذا الطريق هو الوعي العربي الجديد، والارتباطات القوية بين الأقطار والشعوب، والانفتاح الكبير الحاصل على التيارات الخارجية، والتوجه نحو المشاركة في إنشاء تجمعات إقليمية، يحددها الجوار والجغرافيا والمصالح الاقتصادية المشتركة.
وهذا التوجه سيساهم في تخطي التجزئة من جهة، وسيعزز البنى التحتية من جهة أخرى، وسيولي الاقتصاد أولوية على السياسة. فدور الدولة اليوم هو أن تصبح الحافز على التقدم المادي والمعنوي، وإفساح المجال أمام المجتمع المدني أن يلعب الدور المنوط به.
فالدولة في العالم العربي لم تعد كما كانت في الستينيات والسبعينيات من القرن الماضي. لقـد كانت في زمن الثورات والاستقلال مفرطة في أهدافها وطموحاتها. وكان يعتري قادتها الشعور بتملك الحقيقة المطلقة، ولم تتسامح مع من يخالفها الرأي. وشعور تملك الحقيقة جعل كل الثورات تلجأ إلى القمع ومناهضة الديمقراطية، وطوّر لديها العقدة:
- الشعور بالاضطهاد تجاه الداخل والخارج - خصوصا أنها تأسست على مثال النظام الشيوعي، واختلقت قضايا كبرى التفت حولها الجماهير بعواطفها.
وهكذا، وبعد الاستقلال، صار الحديث السائد هو خطاب الثورة وليس حديث الإصلاح، فأصبح توكيد الذات الثورية وسكرة التجديد ورغبة التغير لا يدع مجالاً للتخطيط العلمي والواقعي، أو إلى وضع استراتيجيات طويلة الأمد من أجل التنمية والتحديث.
ونتيجة لتلك السياسات غير الواقعية والمفرطة بأهدافها، فقد أصبحت الدولة اليوم في معظم البلاد العربية؛ خصوصا الثورية سابقًا، عاجزة عن القيام بمسؤولياتها؛ وبهذا أضحت تتخلى عن تلك الأهداف المفرطة تدريجيًّا، ونتج عن ذلك قطيعة تدريجية بين الدولة والشعب، وبدأ الشعب يعيش على هامش الدولة. وقد استغلت الحركات الإسلامية ذلك وأصبحت تتموضع بين الدولة والشعب، مستغلة القلق العام تجاه المستقبل، ومحاولات الدول الكبرى الهيمنة على الدول الضعيفة، باسم الاقتصاد تارة، وباسم أيديولوجية حقوق الإنسان تارة أخرى.
وبعض الدول تنظر إلى الديمقراطية كأداة ميكانيكية، فأخذت بمظاهرها الخارجية كالتعددية الحزبية والبرلمانية والانتخابات وحكم الغالبية، ولم تأخذ المضمون الأساسي، ألا وهو الإنسان كقيمة عليا، ومن ثَمَّ الكرامة الإنسانية والضمير الإنساني والحرية الإنسانية كقيم أساسية لكل ديمقراطية.
والديمقراطية كما يراها محمد بن عيسى الجابر تُبنى على توازنات دقيقة بين الفئات الاجتماعية ومصالحها، فهي بهذا تستبعد العاطفة، ولا تلجأ لوسائل القمع كما كان الحال بالأنظمة الشيوعية، وفي الدكتاتوريات العالمثالثية، وبعض الأنظمة المتمسكة بالأساليب السلطوية عبر طرح إشكاليات الهوية أو التراث أو القومية أو الحداثة أو الإسلام السياسي، وهي في الحقيقة عاجزة عن طرح المشكلات الحقيقية؛ مما جعلها هشة وعرضة أمام التدخلات الخارجية كما حصل في أكثر من دولة عربية، فالمشكلات الحقيقية التي تواجه المسار التنموي في المنطقة العربية هي في الأساس مشكلات اجتماعية واقتصادية وثقافية؛ فالفقر وتدهور أحوال السكن، بالإضافة إلى عدم كفاية الخدمات الاجتماعية والصحية ونظم الحماية الاجتماعية، تشكـل عقبـات خطيرة أمـام التنمية في العـالـم العـربي بشكل عام.
والجدير ذكره ان محمد بن عيسى الجابر من رجالِ الأعمالِ العربِ القلائلِ الذين راهنوا على نَماءِ الفكرِ العربيِّ سبيلاً لتحقيق النهوضِ الحضاريِّ لأوطانِنا. واستغلَّ لتحقيق رهانِه ما مَنَّ عليه الله به من مالٍ حلالٍ اجتهد كلَّ طاقاتِه في تصريفِه صوبَ إنجازِ مشاريعَ تربويّة وثقافيّة ببعضِ الأقطار العربيّةِ حتى صارت له أيادٍ بيضاءُ في العديد من الأنشطة التعليمية والخيرية من خلال تمويلِه مجموعةً من المنح الدراسية للطلبة المتفوقين من الشرق الأوسط لاستكمال تعليمهم في جامعة أوكسفورد وكامبردج وكلية لندن للاقتصاد وجامعة لندن والجامعة الأميركية في بيروت والجامعة الأميركية في القاهرة والمدرسة المتخصصة بالدراسات الشرقية والأفريقية.
وقام محمد بن عيسى بتشييد مبنًى جديدٍ لكلية دار الحكمة في جدة، كما عقد سلسلة من الاتفاقيات مع منظمة اليونسكو لدعم إعادة هيكلة التعليم في العالم العربي وتعريب الإنترنت إضافة إلى مشروع " كتاب في جريدة" الذي يلعب دوراً هاماً في نشر الثقافة في العالم العربي.

http://www.arrouwad.com/news.php?id=25993

في كلية كوربوس كريستي – أكسفورد

Corpus Christi College, Oxford

تقديراً لخدماته في التعليم العالي في المملكة المتحدة بصفة عامة وعلى وجه الخصوص في كوربوس كريستي بما في ذلك التبرع لقاعة المحاضرات الكبرى التي تحمل إسمه، أُختيرَ معالي الشيخ محمد بن عيسى الجابر MBI Al Jaber زميلاً فخرياً في كلية كوربوس كريستي بجامعة أكسفورد. وذلك في اجتماع الهيئة الرئاسية الذي عقد في يونيو 2009.

وفي الثالث والعشرين من ت 1/أكتوبر المنصرم 23/10/09 مُنِحت هذه الزمالة في حفل شهد أيضاً الافتتاح الرسمي لمبنى محمد بن عيسى الجابر ويُعتبر الوحيد الذي أُضيف داخل الحرم الجامعي منذ 300 عاماً. وخلال الاحتفال تحدث اللورد كريس باتن رئيس الجامعة قائلاً:

"يسعدني أن أمنح الشيخ محمد بن عيسى الجابر وسام الزمالة الفخرية وهو رجل أعمال ناجح للغاية، يجاهد في العالم أجمع من أجل تعزيز السلام والتفاهم بين شعوب الشرق الأوسط، وعلى النهوض بمستوى التعليم والبحوث بالنسبة لمنطقة الشرق الأوسط وعلى أعلى المستويات في المملكة المتحدة وبلدان أخرى. ومن خلال خبرته وروح المبادرة لديه أسس في العالم سلسلة من المشاريع الكبرى، وعدداً من المؤسسات الشهيرة. وقد ساعد على تقديم الرؤية والقيادة بين الشباب العربي من خلال تقديم المنح الدراسية لهم للدراسة في أهم الجامعات البريطانية والأوربية، وله أياد بيضاء في كلية لندن الجامعية. كما قدّم الشيخ محمد منحاً دراسيّة في جامعة CITY (سيتي) لتشجيع التفاهم المتبادل، وخلق مجتمع من الخريجين ملتزم بالسعي من أجل حقوق الإنسان والرفاه الاقتصادي.

وبفضل الدعم الذي قدمه الشيخ محمد لكلية كوربوس كريستي تمكنّا من تشييد المبنى الأكثر أهمية في الجامعة، فكان الرجل الأكثر تميّزاً في الأعمال الخيرية والتعليمية".

وأضاف رئيس الجامعة موجها كلامه للشيخ محمد بن عيسى الجابر: "أنت أبرز مؤيد وداعم للتعليم والسلام والتفاهم، وخدماتك لكلية كوربوس كريستي هي أعلى امتياز لدينا، وبناء على صلاحياتي أقدم لك شهادة الزمالة الفخرية".

     يذكر أن عدداً من كبار الشخصيات حصلوا على الزمالة الفخرية من هذه الكلية العريقة ومنهم  أسماءٌ لامعة في جميع مناحي الحياة، مثل الروائي فيكرام سيث Vikram Seth ورجل الدولة وليام  ولدغريف William Waldegrave والدكتور إيان بوستردج Dr. Ian Bostridge.

http://www.ccc.ox.ac.uk/p/Emeritus-Honorary-and-Foundation-Fellows/

/news/mbi-al-jaber-honorary-fellow-of-corpus-christi-college-oxford

تصوير سيمون شابمان

كلام الصورة:

سعادة اللورد باتن أوف بارنز Lord Patten of Barnes، المستشار في جامعة أوكسفورد ومعالي الشيخ محمد بن عيسى الجابر في حفل منحه الزمالة الفخرية في كلية كوربوس كريستي بجامعة أوكسفورد Corpus Christi, Oxford.

محمد بن عيسى الجابر زميلاً فخرياً في كلية "كوربس كريستي – أكسفورد

Corpus Christi College, Oxford

Vienna is known to be a dynamic, cultural city with long-standing traditions and the center of education, culture, politics and economics in the country.

Viennese customs are reflected in the city’s well reputed catering trade and hotel industry, which have had a strong and positive impact on tourism.

Vienna is therefore the ideal place to learn the art of hospitality management, and the study of tourism in the city enjoys an excellent reputation recognised around the world.

On the 12^th September, 2009, the mayor of Vienna, Dr. Michael Häupl along with Sheikh Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber, Dr. Luciano Cirinà and MBA Hans Schmid, founded the MHFF Dr. Michael Häupl Promotion Funds for vocational promotion in tourism.

Their aim is to enable young, talented Viennese students who lack financial means, to graduate from well-reputed, Viennese, private universities and colleges that focus on tourism.

This fund will not only help young students to gain an excellent individual education, but the scheme will benefit the country by contributing towards strengthening and improving the competence of people working in this industry.

Find further information on http://michael-haeupl-foerderungsfonds.com/.  

Wien ist eine dynamische Stadt mit gelebten Traditionen.Eine dieser Traditionen findet sich in der klassischen und gehobenen Gastronomie und Hotellerie wieder.

Die Vorbildwirkung Wiens im Tourismus ist unbestritten: Die Hohe Schule des Hotelfachs und des Tourismus wird hier gelehrt und genießt weltweit einen ausgezeichneten Ruf und höchste Anerkennung.

Der MHFF Dr. Michael Häupl Förderungs Fonds zur Ausbildungsförderung im Tourismus wurde am 12. September 2009 vom Bürgermeister der Stadt Wien, Dr. Michael Häupl, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber, Dr. Luciano Cirinà und Dkfm.

Hans Schmid gegründet.Mit der Aufgabe, jungen, talentierten und zielstrebigen Wienerinnen und Wienern einen Abschluss an einer der renommierten Wiener Privatuniversitäten und Kollegs mit Schwerpunkt Tourismus zu ermöglichen, wenn ihnen die wirtschaftlichen Mittel dazu fehlen.

Dieser Fonds wird nicht nur jungen Menschen zu einer hervorragenden individuellen Ausbildung verhelfen.

Vielmehr wird er dazu beitragen, die Tourismus-Kompetenz Wiens und Österreichs in der Welt durch erstklassig ausgebildete Fremdenverkehrs-Fachleute nachhaltig zu stärken.

http://michael-haeupl-foerderungsfonds.com/