The University of Haifa will award an honorary doctorate to German Chancellor Angela Merkel during her visit to Israel on October 3-4.
The title will be awarded in recognition of her leadership which is based on equality, liberty and human rights; her being a model for women around the world; the resolute friendship she has fostered between Germany and the State of Israel; her strong stance against manifestations of racism and anti-Semitism; her contribution to the creation of connections between Jews and non-Jews in Germany and throughout Europe; and the great effort and resources she provides to strengthen the scientific ties between Israel and Germany, as reflected in the close research ties between Haifa University and many German research institutions.
“Throughout her life, Merkel has been an example of excellence, reason and humanity,” said President of the University of Haifa Prof. Ron Rubin. “It is a great privilege for us to grant her an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree from Haifa University, and I am proud and excited about the occasion.”
Born in Hamburg, Merkel has a Ph.D. in quantum chemistry from the University of Leipzig, where she served as a faculty member until 1990. She began her political career in 1989, serving for several months as the spokesperson for the East German government. With the unification of Germany, Merkel was elected as the representative of the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in the Bundestag (Federal Parliament of Germany), where she still serves as a representative of the Democratic Christian Union Party (CDU).
Throughout her years in office, Merkel strengthened the friendship between Germany and Israel; visited Israel several times and in 2008 held a special meeting in Israel of the German government, in honor of Israel’s 60th Independence Day.
During the honorary degree ceremony at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, on October 4, Merkel will meet with Jewish, Arab and German students studying at the University of Haifa, and will hold a discussion with them on “Education for Democracy in the 21st Century in Practice.”