Frank Islam Conferred Hon. D.Sc. by Meghalaya Governor at USTM

12th Feb, 2019 145

Frank Islam Conferred Hon. D.Sc. by Meghalaya Governor at USTM

9th Mile, Ri Bhoi, 12 February, 2019: Frank Fakhrul Islam, a visionary entrepreneur, philanthropist, author, civic leader, and thought leader has been conferred Honorary Doctor of Science degree by the University of Science & Technology Meghalaya at a Special Convocation, while three more internationally acclaimed personalities were honoured for their exceptional and outstanding contributions to the world. The three recipients of the Hon. D.Litt. Degree are-- UAE based entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr P A Ibrahim Haji, eminent educationist from Shillong and Former Chairman of UPSC, New Delhi Prof David R Syiemlieh; and the Singapore-based entrepreneur and industrialist Sudip Dutta. The Degrees were conferred by Shri Tathagata Roy, Governor of Meghalaya and Visitor, USTM in the presence of Shri Lakhmen Rymbui, Minister of Education, Meghalaya; Mahbubul Hoque, Chancellor, USTM;Lt Gen Zamir Uddin Shah, Pro Chancellor, USTM;Dr P K Goswami, Vice Chancellor, USTM, apart from others.

Receiving the Hon. D.Sc., Mr Islam said that students are the promised potential of the world and that quality education is great power creator and opportunity generator. Thanking the Chancellor of USTM, he said, “The growth of USTM in less than a decade shows that the University will soon be an educational empowerment zone”. A graduate from Aligarh Muslim University, Frank F. Islam is an American entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist dedicated to supporting education across the world. Islam came to the United States aged just 15 and, in 1994, started his very first business with investment of just $500 dollars and one employee. After a decade, the IT firm, QSS Group, was turning over $300 million annual revenue and had more than 2,000 employees before he sold it. Mr. Islam currently heads the FI Investment Group, a private investment holding company that he established in 2007 after he sold the QSS Group.

Frank Islam is a passionate educationist. He is keenly interested in higher education and has been assisting youths in pursuing their objectives. Mr. Islam is actively involved in philanthropy and business activities as well. He founded The Frank Islam & Debbie Driesman Charitable Foundation in 2007. As an entrepreneur, Mr. Islam has served on the Board of Directors, The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), Washington, D.C. chapter (2007 to 2009). He is also Founding Member of Board of Maryland-India Business Roundtable and South Asia Center at Atlantic Council.Frank Islam has established a reputation as a writer and thought leader over the past several years. He has authored two books: “Working the Pivot Points: To Make America Work Again (2013)” and “Renewing the American Dream: A Citizen’s Guide for Restoring Our Competitive Advantage (2010)”. Apart from receiving the prestigious Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award for International Service for 2015, Frank Islam has also been presented The Indus Entrepreneurs (Tie) Legends Award for 2014.

The convocation ceremony at USTM was presided over by the Governor of Meghalaya. The Convocation Address was delivered by the Education Minister of Meghalaya. Earlier, Mahbubul Hoque, Chancellor of USTM welcomed the dignitaries and said that the University takes pride to honour the successful multifaceted and brilliant personalities and thanked them for coming to receive the Hon. Degrees from far away countries.