Sheikha Bodour Receives Honorary Professorship from UK’s University of Leicester

Leicester, UK, Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of the American University of Sharjah and prominent Emirati leader, has been awarded the first honorary professorship ever granted by the University of Leicester, a recognition of her global efforts to promote education, women’s empowerment, and cultural advancement.

The honorary title was conferred during a special ceremony at the University of Leicester’s School of Business. During her visit, Sheikha Bodour engaged with students and faculty and took part in a roundtable discussion on museum studies and research in the cultural sector.

“This recognition from the University of Leicester is deeply meaningful to me,” she said. “In Sharjah, we believe that education is a powerful tool for building cultural bridges and fostering understanding. I hope this honour inspires others, especially young women, to believe in their ideas, claim their space, and lead with purpose.”

A leading figure in the global publishing and cultural sectors, Sheikha Bodour has devoted her career to education, literacy, and social development. She is the founder and CEO of Kalimat Group, a pioneering Arabic publishing house that has released more than 500 socially conscious titles for children across over 15 countries. Under her leadership, Kalimat has launched literacy initiatives that have expanded access to books and learning materials in 31 nations.

Sheikha Bodour was instrumental in the UAE’s accession to the Marrakesh Treaty, which ensures access to published works for people who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print-disabled. In 2009, she founded the Emirates Publishers’ Association, leading it to gain full membership in the International Publishers Association (IPA) by 2012. A decade later, in 2020, she made history as the first Arab woman elected President of the IPA.

She has also played a vital role in promoting Sharjah’s cultural heritage on the world stage. As ambassador for the successful UNESCO World Heritage site nomination of the Faya Palaeolandscape, she helped spotlight one of the oldest and most continuous records of early human settlement, dating back over 210,000 years.

At home, Sheikha Bodour continues to champion gender equity and innovation in higher education. Under her guidance, the American University of Sharjah has launched six new research centres focused on artificial intelligence, sustainability, and Arab and Islamic studies. She has also expanded scholarships for students with disabilities and those from underprivileged backgrounds.

In collaboration with the Nama Women Advancement Establishment, she spearheaded the creation of the Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi Chair in Women’s Leadership, the UAE’s first endowed academic chair dedicated to advancing women’s leadership in higher education.

The University of Leicester’s honour reflects Sheikha Bodour’s wide-ranging contributions to education, cultural diplomacy, and social progress, both in the UAE and across the globe.