- Life of the Institution,
President Ursula von der Leyen receives the title of Doctor Honoris Causa from UT Capitole
on the June 9, 2023
On Friday 9 June 2023, the President of the European Commission was awarded one of the most prestigious academic distinctions at Toulouse Capitole University: the title of Doctor honoris causa.
On Friday 9 June 2023, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, was welcomed to Toulouse Capitole University. During a ceremony, the President of the University, Hugues Kenfack, awarded her the title of Doctor honoris causa to celebrate her exemplary career and to honour her current strategic role as head of the European executive.
Dr Ursula von der Leyen
Dr. Ursula von der Leyen, born 1958, was a member of the German Bundestag from 2009 to 2019 and a German Federal Minister for over fourteen years, first responsible for Family Affairs (2005-2009), then Labor and Social Affairs (2009-2013), and finally Defense (2013-2019).
After completing her medical studies, she passed a state examination and obtained a license to practice medicine in 1987, followed by a doctorate in 1991 and a master's degree in public health in 2001. She has been a member of the CDU (Christian Democratic Union) party since 1990. From 2003 to 2005, she was a member of the CDU parliamentary group in the Lower Saxony state parliament.
In 2019, she was elected President of the European Commission. As head of the European executive, she has defined six major ambitions for Europe to guide her term of office: a green "pact" for Europe, a Europe fit for the digital age, an economy at the service of people, a stronger Europe on the international stage, the promotion of our European way of life and a new impetus for European democracy. The transition to clean, local energy and efforts to create a more resilient European Union have become all the more important in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
After completing her medical studies, she passed a state examination and obtained a license to practice medicine in 1987, followed by a doctorate in 1991 and a master's degree in public health in 2001. She has been a member of the CDU (Christian Democratic Union) party since 1990. From 2003 to 2005, she was a member of the CDU parliamentary group in the Lower Saxony state parliament.
In 2019, she was elected President of the European Commission. As head of the European executive, she has defined six major ambitions for Europe to guide her term of office: a green "pact" for Europe, a Europe fit for the digital age, an economy at the service of people, a stronger Europe on the international stage, the promotion of our European way of life and a new impetus for European democracy. The transition to clean, local energy and efforts to create a more resilient European Union have become all the more important in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The title of Doctor honoris causa
The DHC title is one of the most prestigious distinctions awarded by universities. It honors foreign personalities for outstanding services to science, literature or the arts.
Updated on June 9, 2023