China's First Lady receives Honorary Doctorate

Madame Peng was awarded the Doctor of Literature (honoris causa) in recognition of her international contributions to the performing arts and health and education programmes.

In the citation in advance of bestowing the honorary doctorate, Sir Richard Taylor noted Madame Peng’s distinguished academic and public service career:

In the 1980s, she was the first person in China to graduate with a Master’s degree in traditional ethnic music from the prestigious China Conservatory of Music, where she is now both a professor and PhD supervisor. Today she holds a wide array of senior positions in her areas of artistic expertise, including Vice-President of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Vice-Chair of the Chinese Musicians Association, and Dean of the Art Academy of the People's Liberation Army, where she holds the rank of Major-General. Madame Peng is also an Adjunct Professor at Peking University, China’s most highly-regarded university and a close and longstanding partner of Massey University.

Within China, Madame Peng has worked for many years to promote rural development, girls' and women's education, and public health. She has been an ambassador for tobacco control since 2009, and serves as Voluntary Advocate for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis control and prevention for the Chinese National Health and Family Planning Commission, which is another Massey University partner in China. In 2011 the World Health Organisation likewise appointed her as a Goodwill Ambassador for Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, a role that has involved her in a series of high-profile international events to promote concerted action on the two diseases. 

In March this year, the United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) named Madame Peng as a Special Envoy for the Advancement of Girls’ and Women’s Education in recognition of her commitment to empowering girls and women through access to quality education, her outstanding contribution to fighting inequalities in education, her devoted service to human development and creativity, and her dedication to UNESCO’s ideals and aims. Addressing Madame Peng, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova said, “To succeed, we need role models, and you are an immense role model for millions of young girls in China and beyond”.

ENZ’s China Team had suggested a visit by Madame Peng to CoCA, due to its status as the first art and design school outside of North America to be granted “substantial equivalency” by the US National Association of Schools of Art & Design.

“This visit – the only separate programme for Madame Peng while she was in New Zealand – showcased a niche area where New Zealand institutions are at the forefront globally”, says ENZ's Regional Director Alexandra Grace. 

“It was clear from the ceremony that Madame Peng was very pleased to receive this honour, and she was visibly impressed by the calibre of students’ work during her post-conferment tour.”

In her address, Madame Peng expressed her “heartfelt thanks”, describing Massey University as the “leading university in New Zealand” that had produced many outstanding graduates including government ministers, Olympic champions, an All Black coach and many business leaders.

“All are important contributors to the prosperity of the country and I believe, with this wonderful faculty and its students, Massey University will enjoy an even greater future," she said.

Find out more about Madame Peng’s visit to Massey University here.