The Bucharest University of Economic Studies conferred an Honorary Doctorate on the President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, at a ceremony held in Bucharest, Romania today (July 24, 2026). In her acceptance address, the President thanked the Rector, Senate and entire university community of the Bucharest University of Economic Studies for this recognition.
She accepted the honour as a reflection of the enduring friendship between the peoples of India and Romania. The President said that education has been the single most transformative force in her life. She stated that she had the privilege of working as a teacher and experienced first-hand how a single classroom, however modest, can change a family's future, and also whole community's future in course of time.
She underlined that education is not merely a means of individual advancement, but the foundation of a just and inclusive society. The President said that the friendship between India and Romania is based on mutual respect, trust and shared democratic values.
Education has been one of the strongest pillars of this partnership. For decades, Romanian Universities have welcomed Indian students, particularly in medicine, engineering and technology. She urged the Bucharest University of Economic Studies and other Romanian educational institutions to deepen cooperation through joint research and faculty and student exchanges.
The President said that today, as the world is being reshaped by artificial intelligence, digital technologies and other rapid scientific advances, universities like the Bucharest University of Economic Studies have even greater responsibility to ensure that wisdom, ethics and compassion guide knowledge.
The President told students that they are the architects of tomorrow's world. Success is measured not only by professional achievement, but also by the values they uphold and the positive difference they make in the lives of others. She advised them to remain curious in their pursuit of knowledge, confident in their abilities and compassionate in their actions.
She urged them to use their talents to build bridges across cultures and contribute to a more peaceful and prosperous world. The Bucharest University of Economic Studies is Romania's foremost institution for higher education in economics, business and public administration.
Established in 1913, it was the first university in Romania dedicated exclusively to economic sciences and has since educated generations of economists, policymakers, business leaders and public administrators. The Doctor Honoris Causa is the university's highest academic distinction, awarded to eminent personalities for exceptional contributions to academia, public service and international cooperation.