Chinese billionaire Jack Ma 'extremely humbled' by honorary degree from DLSU

De La Salle University bestowed a Doctor of Science in Technopreneurship, Honoris Causa on Chinese billionaire tycoon Jack Ma.

DLSU board of trustees chair Edgar Chua read a resolution conferring the honorary degree on Ma. The resolution was unanimously approved by the board on October 18.

"The board of trustees of De La Salle University approves and authorizes the conferment by the corporation on Ma Yun also known as Jack Ma, Doctor of Science in Technopreneurship, Honoris Causa with all the honors, privileges and duties," Chua said.

The founder and executive chairman of e-commerce giant Alibaba came to the Philippines upon the invitation of a DLSU student leader to officially receive his honorary degree.

"Thank you so much Mr. President, faculties, professors, my schoolmates. I'm extremely honored and humbled to be able to get this honor. I never thought in my life that I could be able to achieve this. When I heard about this news, I was sitting there and thinking, 'Hmmm, Doctor of Science in Technopreneurship is a great title', 'cause I'm not that technical a guy, Ma said in his acceptance speech on Wednesday.

"I know very little about technology and I've never been trained to be an entrepreneur, and my English I taught myself when I was a kid. I never got even one day training outside China for my language," he added.

"And this is a great university, it's long history and mission. And the thing that I'm most excited about is this university carries the mission of SDG—sustainable development [goals]. As one of the United Nations advocates for that, I feel extremely happy for our school to continue this mission. I believe it's not technology that has changed the world, it's the dreams behind the technology that changed the world," Ma said. — VDS, GMA News