Public Affairs

Monsignor Dr. Clemente Martin Munoz, President of the Real Asociacion Caballeros de Yuste (Spain) Visits AUK

09th May 2016 | by the Department of PR & Marketing

The American University of Kuwait received a visit by Monsignor Dr. Clemente Martin Munoz, President of the Real Asociacion Caballeros del Monasterio de Yuste (Royal Association of Knights of the Monastery of Yuste in Spain), a prestigious Spanish private membership-based organization for youth empowerment and international academic research funding. Monsignor Dr. Clemente was accompanied by Professor Miguel Angel Schiller, also member of the Real Asociacion.

The visit came as part of a research grant awarded last year to AUK International Relations Professor, Dr. George E. Irani for a project entitled, "Youth Empowerment and Community Building in Kuwait." The project aims at promoting civil society engagement within Kuwait. AUK students are currently working on completing their individual projects on a voluntary basis. Results of the various projects will be published in both Spanish and English. Furthermore, students will be awarded medals and certificates of participation upon completion of the project.

"We were very pleased to have Monsignor Clemente on campus. It was a great chance for our students to present the work they have accomplished so far and Monsignor Clemente was extremely impressed by their work. I would like to thank our students Shaza Wattar, Danah Al Bader, Abdulaziz Shawaf, Abdulaziz Mahmeed, Zainab Al Sammak, Paola Schietekat and Layan El Dabt for contributing to this project," said Dr. Irani.

During his visit, Monsignor Dr. Clemente also met with Dr. Nizar Hamzeh President of AUK and Dr. Rawda Awwad, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, where they discussed the ongoing youth project as well as other opportunities of collaboration between the Real Asociacion Caballeros de Yuste and AUK. President Nizar Hamzeh, Dean Rawda Awwad, and IR Professors Roman Kulchitsky, George Irani and the project coordinator Shaza Wattar, all received gold medals from the organization.

Monsignor Dr. Clemente Martin Munoz is President of the Real Asociacion Caballeros del Monasterio de Yuste. By training, he has a legal background as judge and law professor at various universities in Spain. Dr. Martin Munoz was recently awarded a honoris causa degree In Maritime and Computer Sciences from Columbus University in Panama. In addition to the Caballeros de Yuste (Knights of Yuste in Spain), Dr, Martin Munoz is also member of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 9th May 2016

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2016