Addressing the staff and students of the University of Ulster after receiving the honor, Prince Turki said education has a key role to play in tackling the many challenges facing the world including conflict resolution. He praised those who had tried to heal intolerance and division in Northern Ireland.

Prince Turki told an audience of academics, business and political leaders and Saudi students he felt privileged to be awarded the accolade from an institution that "has established itself as one of the leading universities in this country, if not the world."

Outlining Saudi Arabia's commitment to education, he said every Saudi citizen is entitled to free university tuition and added: "It is the Kingdom's firm policy that only through education can our people achieve their rightful place in the world and contribute to the betterment of humanity."

He said: "I pray that God will lead us all to better deal with the challenges that face us today, and education is, assuredly, the most promising means to meet those challenges.

"Your experience in dealing with strife and hatred is an example for the rest of us from which to learn. I applaud the people of Northern Ireland for taking on that challenge and defeating ignorance and bigotry."

The prince has served as Saudi Ambassador to the UK and Republic of Ireland and later as his nation's Ambassador to the United States. He is a commissioner of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament and has had a key role in promoting greater understanding between different faiths as well as Western and Muslim nations. He worked assiduously to promote strong Saudi-Western relations following the 9-11 attacks.

Stormont Employment and Learning Minister Sir Reg Empey said: "On behalf of my department I would like to congratulate Prince Turki on receipt of his degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa for his services to the diplomatic community and international relations.

"My Department continues to recognize the importance of the internationalization of higher education, including the development of strategic partnerships and opportunities for international collaboration between the East and the West."

The Saudi prince was introduced to the guests by the Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Barnett and presented for the degree by Gerry Mallon, chairman of the Council of the University, who delivered the encomium. Mallon described him "as a royal prince from the House of Saud who has done much to promote better relations and understanding between the West and the Middle East."

In his address, the prince said his country continues to strive to improve the quality of its education. "More than half of the university graduates are women and the largest campus of any women's university, anywhere, is under construction in Riyadh. It will accommodate more than 50,000 students who will specialize in all the disciplines available to students anywhere in the world.

"On the Red Sea coast of the Kingdom, the King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST) has started a uniquely innovative experiment in higher education. It is totally dedicated to scientific research, it has partnered with universities from all over the world and its students are all post graduates, with 65 percent of them non-Saudis: but all are on scholarship. It is the first Saudi university that is fully coeducational."