"At the heart of our work is the conviction that an outstanding university, based in the developing world, can improve quality of life for countless people. But to do so, we believe it must do two things simultaneously: it must strive to achieve international standards of excellence, and must address the problems that confront the societies in which we operate."

“The technological forces that are reshaping our world now mean that neighbours who live on the other side of the planet are as close to us as our neighbours who live across the street. In such a world, peace and progress require that we promote a pluralist agenda, that we invest in a cosmopolitan ethic. These Music Awards aim to be an investment in that promotion.”