The Doctorate Honoris Causa is the highest honour the university can bestow. Professor Hathaway said he was humbled to receive the honorary doctorate and to share the conferral stage with esteemed and accomplished individuals.

While visiting Belgium to receive his award, Professor Hathaway plans to reinvigorate debate about International Refugee Law in a series of public lectures. In particular, he will advocate a move towards a binding commitment for developed countries to provide funding and resources to less-developed nations to assist those most in need.

Professor Hathaway, the University of Melbourne's William Hearn Chair of Law, is also Senior Visiting Research Associate at Oxford University's Refugee Studies Programme and President of the Cuenca Colloquium on International Refugee Law.