U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon received an alumni award from his alma mater in Seoul Monday for his contribution to world peace, the university said.

Seoul National University (SNU) conferred the Distinguished Alumnus Award on Ban “for his decades of service to his home country and his contribution to global peace and the welfare of all mankind as the U.N. chief,” it said.

The award ceremony was held Monday to mark the school’s foundation day. Ban did not attend the ceremony due to his tight schedule but sent a video message delivering his thoughts on receiving the award, according to the school.

“I’m proud that the SNU’s international status is getting higher for producing excellent results in the educational and research fields,” Ban said in the message.

“I hope my juniors in the school will cultivate their capabilities as citizens of the world and become leaders of the country and the international community,” he said.

Ban graduated from Seoul National University in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in diplomatic science. He then passed the high-level civil service exam that same year.

He has since served in various posts including as Seoul’s foreign minister before being elected to the chief of the international organization in 2006. (Yonhap News)