TORONTO, June 23: "True regime change occurs when liberty is guaranteed by a people free to create or support institutions of their own choosing. True regime change occurs when that strength and that freedom are defined by the depth, breadth and quality of education shared across the society in question."

This was stated by the Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili community and founder of the Aga Khan Development Network, while addressing this week's convocation of Toronto University's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education after being conferred with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

"The nature of the true regime change we need," said the Aga Khan, "is where the civil society of the industrialized world gives wide and encompassing support to that of the developing world."

According to a press release, the Aga Khan called for a wide civil society partnership between the developed and the developing world, saying this was especially critical where governments were "weak or non-performing".