Boston University has announced a $25 million pledge from Dubai-based global entrepreneur Rajen Kilachand in support of its Honors College. In recognition of the gift, the college will be renamed after Kilachand's parents.

The gift will create an endowment for the college that will be used to help boost the quality of its programming and the range of opportunities it offers to BU students. Led by history professor Charles Dellheim, the college offers students a liberal arts perspective while maintaining focus on one of the university's sixteen existing schools and colleges. The curriculum brings together students in all existing liberal arts and professional programs, enabling them to work on interdisciplinary, collaborative research.

Kilachand, who earned an MBA from BU's Graduate School of Management in 1974, is a member of the university's board of trustees. The Dodsal Group, of which he is chairman and president, is a multinational conglomerate with interests in engineering, mining, trading, and the hospitality business.

"In this age of professional specialization, academic interest in the humanities is waning," said Kilachand. "People don't want to go into liberal arts, but I think for people to be future leaders you need a focused approach to humanities, the fine arts, so that you have a well-rounded personality."