The Australian National University (ANU) on Friday awarded Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi with an honorary doctorate degree at a ceremony in Canberra.

ANU Chancellor Professor Gareth Evans presented Aung San Suu Kyi with the degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa for her " outstanding contributions in the service of society".

"Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's courage, dignity and steely determination have inspired not only her own people but countless others worldwide," said Evans.

Aung San Suu Kyi stressed the importance of education in uplifting human spirit.

"These days, there are people who think education is merely an intellectual exercise, I would like to think that it is far broader than that and that education is the shaping of a human being, a human being made up of the physical, the mental as well as the spiritual."

In her address, she also mentioned that her country is struggling for a "fair and just constitution". The current constitution prohibits her from running for president in 2015.

Aung San Suu Kyi is currently on her first visit to Australia as a guest of the Australian government. She received two honorary degrees on Thursday from the University of Sydney and the University of Technology in Sydney.

She also had a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Thursday and had an official lunch with Governor General Quentin Bryce on Friday.