A leading academic from the University of Bath's Institute of Coding has been awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King's Birthday Honours List 2023.
Professor Rachid Hourizi was among a number of South West leaders to be recognised in this year's list.
The University of Bath's vice-chancellor and president professor Ian White have said that professor Houizi's award was "richly deserved", hailing the work of the Institute in breaking down barriers to digital learning.
Professor Hourizi has led the Institute of Coding's collaboration of more than 300 employers, 35 universities and 20 outreach partners since 2018. Prior to his current role, he worked for 10 years as a financial markets and commodity trader in London, Paris, Geneva and the USA, before taking up his first post at the University of Bath in 2005. He said the King’s award was “a celebration of colleagues, friends and partners across the country”.
Read more: South West business leaders recognised in King's Birthday Honours List 2023
Since the Institute of Coding was established it has helped more than 900,000 learners to gain digital skills and employment in the tech sector. The organisation promotes learning as a lifelong process, and aims to spread opportunity.
Professor White said: “I offer my warmest congratulations to Rachid on his richly deserved award of an MBE in The King's Birthday Honours List.
“Rachid's leadership of the Institute of Coding has enabled the team and our partners to come together to break down barriers to digital learning and employment in a most special way.
“Education is a life-changing experience, and Rachid's work has already made a real difference to the lives of so many people.”
Local member of Parliament for Bath, Wera Hobhouse, said: “This award shows the impact the University of Bath and its Institute of Coding is having not just in our city or region, but all around the country.
“The Institute’s mission to make digital skills available to everyone is a credit to Bath, and Professor Hourizi is clearly a credit to the University.”
Jacqueline de Rojas CBE, co-chair of the Institute for Coding’s board, and a board member at Tech UK, added: “In his understated but ever effective style, Rachid has long been a man on a mission. His work for the Institute of Coding has created opportunity for people in every corner of the country.
“We are privileged to have him lead the institute and especially proud that his contribution has and will continue to promote employment and opportunity in the tech sector for diverse groups previously unable to pivot into tech.”
While professor Hourizi commented: “I’m very grateful for the award but entirely conscious that it celebrates the work of colleagues at the Institute of Coding, the University of Bath and our friends and partners across the country.
“The need for digital skills is more pressing than ever and the employers, universities and charities that have done the hard work here are more important than ever.”
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