The University of West London (UWL) is delighted to announce that its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter John, has been made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen’s 2020 New Year honours list for his outstanding work and service to higher education.

Professor John has worked in the sector for more than 30 years and joined the University of West London in late 2007 after a successful career at universities from all quarters of the sector. He then led the transformation of what was an ailing institution into the highly successful one it is today. Now sitting near the top 50 universities in the country, comfortably the best modern university in London, and one of the top ten moderns in the UK, it is a flagship for the benefits of widening participation, social inclusion, and meritocracy. It is the exceptional nature of that transformation that Professor John has led in the past decade that has been singled out for recognition with this award.

Welcoming the wonderful news, Jennifer Bernard, Chair of the Board of Governors of UWL said:

This is well deserved recognition of the valuable and enduring contribution Professor John has made to this University and higher education in general. Thanks to his energy, commitment, leadership and vision, he has taken the University to new heights by working tirelessly to create the successful, inclusive, modern university it is today. It is a very proud day for the University and we extend our warmest congratulations to him.

Professor John said:

I am both thrilled and humbled to receive this award. It is a fitting acknowledgement of the importance of education and the essential role it plays in unlocking potential and transforming people’s lives for the benefit of all. It is also a proud day for me and my family as well as an acknowledgement of those both past and present, who have served and continue to serve the University so well. Above all, however, it is the students who, often against the odds, achieve so much; it is they who are most deserving of what this honour represents.