Bradford College’s Deputy Principal has been named Muslim Woman of the Year

Alina Khan, Assistant Principal for Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Student Experience at Bradford College, won the prestigious ‘Noor Inayat Khan Muslim Woman of the Year’ category at the British Muslim Awards 2024 earlier this month.

British Muslim Awards

Considered one of the most prestigious events in the British Muslim community, the 11th British Muslim Awards were held at the Muslim Heritage Center in Manchester. The British Muslim Awards are known for recognizing the contributions of British Muslims in various fields: this event is one of the highlights of their social calendar. Nomination for the award is highly competitive: Khan won against nine finalists.

Khan’s award is named after Indian-born British wartime secret agent Noor Inayat Khan, who became the first female radio operator sent to Nazi-occupied France by the Special Operations Executive. She was arrested and eventually executed by the Gestapo. Noor was posthumously awarded the George Cross for her bravery in 1949.

“You Can’t Be Who You Can’t See”

Khan said:

“I was so surprised to hear I was shortlisted, but even more so when I won! When I looked at the other finalists in the category, they were all very successful influencers. I am extremely humbled to receive such an amazing accolade as the award is to recognize those who inspire and fight for justice and feel particularly honored by the category.

“I feel truly privileged to work in the community where I live and grew up. This recognition not only celebrates my work but also Bradford College’s outstanding contributions to transforming lives. As a woman from a minority background, I understand and have experienced many barriers. People like me often have to try harder to gain credibility and respect in professional settings, so I think it’s up to us to then remove those obstacles by developing cultural competency, embedding organizational change, and fostering inclusive and respectful environments.”

She wants to inspire others to “challenge the status quo and positively disrupt the norm.”

“I truly believe that you can’t be who you can’t see, and you know how important it is for students to have a number of positive role models who can be a positive influence. If just one young person looks at me and thinks, ‘Well, if she can do it, then so can I,’ then I know I’m making an impact.”

Alina Khan: a true leader

Born and bred in Bradford, Khan became the first person in the further education sector to ever hold the position of Deputy Head of Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Student Experience at her alma mater, where she studied her three A Levels. She went on to studying IT at Manchester Metropolitan University, followed by a Postgraduate Certificate in Education at Bradford College, before starting her career as an ICT teacher at secondary level. This was followed by her time at Bradford Local Authority, where she worked in children’s services and later led the education safeguarding team.

In 2022, he joined Bradford College and champions equality, diversity and inclusion to break down barriers, challenge injustice and ensure everyone reaches their full potential. Khan also reserved his position Asian standardList of “Bradford’s Most Influential”.

A spokesperson for the British Muslim Awards 2024 said:

“Over the past decade we have sought to honor and elevate the achievements of British Muslims… By showcasing the achievements of these outstanding individuals and organisations, we hope to inspire future generations and encourage greater diversity and inclusion in all aspects of society. The winners are true leaders who have inspired others, pushed boundaries and achieved remarkable success in their respective fields.”

Bradford College

The college has over 185 years of experience in employment, enterprise and education and the appointment of Alina Khan was one of many efforts the college has made to demonstrate its commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

It was West Yorkshire’s first ‘College of Sanctuary’ (an award which recognizes the exceptional level of support provided to some of the most vulnerable students seeking shelter in the city). There are nearly 20,000 students studying in the college, making it one of the largest education and training providers in the area. The college also received a ‘silver’ quality rating for its undergraduate program for the Teaching Excellence Framework, a national initiative overseen by the Office for Students.

Over the past two years, Bradford College has received funding of almost £32m. This funding will improve, renovate and build aspirational new facilities. In addition, Bradford College will soon see the completion of three major development projects. The £3.5m David Hockney building will house the new T-level vocational facilities. The derelict Garden Mills building will be refurbished for higher education STEM students at a cost of £6.9m. Finally, a new £17 million Future Technologies Center will be built on Thornton Road to house modern digital and automotive engineering skills.

Adapted from the press release.

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