Alina Khan, vice principal of 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 organised at the Muslim Heritage Centre in Manchester. British Muslim Awards are known for recognising the contributions of British Muslims in various fields: this event is one of the highlights of their social calendar. Nomination for the award is fiercely competitive: Khan won against nine finalists.
The award conferred to Khan is named after wartime British secret agent of Indian descent, Noor Inayat Khan who became the first female radio operator to be sent into 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 courage in 1949.
“You can’t be who you can’t see”
Khan said:
“I was so surprised to hear I’d been shortlisted, but even more so when I won! When I looked at the other finalists in the category, they were hugely successful influencers. I feel extremely humbled to receive such an amazing accolade given the award is to recognise those who inspire and fight for justice and feel especially honoured about the category.
“I feel really privileged to work in the community in which I live and was raised. 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 need to try even harder to gain credibility and respect in professional settings, so I believe it’s up to us to then remove those obstacles by developing cultural competency, embedding organisational change, and fostering environments of inclusivity and respect.”
She wishes 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 know how important it is for students to have a range of positive role models who are able to have 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 having an impact.”
Alina Khan: a true leader
Born and raised in Bradford, Khan became the first person in the further education sector to ever hold the position of vice principal of equality, diversity, inclusion and student experience at her alma mater where she had studied her three A Levels. She went on to study IT at Manchester Metropolitan University followed by a postgraduate certificate in education at Bradford College, before she started her career as a secondary ICT teacher. This was followed by her stint at the Bradford Local Authority where she worked within children’s services and later managed the Education Safeguarding team.
In 2022, she joined Bradford College and advocates equality, diversity and inclusion in order to remove barriers, challenge injustice and make certain that everyone reaches their full potential. Khan also reserved her position on Asian Standard’s list of ‘Bradford’s Most Influential’.
A spokesperson for the British Muslim Awards 2024 said:
“Over the past decade we’ve looked to honour and uplift the achievements of British Muslims… By showcasing the achievements of these remarkable individuals and organisations, we hope to inspire future generations and encourage greater diversity and inclusivity across 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 more than 185 years of experience in employment, enterprise and education, and Alina Khan’s appointment was one of the many efforts the college has made to exhibit its commitment towards equality, diversity and inclusion.
It was the first ‘College of Sanctuary’ in West Yorkshire (an award that recognises the exceptional level of assistance provided to some of the most vulnerable learners seeking sanctuary in the city). There are nearly 20,000 students studying in the college, making it one of the biggest education and training providers in the area. The college also received a ‘silver’ quality grade for its undergraduate programme for the Teaching Excellence Framework, a nationwide initiative overseen by the Office for Students.
Over the past two years, Bradford College has been awarded almost £32mn in funding. This funding will improve, renovate and construct new, aspirational facilities. Furthermore, Bradford College will soon witness the completion of three large development projects. The £3.5mn David Hockney building will house the new vocational T-level facilities. The derelict Garden Mills building will be renovated for higher education’s STEM students at a cost of £6.9mn. Finally, a new £ 17mn Future Technologies Centre will be built on Thornton Road to house modern automotive and digital engineering skills.
Adapted from press release.
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