UNIVERSITY of Worcester vice chancellor and chief executive Professor David Green has been honoured with a CBE in Her Majesty the Queen’s New Year’s Honours.
The respected city education voice was among 1,148 people nationwide to be handed an honour in the list revealed last night (Friday).
Professor Green was rewarded for his services to higher education and to the county over the course of more than 15 years at the helm of the University.
He is the only person to have received both the Pride of Worcestershire and Worcestershire Ambassador of the Year awards.
“I am surprised, humbled and delighted to be awarded this national honour,” said Professor Green.
“In my view it is very much an award for the whole of the University of Worcester, whose staff, students, graduates and governors do such wonderful work.
“It is a privilege and a joy to work with such talented and committed people and alongside so many friends and partners in education, health, business, public service, church and the community generally.
“I would particularly like to thank my wife Cathy and my daughters, Lauren and Alex, whose support, inspiration and love has been central to any and every contribution that I have made over these 16 happy years at the University of Worcester,” he added.
Under his leadership, the University of Worcester has seen the creation of the University of Worcester Arena, Britain’s first major indoor sports arena specifically designed for wheelchair athletes and The Hive, the first completely integrated university and public library in Europe.
Both have been nationally and internationally recognised as shining examples of the outstanding public benefit that an imaginative university can bring to society.
The first ever national gender pay reporting in 2018 saw Worcester was revealed to be the best of all universities in the UK, with the smallest average pay gap of any university.
In a 2015 report by Economic Insight Ltd the University was identified as a major employer in the region, supporting almost 7,000 jobs either directly or indirectly.
Now, thanks to further growth, the figure is estimated at well over £300million a year sustaining more than 7,500 jobs.
John Bateman OBE, the University’s Chair of Governors, said: “During Professor Green’s 16 years of leadership, the University of Worcester has thrived to become one of the most inclusive institutions.
“His vision and values have brought regeneration to the City of Worcester and his energy and passion for education and lifelong learning is unwavering.
“I am absolutely delighted that Professor Green’s outstanding contribution to higher education has been publicly recognised.”
