Wolverhampton's School of Coding & AI founder awarded honorary doctorate for achievements in education

West Midlands entrepreneur and education leader Dr Manny Athwal has been awarded an International Honorary Doctorate in recognition of his achievements and outstanding contributions to education, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Dr Athwal, founder and group CEO of School of Coding & AI, was presented with the honour by NIILM University in India, at a ceremony attended by more than 1,000 people.

The doctorate recognises Dr Athwal’s vision of increasing access to education, particularly for individuals who may not have traditionally considered university an option.

Founded in Wolverhampton in 2017 with just one student and a laptop, School of Coding & AI has grown into an international education group employing more than 300 full-time professionals, with operations spanning 17 countries and offices in the UK, Ireland, India and the UAE, while maintaining its global headquarters in Wolverhampton. alongside a dedicated campus in Birmingham.

The group now operates Ofsted-registered schools in the UK, higher education centres delivering degree programmes in partnership with four UK public universities, a Dubai government-approved education centre, and Pearson centres in India.

Alongside its educational provision, the group has undertaken 31 research and innovation projects and established educational partnerships with global technology leaders including Microsoft, Google, Oracle and Cisco, strengthening its focus on digital skills, artificial intelligence and industry-led education.

Through its university partnerships, School of Coding & AI supports thousands of students studying towards higher education degrees, with a focus on widening participation and creating opportunities for learners from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds, including working parents and individuals returning to education after years in employment or family life.

Dr Athwal has consistently championed the belief that educational opportunity should not be determined by a person's age, financial circumstances, background or previous academic experience.

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Receiving the honorary doctorate in India, the country of his birth, made the occasion particularly meaningful for Dr Athwal, who lives in Bridgnorth, Shropshire.

He said: "It is a tremendous honour to receive this recognition, particularly in India, the country where I was born. To receive this award in front of more than 1,000 people made the occasion even more memorable.

"Over the past 10 years, I have learnt one fundamental lesson: education is the answer to so many of the world's problems.

"I genuinely believe education has the power to transform lives, break down barriers, create opportunities and build a better future for generations to come.

"When I started School of Coding with one student and one laptop, I could never have imagined the journey ahead. But my ambition has always remained the same - to make quality education accessible to everyone, regardless of their age, background or circumstances."

Under Dr Athwal's leadership, School of Coding & AI has continued to develop university partnerships, expand its educational provision and invest in research and emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.

The organisation's growth has also created hundreds of professional opportunities across academic teaching, research, student support, technology and educational management.

Dr Athwal believes the group's greatest achievement is not its international expansion, but the opportunities it has created for learners who might otherwise have faced barriers to education.

"The West Midlands has played an important role in our success, and I am incredibly proud that a business which started here is now creating educational opportunities internationally," he said.

"Some of our greatest success stories are students who never believed university was possible for them. Seeing mature learners, working parents and people from disadvantaged backgrounds return to education and work towards a degree is what makes our work so meaningful.

"This recognition is not just about me. It belongs to the hundreds of colleagues, academics, university partners and thousands of students who have been part of our journey"

"For me, education is not simply a profession. It is a lifelong mission."

School of Coding & AI plans to continue developing its higher education partnerships, international operations and research activities, with a particular emphasis on widening participation, student success and the responsible integration of artificial intelligence into education.