Professor Ian White, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bath, has paid tribute to students, colleagues and partners following the news of his appointment as CBE.
Professor White has been honoured by His Majesty King Charles III in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours in recognition of his services to Higher Education and to Engineering.
Responding to the announcement, Professor Ian White said: “I feel deeply fortunate to be recognised in this way and it means so much. As Vice-Chancellor, one is a member of a wider University community, and this honour, for me, recognises the achievement of the very special community at the University of Bath and its delivery of our mission along with those who importantly partner with us locally and further afield.
“This award also reflects the exceptional work of colleagues, students and partners throughout my time at the Universities of Cambridge and Bristol as well as Bath, and of my many colleagues across Engineering. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to them.”
Prior to becoming Bath’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor White was van Eck Professor of Engineering and a Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Cambridge, and Master of Jesus College.
Since becoming Vice-Chancellor at the University of Bath in 2019, Professor White has witnessed a period of success across research and education, with the University significantly increasing its research income and being awarded triple Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023. During this time, the University of Bath has been named ‘University of the Year 2023’ by The Times and Sunday Times, it entered the top 5 UK universities in the Complete University Guide 2024 and rose into the top 10% of universities globally in the QS World University Rankings 2024 and 2025.
Chair of the University of Bath’s Council, Pamela Chesters, said: “I know the whole University would want to join with me in congratulating Ian on this much deserved recognition of his work in the service of the common good.”