College Principal celebrates Royal honour

Iraqi-born Ali, 45, who led the college from 2006 till 2010, was awarded the CBE in this year's New Year's Honours list. He achieved this prestigious award for his services to Vocational Education in Iraq and to Further Education in the UK .

This tops a string of accolades gained at the college in Ambleside Drive , Southend.  He is the only Arab college principal in the UK and was twice shortlisted for the UK 's prestigious Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) Star Award.

Under Ali's leadership the college went from strength-to-strength, and in July 2009 gained Beacon status - making it the first local authority-run adult community college in the country to receive the award. In 2008 the college was rated by the education watchdog OFSTED as 'outstanding' in many areas including leadership and management. It ranks among the top four per cent of adult colleges in the country.

Ali is a member of the National Principal's Champions group advising the Government's Further Education minister on the role of Further Education in community cohesion and preventing violent extremism. He serves as an OFSTED associate inspector and in 2004 became a founding member and vice-chairman of the Rawabit steering group, a UK-Iraq strategic partnership to help develop the vocational and technical education sector in Iraq . The project has trained over 2,000 former militia men in vocational disciplines, providing skills required in the local economy, helping find jobs and providing an escape route from poverty, violence and extremism.  Additionally, 500 Iraqi vocational educators have been trained in UK methodologies, both overseas, where he led the training delegations, and within the UK .

The award came as a complete surprise to Ali, who said: "I was absolutely delighted by this recognition, especially when it was so unexpected.  I believe this recognition is not only for me but also goes to all those who contributed to this work."

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Executive Councillor for Children and Learning, Councillor Roger Hadley, said: "Congratulations to Mr Hadawi for gaining this tremendous and very well-deserved honour. With his help Southend Adult Community College has reached great heights and is a thriving part of the community. These achievements include securing strong and successful partnerships with educational and business partners and a successful OFSTED inspection outcome."