OU honours digital entrepreneur for encouraging diversity in science and technology

Posted on 29 September 2017 • University news

Digital entrepreneur, Lopa Patel, has been awarded an honorary degree in recognition of her contributions to encouraging diversity and inclusion in science and technology, and her wider impact on British culture, industry, and society.

The OU presented Lopa Patel MBE with a Doctor of the University by Vice Chancellor, Peter Horrocks, at its recent Barbican Degree Ceremony.

A trailblazer for more than three decades

Lopa became the first Asian woman be awarded The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion (2015), and to be elected a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (2007). She was also honoured with an MBE in 2009. Lopa said:

“I am deeply humbled to receive this honorary doctorate, not only for myself, but also for my mother, my daughter, and for all women striving to get a good education.

I admire that The Open University continues to work  for greater equality of opportunity and social mobility. Inequality is an issue that needs to be tackled urgently and decisively and I am so very glad that The Open University is there – a long-established, practical, useful, and far-reaching resource – to help us do just that.

“A passionate advocate for women in STEM”

Lopa was nominated by Jhumar Johnson, Director of Development at The Open University (OU), for her exceptional contribution to diversity in the STEM sector; she said:

“Lopa is a passionate advocate for encouraging women and ethnic minorities to pursue a career in STEM. Her ethos of diversity and inclusion mirrors that of The Open University and makes her a worthy recipient of this prestigious accolade; she is truly inspirational.”