Business guru recognised by the Asian community

Dr Sonal Minocha is dean of the University of Bedfordshire’s Business School and she wowed the Asian community to win the Academic of the Year accolade, at the Asian Voice Political and Public Life Awards.

Dr Minocha said not many women went into business teaching traditionally and she hoped the award would encourage more women to do so. She said: “Being an academic is very rewarding, especially in a business school environment.

“You have the opportunity to nurture talent and business leaders of the future. It is a very rewarding job.”

Dr Minocha was presented with the award at a gala ceremony at the House of Commons by Chuka Umunna, the Labour MP for Streatham and Shadow Secretary of State for Business, and the magazine’s publisher CB Patel.

Since arriving at the University last January Dr Minocha has championed the innovation of business education with projects including Leadership Futures lectures – a programme of providing imaginative and practice based management education.

Dr Minocha said: “It’s great to have the University of Bedfordshire recognised in the Asian community via this award. A number of innovative schemes have been introduced in the Business School which will benefit our students and will be models for business and management in the future.”

Last year Dr Minocha was shortlisted for the Woman of the Year category for the 2012 Asian Achievers’ Awards.