Doha
Doha College principal Mark Leppard has been included on the annual Queens British Honours list for services to British education in Qatar.
Leppard was notified that he had received the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in a communication from Buckingham Palace on Saturday.
"The MBE came as a complete surprise, but one I am extremely proud to receive. I feel extremely honoured and very humbled,” he said, adding that it was a privilege to receive the prestigious award.
Leppard, who has been with Doha College for 19 years, was one of 1,163 people to receive an award on the Honours List with 11 percent of honours awarded for work in education. He was one of 30 head teachers recommended for an award.
The MBE is awarded for significant achievement or outstanding service to the community.
“It was awarded for 'Services to Education in Qatar' and with Qatar's 2030 National Vision, I am delighted that as Principal of Doha College, both I and the school can support Qatar's ambitious drive towards a knowledge based economy,” he noted.
At least 70% of the recipients are people who have undertaken outstanding work in their communities either in a voluntary or paid capacity.
Of the total 1,163 recipients, 595 (51%) successful candidates in the list are women and 6.9% come from ethnic minority communities, a slight increase on recent lists.
Doha College is one of the oldest British curriculum schools in Qatar providing a world class education for 1,800 students, between the ages of 3 and 18 who represent over 75 nationalities.