Professor Nishan Canagarajah, a distinguished academic of Sri Lankan origin and the President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester, has been knighted in the 2026 King’s New Year Honours for his exceptional service to higher education and inclusive leadership.
Born and educated in Sri Lanka, Professor Canagarajah later moved to the United Kingdom to continue his studies, earning both his Bachelor’s degree and PhD from the University of Cambridge. His academic career spans more than 30 years, including senior leadership roles at the University of Bristol, before taking up his current position at Leicester in 2019.
He has been widely recognised for his commitment to widening access, equality, and social mobility within higher education. Under his leadership, the University of Leicester has strengthened its reputation as one of the UK’s most diverse institutions, with 38% of students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds and 69% from minority ethnic communities.
During his tenure, the university launched its first IntoUniversity centre, appointed its first female and minority Chancellor, and expanded community-focused and international initiatives, including programmes supporting refugees and global academic partnerships.
Commenting on the honour, Professor Canagarajah reflected on his journey, saying it was a powerful reminder of the transformative role of education, adding that rising from a childhood in a once war-affected country to being recognised at the highest national level was an extraordinary personal milestone.
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