About IXN Foundation
A UK charitable trust at the forefront of technology education, industry partnership and social impact — anchored at University College London.
From a Single Course to a Global Movement
The IXN (Industry Exchange Network) programme was born from a simple insight: students learn best when they work on real problems for real organisations. What began as an innovative module within its Computer Science department has grown into a global network of universities, businesses, charities and government bodies united by technology for good.
The IXN Foundation was established as a UK charitable trust to formalise, sustain and scale this mission — ensuring that outstanding educational innovation reaches students far beyond its founding campus, and that technology is consistently harnessed in service of the public good.
Today, IXN Foundation coordinates projects across six continents, has facilitated over 1,200 student-industry projects, and continues to set the global benchmark for industry-integrated computing education.
Key Milestones
What We Stand For
Our Mission
To advance technology education through authentic industry collaboration, enabling students to develop professional competencies and contribute meaningfully to society.
Our Vision
A world where every technology student has access to industry experience, and where universities and businesses work together as natural partners in public good.
Our Values
- ✦ Inclusion & Equity
- ✦ Open Collaboration
- ✦ Ethical Technology
- ✦ Lifelong Learning
- ✦ Social Responsibility
Executive Board of Trustees
Our board brings together decades of combined expertise in computer science, education, health informatics, industry partnership and charitable governance.
Professor of Software Engineering. Dean is the architect of the IXN programme and has spent over 15 years pioneering industry–university experience networks. He has built partnerships with more than 120 organisations including NHS, Microsoft, Bloomberg and the UK Cabinet Office. Dean is a Fellow of the BCS and a passionate advocate for technology as a driver of social mobility.
Professor of Computer Science with a distinguished research career spanning computer graphics, open-source software and computing education. Graham has been instrumental in designing the academic framework that makes IXN uniquely rigorous, ensuring student projects meet the highest standards of both industry relevance and academic integrity.
Lecturer and researcher with a focus on health informatics, digital health and clinical AI. Atia leads the IXN Foundation's Health Tech and Tech for Good initiatives, working with hospitals, charities and NGOs to deploy student-built solutions in real-world settings. She is committed to broadening access to technology education for underrepresented communities.
Experienced technology leader with a background spanning enterprise software, digital transformation and public-sector innovation. Haider brings strategic operational expertise to the Foundation's governance, overseeing partnerships with industry sponsors and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the IXN programme's mission.
Specialist in technology strategy, data engineering and applied AI with extensive experience across financial services, government and higher education. Faisal leads the Foundation's engagement with emerging technology partners and shapes the curriculum frameworks that keep IXN student projects at the cutting edge of industry practice.
Charity sector leader and social entrepreneur with a track record of building inclusive, impact-driven organisations. Sheena champions diversity and equity within the Foundation, guiding its outreach to underrepresented communities and ensuring the Tech for Good agenda translates into measurable social change across the UK and internationally.
Advisory Board
Charitable Trust Status
IXN Foundation is a registered charitable trust under the laws of England and Wales. Our charitable objects are the advancement of education and the relief of poverty through technology, with particular emphasis on widening participation in computing education.
The Foundation operates with full transparency and is governed by an independent board of trustees. Annual reports and accounts are filed with the Charity Commission and available upon request.