Former University Council Chair Receives Honorary Award

Professor Sir Peter Scott, former editor of The Times and chair of the University of Gloucestershire’s Council, has received an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy for his achievements in higher education policy and leadership.

Sir Peter became chair of university council, the university’s governing body, in 2011, stepping down in 2015. He began working for The Times in 1971, and began his 16 years as editor of the Times Higher Education supplement in 1976. Sir Peter served on the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct from 1994 to 2000.

He was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Kingston University in west London in 1997. He received a knighthood in 2007 for services to education.

Every year the university presents Honorary Awards to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution both in the county and beyond.

On presenting his award, Professor Julian Crampton, chair of the University Council, said: “He is a vigorous and committed upholder of the public service values of higher education, always arguing for a generous and inclusive understanding of the purposes of the university in the modern world.”

Sir Peter remains active in a variety of fields.  He has gained an international reputation for his academic research work on the governance of universities and writes regularly for the Guardian newspaper.

On receiving his award, Sir Peter said: “It is a great honour to receive an honorary degree from the University and to have played a part, however small, in the success of Gloucestershire which has now established itself as one of the most successful universities of its generation.”