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Higher Education Research Centre

David Watson Memorial Lecture

A memorial lecture for Professor Sir David Watson will be held on Monday 19th October 6:30-9pm at the Sallis Benney Theatre, Grand Parade, University of Brighton.

Professor Stuart Laing will deliver an address on “The precious path of learning, community-university engagement: past, present and future”, which will be followed by a panel response, audience discussion and refreshments.

Professor Sir David Watson was well known to many colleagues in Ireland and is remembered at HERC as a dear and valued research collaborator.

Recognised as one of the UK’s leading higher education academics, Professor Watson was professor of higher education at the University of Oxford (2010-2015) and director of Brighton Polytechnic (1990-1992) during its transition to university status. He continued as vice-chancellor of the University of Brighton for another 13 years.

Professor Watson was also president of the Society for Research into Higher Education (2002-2012) and was a prolific author of academic works and public commentary on higher education.

He was knighted for services to higher education in 1998 and received the Times Higher Education Lord Dearing Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. Following his death, the University of Brighton, announced it would be honouring Professor Watson by naming a new academic building and library after him

To attend the memorial lecture RSVP by Friday 9th October to Southcoastevents@brighton.ac.uk

Obituaries for Professor Sir David Watson:

Campus Engage Ireland

Times Higher Education

Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE)