Richard Smethurst
Encyclopedia
Richard Good Smethurst (born 17 January 1941) was Provost of Worcester College, Oxford
, England
.
Smethurst was educated at Liverpool College, Worcester College, Oxford
, and Nuffield College, Oxford
.
In 1964, Smethurst was appointed Research Fellow at St Edmund Hall, Oxford
. In the following academic year (1965/66) he was simultaneously Fellow and Tutor in Economics
at St Edmund Hall, Oxford
and consultant to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization
programme at the Oxford Institute of Commonwealth Studies. In 1967, he became a Fellow of Worcester College, Oxford
where he was also Tutor in Economics and University Lecturer in Economics until 1976.
Meanwhile, he was also part-time economic advisor to Her Majesty's Treasury 1969–71 and part-time policy advisor to the Prime Minister's Policy Unit
1975–76 (Harold Wilson's
second term). From 1976 until 1986 he was Professorial Fellow at Worcester
and Director of Oxford University Department for External Studies
. In 1978 he had been appointed a part-time member of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission
and in 1986 he became its Deputy Chairman. He held this position until 1989, when he returned to Oxford
as Chairman of the General Board of the Faculties.
In 1991 he became Provost of Worcester
and in 1997 he was appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor
of the University
. He was appointed President of the Thames and Solent Workers' Educational Association
in 1992 and President of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education
in 1994. He retired as Provost of Worcester in Summer 2011.
Smethurst was once tutor to John Hood
, subsequently Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford
.
Worcester College, Oxford
Worcester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. The college was founded in the eighteenth century, but its predecessor on the same site had been an institution of learning since the late thirteenth century...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Smethurst was educated at Liverpool College, Worcester College, Oxford
Worcester College, Oxford
Worcester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. The college was founded in the eighteenth century, but its predecessor on the same site had been an institution of learning since the late thirteenth century...
, and Nuffield College, Oxford
Nuffield College, Oxford
Nuffield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is an all-graduate college and primarily a research establishment, specialising in the social sciences, particularly economics, politics and sociology. It is a research centre in the social sciences...
.
In 1964, Smethurst was appointed Research Fellow at St Edmund Hall, Oxford
St Edmund Hall, Oxford
St Edmund Hall is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Better known within the University by its nickname, "Teddy Hall", the college has a claim to being "the oldest academical society for the education of undergraduates in any university"...
. In the following academic year (1965/66) he was simultaneously Fellow and Tutor in Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
at St Edmund Hall, Oxford
St Edmund Hall, Oxford
St Edmund Hall is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Better known within the University by its nickname, "Teddy Hall", the college has a claim to being "the oldest academical society for the education of undergraduates in any university"...
and consultant to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and...
programme at the Oxford Institute of Commonwealth Studies. In 1967, he became a Fellow of Worcester College, Oxford
Worcester College, Oxford
Worcester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. The college was founded in the eighteenth century, but its predecessor on the same site had been an institution of learning since the late thirteenth century...
where he was also Tutor in Economics and University Lecturer in Economics until 1976.
Meanwhile, he was also part-time economic advisor to Her Majesty's Treasury 1969–71 and part-time policy advisor to the Prime Minister's Policy Unit
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
1975–76 (Harold Wilson's
Harold Wilson
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
second term). From 1976 until 1986 he was Professorial Fellow at Worcester
Worcester College, Oxford
Worcester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. The college was founded in the eighteenth century, but its predecessor on the same site had been an institution of learning since the late thirteenth century...
and Director of Oxford University Department for External Studies
Kellogg College, Oxford
Kellogg College is one of the largest and most international graduate constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Kellogg College is a graduate college and admissions are not open to undergraduates. The college focuses on the concept of higher, postgraduate and lifelong learning...
. In 1978 he had been appointed a part-time member of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission
Competition Commission
The Competition Commission is a non-departmental public body responsible for investigating mergers, markets and other enquiries related to regulated industries under competition law in the United Kingdom...
and in 1986 he became its Deputy Chairman. He held this position until 1989, when he returned to Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
as Chairman of the General Board of the Faculties.
In 1991 he became Provost of Worcester
Worcester College, Oxford
Worcester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. The college was founded in the eighteenth century, but its predecessor on the same site had been an institution of learning since the late thirteenth century...
and in 1997 he was appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor
Pro-Vice-Chancellor
In a university, an assistant to a vice-chancellor is called a pro-vice-chancellor . These are sometimes teaching academics who take on additional responsibilities. Some of these responsibilities are in charge of Administration, Research and Development, Academic and Education affairs...
of the University
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. He was appointed President of the Thames and Solent Workers' Educational Association
Workers' Educational Association
The Workers’ Educational Association seeks to provide access to education and lifelong learning for adults from all backgrounds, and in particular those who have previously missed out on education. The International Federation of Workers Education Associations has consultative status to UNESCO...
in 1992 and President of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education
NIACE
The NIACE is an educational charity in England and Wales, with headquarters in Leicester and Cardiff plus a subsidiary offices in London. The organisation is dedicated to promoting adult learning and was founded in 1921...
in 1994. He retired as Provost of Worcester in Summer 2011.
Smethurst was once tutor to John Hood
John Hood
John Hood was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 5 October 2004 until 30 September 2009. He was the first Vice-Chancellor to be elected from outside Oxford's academic body, and the first to have addressed the scholars' congregation via a webcast...
, subsequently Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
.
Sources and further information
- International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame
- Debrett's People of Today (12th edn, London: Debrett's Peerage, 1999), p. 1810
- Georgina Ferry, 'Back from the edge', Oxford TodayOxford TodayOxford Today: The University Magazine is a magazine for the alumni of Oxford University.According to its website, the magazine is distributed free to around 150,000 alumni around the world and also by subscription. It appears three times a year, with the issues coinciding with the three Oxford...
17:1 (Michaelmas 2004)