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Robert Burgess (sociologist)

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Sir Robert Burgess
Sir Robert Burgess[1]
Burgess at Thomas Erlebach's inaugural lecture on 2 December 2008
Born
Robert George Burgess

(1947-04-23)23 April 1947
Died21 February 2022(2022-02-21) (aged 74)
Alma materUniversity of Warwick (PhD, 1981)
University of Durham, (BA, 1971)
Spouse
Hilary Joyce
​
(m. 1974)​

Sir Robert George Burgess DL, FAcSS (23 April 1947 – 21 February 2022) was a British sociologist and academic. He was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester in 1999, succeeding Ken Edwards. He was President of the British Sociological Association 1989–1991[2] and chair of the board of GSM London.[3]

Early life

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Burgess was born in Sturminster in Dorset on 23 April 1947. He grew up Somerset, and attended the King Arthur's School in Wincanton, from 1958.[4] He taught for a year at Bennett Memorial Diocesan School, a church school, in Tunbridge Wells in Kent.[5]

Burgess received his BA degree from the University of Durham in 1971 and his PhD degree from the University of Warwick in 1981.

Career

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Burgess remained at Warwick as a lecturer and became Professor of Sociology in 1987. He then rose through the ranks, serving as Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor 1995–99.[1] Burgess then moved to the University of Leicester as Vice-Chancellor, introducing sweeping changes that enhanced the university's reputation and saw it enter the top-20 institutions in many league tables.[6]

Burgess was chair of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) 2005–11, the Research Information Network 2005–11,[7] and is the chair of the UUK/Guild HE Teacher Education Advisory Group.[8] In 2007, Burgess chaired the steering group that produced the Burgess Report, calling for sweeping changes in university degree classification that would replace the established system of first- and second class degrees.[9][10][11]

Burgess retired from the post of Vice-Chancellor in September 2014, at age 67.[12] He was succeeded by Professor Paul Boyle.[2]

Personal life

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Burgess was knighted in the 2010 New Year Honours.[13] He became an Academician of the Social Sciences in 2000. He received an Honorary DLitt degree from the University of Staffordshire in 1998 and a DUniv degree from the University of Northampton in 2007.[1]

Burgess married Hilary Margaret Mary Joyce in 1974 and lists his recreations as walking, music and "some gardening".[1] Sir Bob and Lady Burgess lived at Knighton Hall, the University of Leicester's traditional vice-chancellor's residence in Knighton, Leicester. Burgess's record in building both the university's academic reputation and its campus buildings earned him the nickname Bob the Builder among his university colleagues.[14]

Burgess died on 21 February 2022, at the age of 74.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d BURGESS, Prof. Robert George’, Who's Who 2010, A & C Black, 2010; online ed., Oxford University Press, Dec 2009; online edn, Nov 2009 accessed 31 Dec 2009
  2. ^ a b "University welcomes new President and Vice-Chancellor". University of Leicester. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  3. ^ GSM London (April 2015). "Professor Sir Bob Burgess joins GSM London as chair of board". GSM London. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  4. ^ Early life
  5. ^ "Professor Sir Robert Burgess". University of Leicester. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  6. ^ Services to education prominent in New Year honours list The Guardian, 31 December 2009
  7. ^ Advisory Board – Research Information Network
  8. ^ Teacher education - Policy areas - Policy and research - Universities UK
  9. ^ Report outlines future reforms for degree classification, University of Leicester, 16 October 2007
  10. ^ Burgess report on degrees will help employers, University of Bedfordshire, 18 October 2007
  11. ^ Bob Burgess: I hope student records make degree classes obsolete, The Independent, 5 November 2009
  12. ^ Dryden, Fiona (9 August 2014). "Retiring Professor Sir Robert Burgess reflects on his career at the University of Leicester".
  13. ^ "No. 59282". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2009. p. 1.
  14. ^ "Bye bye Bob". The Tab. 23 September 2013. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  15. ^ Burgess, Prof. Sir Robert George. WHO WAS WHO 2022. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U9445. ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
Academic offices
Preceded by President of the British Sociological Association
1989–1991 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Ken Edwards
 Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester
1999–2014 		Succeeded by
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