The Daily Novel

Peter Scott presumably got his gong because most Vice-Chancellors do. But you only have to read the mission statement of Kingston University to realise that his kind of education is light years away from most of what Tony Blair has been encouraging. Here is the statement:

The mission of Kingston University is to promote participation in Higher Education, which it regards as a democratic entitlement; to strive for excellence in learning, teaching and research; to realise the creative potential and fire the imagination of all its members; and to equip its students to make effective contributions to society and the economy.

Note that contributions to society comes before contributions to the economy.

Peter Scott formulated his ideas about higher education during the many years he spent as a journalist editing The Times Higher Educational Supplement when the Thatcher government was bringing in its own business-orientated ‘reforms’. He continued to speak up for what he believed in, even after Rupert Murdoch acquired the Higher, along with the rest of The Times group. When the Murdoch men began to stamp their imprint on the title, he left and went into higher education to put into practice what he had learnt as a journalist.

He gets thedailynovel award for Knight of the Year.