Robert Burgess (sociologist)

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Sir Robert Burgess
University of Durham, (BA
, 1971)
Spouse
Hilary Joyce
​
(m. 1974)​

Sir Robert George Burgess

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

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

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

Career

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

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

Burgess was

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

  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. 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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