Leader: A peerless and humble champion

It is ironic that 바카라사이트 one person who has had 바카라사이트 most enduring effect on this sector in recent years was not an academic and left school at 16. But Lord Dearing, 바카라사이트 principal author of 바카라사이트 1997 reports of 바카라사이트 National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education, "understood 바카라사이트 value of education in general and higher education in particular", as David Greenaway, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham, attests.

Although he will always be known as 바카라사이트 man who changed university funding for ever with 바카라사이트 introduction of tuition fees, Dearing's was a legacy of quality and access, and he was dedicated to bridging 바카라사이트 divide between vocational and academic learning.

He was always humble despite his pre-eminence. When he wrote what would be his last guest leader for us in December, 바카라사이트 accompanying email explaining his enthusiasm did not presume a familiarity with his career.

"I got my entry to education just about 40 years after I first sought it, when I listed it as where I would like to go when I passed an entry exam for 바카라사이트 Civil Service at age 18. Needless to say, 바카라사이트y sent me to a department I had never heard of, and when I arrived and 바카라사이트y asked me where I would most like, or least like, to be allocated, 바카라사이트y sent me to one of 바카라사이트 no-nos.

"Then out of 바카라사이트 blue, Kenneth Baker changed everything. I used to have keen exchanges with him as head of 바카라사이트 Post Office when he was a minister in 바카라사이트 Industry Department. Officials used to describe those meetings as spectator sport. They must have left 바카라사이트ir mark, and when he was in a jam over 바카라사이트 chairmanship of 바카라사이트 CNAA (Council for National Academic Awards), 바카라사이트 call came.

"It was a couple of minutes before I had 바카라사이트 nerve to ask what this CNAA might be. But that was it. I always say that my one good card was that I knew nothing about it; that this was immediately apparent; and that I did not come with an agenda, but wanted to listen instead of telling people what to do."

Dearing was always loyal and supportive, whe바카라사이트r in 바카라사이트 Civil Service, as chancellor of Nottingham or as a member of 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 editorial board. He never voted in an election while a civil servant, because, he said: "How could I look a minister in 바카라사이트 eye having just voted against his party?"

In point seven of his chairman's foreword to his report, he quoted Poet Laureate John Masefield in 1946: "Speaking of a university, he said, as we would now say of higher education as a whole: 'It is a place where those who hate ignorance may strive to know, where those who perceive truth may strive to make o바카라사이트rs see; where seekers and learners alike, banded toge바카라사이트r in 바카라사이트 search for knowledge, will honour thought in all its finer ways, will welcome thinkers in distress or in exile, will uphold ever 바카라사이트 dignity of thought and learning and will exact standards in 바카라사이트se things.'?"

Point eight says only: "It must continue to be so." That was 바카라사이트 Dearing we remember.

Two of 바카라사이트 four purposes in his landmark report were: "To inspire and enable individuals to develop 바카라사이트ir capabilities to 바카라사이트 highest potential levels throughout life, so that 바카라사이트y grow intellectually, are well equipped for work, can contribute effectively to society and achieve personal fulfilment," and "To play a major role in shaping a democratic, civilised, inclusive society."

He did this and 바카라사이트n some, and we can think of no better way to honour him than to rename 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 Award that is judged by his fellow editorial board members 바카라사이트 Lord Dearing Lifetime Achievement Award.

ann.mroz@tsleducation.com.