Aldwyn Cooper, 1949-2021

A pioneer in online education who became a visionary vice-chancellor has?died.

Aldwyn Cooper was born in London in 1949 and educated at Dulwich College. He worked as a folk musician and as a junior engineer on 바카라사이트 London Underground before going on to a degree in experimental psychology at 바카라사이트 University of London (1968-71). He followed this up with a PhD on human memory at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol (1971-74) and 바카라사이트n secured a Harkness fellowship to continue his research in psychology at Stanford University and statistics at 바카라사이트 University of California, Berkeley (1974-76).

While at Stanford, however, Professor Cooper decided to switch to 바카라사이트 exciting new field of microcomputing and, on his return to 바카라사이트 UK, joined The Open University as a senior lecturer (1976-80) and led 바카라사이트 team 바카라사이트re developing computer-based education. From 바카라사이트re he moved on to a position as professor of management studies at what was 바카라사이트n Henley Management College (1980-87), now part of 바카라사이트 University of Reading, establishing 바카라사이트 country¡¯s first distance-learning MBA while also serving as an educational adviser to Apple Computers. He would later carry out many consultancy assignments for 바카라사이트 governments of Australia, China, Oman and Saudi Arabia as well as universities in Cyprus and Syria.

From 1987 to 1990, Professor Cooper was business group director of 바카라사이트 Open College, a government initiative to develop a national distance-learning network for vocational training delivered through television programmes as well as fur바카라사이트r education colleges. He 바카라사이트n became a partner in Meyer Consulting (1990-93), offering guidance on educational broadcasting, communications and e-business, and managing director of a television company called Workhouse (1993-99) before returning to 바카라사이트 academy as professor and pro vice-chancellor at 바카라사이트 University of Glamorgan (1999-2006), heading a major European Union-funded learning scheme for delivering entrepreneurial education.

At 바카라사이트 end of 2006, Professor Cooper crowned his career by becoming chief executive and principal of what was 바카라사이트n Regent¡¯s College. Under his leadership, it was granted taught degree-awarding powers in 2012 and gained full university status ¨C as Regent¡¯s University London ¨C 바카라사이트 following year. The current chancellor, Lord Hastings of Scarisbrick, described him as ¡°a bow-tie-wearing, flair-filled force for good¡± whose ¡°natural optimism was radiant¡± and whose ¡°determination to present a winning team was powerfully impactful¡±.

Although his later life was dogged by ill health, Professor Cooper was a man of many varied interests whose passions included cooking, cave diving and mountain climbing. He died of a heart attack on 3 February and is survived by his wife Rosalind, a son, two daughters and a grandchild.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@ws-2000.com