Deian Hopkin
Encyclopedia
Sir Deian Rhys Hopkin was from 2001 until 2009 Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of London South Bank University
, England
. He is an historian
, originally from Wales
and a fluent Welsh
speaker. Born and educated in Llanelli
, he attended the first ever Welsh-medium school to be established by a local authority, followed by a scholarship to Llandovery College
. He graduated in history at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth
where he also completed his PhD
. After a brief period at Queen Mary College, London
, he returned to the Department of History at Aberystwyth where he taught for twenty four years and became Head of Department; for most of that time he was also a tutor at the Open University
and was seconded to the OU to develop new courses. In 1991 he was appointed Dean of Human Sciences at City of London Polytechnic which became, in 1992, London Guildhall University
(now London Metropolitan University
). He was promoted to Vice-Provost in 1996.
He has been actively involved in educational policy and, in particular, the skills agenda of the UK over a number of years. He is currently a Council member of the University of Essex
, the City and Guilds Institute, and the Campaign for Learning. He is a Patron of Futureversity , Southwark Theatres and Education Partnership (STEP), the Bishopsgate Institute
and Hillcroft College
for Women. He is Chairman-Emeritus of the University Centre, Jersey; Highlands College. He was co-chair of the HE Progression Board for the Department for Children, Schools and Families
and was the HE Champion for the 14–19 Diploma
He is Vice Chairman of the Council for Assisting Refugee Academics
(CARA) and Ambassador for Cerebra
. He was until 2009 Chairman of the UNIAID
Foundation, the national charity supporting students in financial difficulty which has now merged with the Brightside Trust.
He has published on Labour and press history and on the use of computers in history, and was co-founder of the Association for History and Computing
and founding editor of Llafur
, The Journal of Welsh People's History, of which he is now a Vice President. He is Chair of the Local Economy Policy Unit and a member of the Editorial Board of Local Economy . He is also a Trustee of the Institute of Historical Research
Development Trust, University of London and a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Times Higher Education. He has extensive broadcasting experience and was a member of the BBC
General Advisory Council.
Hopkin is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society
and the Royal Society of Arts
, as well as a Freeman of the City of London
, the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists
and the Company of Educators
.. He has been elected an Honorary Fellow of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth
and has an Honorary D.Litt from Glamorgan University and an Honorary LL.D from McGill University
, Montreal, Canada. He is also an Honorary Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
and has been awarded a Fellowship of the City and Guilds Institute of London. He was knighted
in the 2009 Birthday Honours.
In 2009 he was appointed interim Vice-Chancellor of the University of East London
and in 2010 was appointed interim Chair of the Student Loans Company.. In 2011 he was also appointed as President of the National Library of Wales
after previously serving on the Library's council.
London South Bank University
London South Bank University is a university in south London. With over 25,000 students and 1,700 staff, it is based in the London Borough of Southwark, near the South Bank of the River Thames, from which it takes its name...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He is an historian
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, originally from Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and a fluent Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
speaker. Born and educated in Llanelli
Llanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
, he attended the first ever Welsh-medium school to be established by a local authority, followed by a scholarship to Llandovery College
Llandovery College
Llandovery College is an independent school in Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It was founded and endowed by Thomas Phillips in 1847 to provide a classical and liberal education in which the Welsh language; the study of Welsh literature and history were also to be cultivated.Llandovery...
. He graduated in history at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth University is a university located in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding Member Institution of the former federal University of Wales. As of late 2006, the university had over 12,000 students spread across seventeen academic departments.The university was founded in 1872 as...
where he also completed his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
. After a brief period at Queen Mary College, London
Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, he returned to the Department of History at Aberystwyth where he taught for twenty four years and became Head of Department; for most of that time he was also a tutor at the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
and was seconded to the OU to develop new courses. In 1991 he was appointed Dean of Human Sciences at City of London Polytechnic which became, in 1992, London Guildhall University
London Guildhall University
London Guildhall University was a university in the United Kingdom from 1992 to 2002. On 1 August 2002, it merged with the University of North London to form London Metropolitan University...
(now London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University , located in London, England, was formed on 1 August 2002 by the amalgamation of the University of North London and the London Guildhall University . The University has campuses in the City of London and in the London Borough of Islington.The University operates its...
). He was promoted to Vice-Provost in 1996.
He has been actively involved in educational policy and, in particular, the skills agenda of the UK over a number of years. He is currently a Council member of the University of Essex
University of Essex
The University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...
, the City and Guilds Institute, and the Campaign for Learning. He is a Patron of Futureversity , Southwark Theatres and Education Partnership (STEP), the Bishopsgate Institute
Bishopsgate Institute
Bishopsgate Institute is a cultural institute, located on Bishopsgate, in proximity of Liverpool Street station and Spitalfields market, London, England.Bishopsgate Institute was established in 1895...
and Hillcroft College
Hillcroft College
Hillcroft College is a residential adult education college for women, located in Surbiton area of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in South London, England, ....
for Women. He is Chairman-Emeritus of the University Centre, Jersey; Highlands College. He was co-chair of the HE Progression Board for the Department for Children, Schools and Families
Department for Children, Schools and Families
The Department for Children, Schools and Families was a department of the UK government, between 2007 and 2010, responsible for issues affecting people in England up to the age of 19, including child protection and education...
and was the HE Champion for the 14–19 Diploma
He is Vice Chairman of the Council for Assisting Refugee Academics
Council for Assisting Refugee Academics
The Council for Assisting Refugee Academics is a British charitable organization dedicated to assisting academics who, for reasons including persecution and conflict, are unable to continue their research in their countries of origin...
(CARA) and Ambassador for Cerebra
Cerebra
Cerebra is a mutant comic book character in the fictional Marvel Universe. She is a founding member of the X-Men 2099 of 2099 and founder of X-Nation 2099...
. He was until 2009 Chairman of the UNIAID
Uniaid
Uniaid is a British charitable organization which aims to help young people "overcome financial hurdles to higher education". In 2005, their online financial game, Student Survivor, gained Highly Commended in the Third Sector Excellence Awards....
Foundation, the national charity supporting students in financial difficulty which has now merged with the Brightside Trust.
He has published on Labour and press history and on the use of computers in history, and was co-founder of the Association for History and Computing
Association for History and Computing
The Association for History and Computing is an organization dedicated to the use of computers in historical research.The AHC is an international organization with the aim of promoting the use of computers in all types of historical study, both for teaching and research.It was originally proposed...
and founding editor of Llafur
Llafur
Llafur , whose full name is Llafur: The Welsh People’s History Society was founded in 1970 as Llafur: the Society for the Study of Welsh Labour History to promote the study of the labour and people’s history of Wales...
, The Journal of Welsh People's History, of which he is now a Vice President. He is Chair of the Local Economy Policy Unit and a member of the Editorial Board of Local Economy . He is also a Trustee of the Institute of Historical Research
Institute of Historical Research
The Institute of Historical Research is a British educational organisation providing resources and training for historical researchers. It is part of the School of Advanced Study in the University of London and is located at Senate House. The Institute was founded in 1921 by A. F...
Development Trust, University of London and a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Times Higher Education. He has extensive broadcasting experience and was a member of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
General Advisory Council.
Hopkin is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society
Royal Historical Society
The Royal Historical Society was founded in 1868. The premier society in the United Kingdom which promotes and defends the scholarly study of the past, it is based at University College London...
and the Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
, as well as a Freeman of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists
Worshipful Company of Information Technologists
The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists , aka the Information Technologists' Company , is the 100th Livery Company of the City of London...
and the Company of Educators
Company of Educators
The Company of Educators is a guild in the City of London. The Guild was founded on 24 May 2001 to represent the education and training profession and for charitable purposes....
.. He has been elected an Honorary Fellow of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth University is a university located in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding Member Institution of the former federal University of Wales. As of late 2006, the university had over 12,000 students spread across seventeen academic departments.The university was founded in 1872 as...
and has an Honorary D.Litt from Glamorgan University and an Honorary LL.D from McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, Montreal, Canada. He is also an Honorary Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers is a British professional engineering body based in London, England that represents building services engineers...
and has been awarded a Fellowship of the City and Guilds Institute of London. He was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in the 2009 Birthday Honours.
In 2009 he was appointed interim Vice-Chancellor of the University of East London
University of East London
The University of East London is a university located in the London Borough of Newham, East London, England, based at two campuses in Stratford and Docklands areas...
and in 2010 was appointed interim Chair of the Student Loans Company.. In 2011 he was also appointed as President of the National Library of Wales
National Library of Wales
The National Library of Wales , Aberystwyth, is the national legal deposit library of Wales; one of the Welsh Government sponsored bodies.Welsh is its main medium of communication...
after previously serving on the Library's council.