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Rick Trainor

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Sir Richard Hughes Trainor, KBE, FRHistS, FKC, FAcSS (born 31 December 1948), is a retired academic administrator and historian. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Greenwich from 2000 to 2004, the Principal and latterly also president of King's College London from 2004 to 2014, and the Rector of Exeter College, University of Oxford between 2014 and 2024.

Sir
Richard Trainor
KBE FRHistS FKC FAcSS
Trainor in January 2009
Principal of King's College London
In office
2004–2014
Preceded byArthur Lucas
Succeeded byEd Byrne
Personal details
Born (1948-12-31) 31 December 1948 (age 75)
United States of America
SpouseMarguerite Dupree
Children2
Alma materBrown University
Princeton University
Merton College, Oxford
Nuffield College, Oxford
ProfessionHistorian and academic administrator

Trainor was born in the United States. He was awarded an honorary knighthood (KBE) in June 2010 for services to higher education in the United Kingdom. The award was honorary because of his American nationality, but on 31 December 2010 the knighthood was made substantive by Queen Elizabeth II following his assumption of dual citizenship (American and British).[1]

Biography

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Trainor was educated at Calvert Hall College High School in Towson, Maryland, in the United States. He graduated from Brown University with a BA summa cum laude in American Civilization. He subsequently earned MAs from Princeton University and from Merton College, Oxford, before completing his D.Phil. in 1981 at Nuffield College, Oxford, entitled "Authority and social structure in an industrialized area: A study of three Black Country towns, 1840–1890". He is a former Rhodes Scholar.[2]

He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS)[3] and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS).[4] He is also an honorary fellow of Exeter College, Oxford, Merton College, Oxford,[5] Trinity College of Music,[6] the Royal Academy of Music[7] and the Institute of Historical Research[8] and is a patron of the Anglo-American Fulbright Commission.

He holds honorary degrees from the University of Kent (since 2009);[9] the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (since 2012);[10] the University of Glasgow (since 2014);[11] the University of Greenwich (since 2022);[12] and Williams College (Since 2024).[13]

He has been Emeritus professor of Social History at King's College London since 2014,[14] and was a member of the Joint Information Systems Committee 2001-2005, the council of the Arts and Humanities Research Council 2006-2011 and of the UK/US Fulbright Commission 2003-2009.[15] Trainor was President of the Economic History Society 2013-2016,[16] and he chaired the Advisory Committee of the Institute of Historical Research 2004-2009.[17]

As a result of his work with King's College London, the institution established a scholarship in his name, the Professor Sir Richard Trainor Postgraduate Research Scholarship, in 2014.[18]

Family

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He is married to Marguerite Dupree, an academic historian of medicine who is Honorary Professor of Social and Medical History at Glasgow University. They have two grown-up children.

Career

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Trainor was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Greenwich and Professor of Social History (2000–2004). Prior to this appointment, between 1979 and 2000 he was an academic (latterly Professor of Social History) and administrator (successively Director of the Design and Implementation of Software in History [DISH] Project, Dean of Social Sciences and Vice-Principal) of the University of Glasgow. In 2004 Trainor became Principal of King's College London, where he was also Professor of Social History.[19] In 2009 the title of President of King's was added.

Between 2007 and 2009 Trainor also served as President of Universities UK (UUK),[20] the organisation that represents the heads of all UK Universities. In this role he engaged with the new Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills and latterly, the successor Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, on a wide range of issues including autonomy, funding, research, standards and immigration. He served on the Confederation of British Industries' Higher Education Task Force from 2008 to 2009.[21] As part of his work with UUK Trainor co-chaired the Prime Minister's UK/US Higher Education Study Group, which resulted in a major initiative, the UK-US Higher Education Global Innovation Fund.[22]

After becoming Principal of King's in 2004, Trainor oversaw the promotion of the College from 96th to 19th place in the QS World University Rankings (2015/16), making it the 5th ranked UK university.[23] In 2010 King's was named UK Sunday Times University of the Year.[24] According to 2014's Research Excellence Framework (REF), the academic institution rose 15 places since its last assessment in 2008, climbing on grade point average to reach seventh place.[25]

Trainor oversaw the College's role in the creation of King's Health Partners in 2009, an academic health science centre, in which King's College London collaborates with Guy's and St Thomas's Hospitals, King's College Hospital, and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.[26] He also oversaw King's College London joining the Francis Crick Institute in 2011.[27]

During Trainor's tenure, in 2009 King's acquired the East Wing of Somerset House,[28] after 180 years of intermittent negotiations between King's and the Somerset House authorities. Somerset House East Wing was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in February 2012.[29]

Under Trainor's leadership, the College launched King's Cultural Institute, enhancing ties to a number of nearby national cultural institutions.[30] Also under his leadership, the College sponsored the King's College London Mathematics School, which subsequently was recognised as the Best State Sixth Form School of the Decade by The Sunday Times School's Guide.[31]

Trainor received the Annual Leadership Award of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education in June 2011 for his role in the College's fundraising (which raised more than £500 million in its 'World Questions/King's Answers' campaign) and for alumni relations.[32]

Trainor oversaw the establishment of a number of Global Institutes – the Brazil Institute,[33] the Russia Institute,[34] the India Institute[35] and the China Institute[36] – at the College as part of greater focus on internationalisation at King's. These centres of research and study aim to focus on contemporary developments in fast-changing parts of the world.

In March 2012 Trainor joined the IPPR Commission on the Future of Higher Education. In May 2012 HEFCE announced it was to undertake a Review of Philanthropic Support for Higher Education throughout the UK and Trainor sat on the review board.[37]

In June 2013 Exeter College, Oxford announced that Trainor was the preferred candidate to succeed Frances Cairncross as Rector.[38] The College announced his formal pre-election in October 2013. Trainor took office on 1 October 2014, during the College's 700th anniversary year. The Rector is Head of the College with oversight of all its activities. He and Exeter's circa 60 Fellows constitute the Governing Body (chaired by the Rector). The Governing Body is responsible for Exeter's staff, its student population of c.380 undergraduates and c.300 postgraduates, its finances and its buildings. A key project completed in early 2017 was Exeter's Cohen Quadrangle, on Walton Street in central Oxford, the College's largest single physical expansion in its more than 700-year history.[39] In the meantime Cohen Quadrangle has won a number of architectural awards.[40]

Another major building project at Exeter was the restoration and renovation of the College's Victorian library designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott.[41] Trainor oversaw the adoption in 2019 of a new strategic plan, under which the College has diversified its undergraduate admissions profile, adopted new Statutes, and launched ambitious sustainability initiatives.[42] In addition, he served as Chair of Oxford's Conference of Colleges 2017-2019, when it renewed and reformed the system (the College Contributions Scheme) of intercollegiate taxation and strongly encouraged Oxford-wide changes in the profile of undergraduate admissions. Between 2016 and 2024 Trainor was also a Pro-Vice-Chancellor without portfolio of Oxford University, chairing professorial appointment panels and presiding at ceremonies when the Vice-Chancellor was not available.[43] He also chaired the Jardine Foundation's [44] Scholarship Committee between 2018 and 2024.

Trainor was also governor of the Royal Academy of Music (2013–2022)[45] and the London Museum (2014-2021)[46] and has chaired the Museum's Academic Panel since 2016. Since 2022 he has been a non-executive director of the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.[47] Since 2016 he has been a member of the Council of Reference of the Westminster Abbey Institute.[48]

Restructuring at King's College London, 2010 and 2014

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During his tenure at King's College London, the institution announced a restructure of its funding. The plans had a negative reception in the press and in the educational field.[49][50]

The University and College Union (UCU) and the British Medical Association (BMA) voiced their concerns about the restructuring at King's College London.[51] The situation at King's attracted national press coverage.[52][53][54][55]

Trainor responded by highlighting the pressures facing UK Universities and giving an interview to The Times about the challenges of funding cuts[56] and his belief that further higher education funding cuts would risk serious damage to the sector.[57][58]

Further, the institution's decision to close the Division of Engineering in 2009, was criticised for risking charges of "reckless academic vandalism".[59] However, King's has developed a research and teaching programme in Biomedical Engineering, assisted by a grant (under the programme of Centres of Excellence in Medical Engineering) from the Wellcome Trust and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).[60]

The university's choice of cuts was the subject of a House of Commons Early Day Motion in March 2010: "That this House notes the proposal by the Executive of King's College London as part of its budget review process to abolish the Chair of Palaeography, the only one of its kind in the United Kingdom; further notes the fundamental importance of palaeography to a broad and interdisciplinary scholarly community; considers that without the development of palaeographic skills, millions of documents would be rendered inaccessible, thus depriving the nation of its full historical legacy; and therefore urges King's College London to consider very carefully any proposals in respect to this prestigious and important Chair."[61]

In January 2012, King's announced the appointment of Dr Julia Crick as Professor of Palaeography and Manuscript Studies in the School of Arts & Humanities.[62]

Another proposal for restructuring was announced in May 2014.[63] There was an adverse response in the media to the proposed changes.[64][65][66][67]

The University and College Union have provided a regularly-updated list of media coverage.[68] King's College London has also provided a list of rebuttal press statements.[69]

Published works

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  • Black Country élites: the exercise of authority in an industrialised area, 1830–1900. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1993.
  • Urban governance: Britain and beyond since 1750, edited by Robert J. Morris and Richard H. Trainor. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2000.
  • University, city and state: the University of Glasgow since 1870, by Michael Moss, J. Forbes Munro and Richard H. Trainor. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press for the University of Glasgow, 2000.
  • Reform and its Complexities in Modern Britain: Essays Inspired by Sir Brian Harrison, edited by Bruce Kinzer, Molly Baer Kramer and Richard Trainor. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2022.

References

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  1. ^ 2011 New Year Honours: Overseas List
  2. ^ "Rhodes Scholar Database - Rhodes Trust". Rhodes House - Home of The Rhodes Scholarships. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  3. ^ Sciences, Academy of Social. "Fellows". Academy of Social Sciences. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Current Fellows & Members | RHS". royalhistsoc.org. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Sir Richard Trainor". Merton College, Oxford. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Honorary Fellows". Trinity Laban. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  7. ^ "Honours". Royal Academy of Music. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Honorary Fellowships". Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  9. ^ "University of Kent: Honorary Degrees Conferred since 1966" (PDF). The University of Kent. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Helix Summer-Fall 2012" (PDF). The Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 January 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Scottish gold medal winners awarded Doctorates". The University of Glasgow. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  12. ^ "University of Greenwich Honorary Graduates". Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Four to receive honorary degrees at Williams' 235th commencement". Today. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Sir Rick Trainor 2012". University of Exeter. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Podium (November)" (PDF). The Arts and Humanities Research Council. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Executive Committee of the Economic History Society". Economic History Society. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  17. ^ "Honorary Fellowships". The Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  18. ^ "New scholarships named in honour of King's Principal". King's College London. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Professor Sir Richard Trainor KBE FKC FAcSS FRHistS". www.kcl.ac.uk. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  20. ^ Universities UK press release, 28 November 2006
  21. ^ Profile, bbc.co.uk, 17 September 2008.
  22. ^ Communications, NYU Web. "Report Calls for Greater UK/US Higher Education Collaboration". www.nyu.edu. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  23. ^ QS World University Rankings: King's College London
  24. ^ The Sunday Times University Guide, thesundaytimes.co.uk; accessed 3 April 2016.
  25. ^ Times Higher Education
  26. ^ Financial Times
  27. ^ The Francis Crick Institute, crick.ac.uk; accessed 3 April 2016.
  28. ^ King's College set to expand into Somerset House, independent.co.uk, 10 February 2010.
  29. ^ Somerset House, Times Higher Education, 15 March 2012.
  30. ^ London 2012 Festival
  31. ^ McCall, Alastair. "School league tables: the best UK primary and secondary schools revealed". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  32. ^ CASE, 15 June 2011
  33. ^ Folha De S.Paulo, 27 September 2012
  34. ^ The Guardian, 20 November 2011
  35. ^ The Times Of India, 6 February 2012
  36. ^ Xinhuanet, 27 March 2012
  37. ^ UK Fundraising, 10 May 2012
  38. ^ "Exeter College Announces Selection of New Rector". Exeter College. Archived from the original on 18 June 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  39. ^ "Former student pays for new college building (From Oxford Mail)". www.oxfordmail.co.uk. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  40. ^ "Cohen Quadrangle awarded RIBA South Building of the Year". Exeter College, Oxford. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  41. ^ "Author Sir Philip Pullman formally opens Exeter College Library following major restoration". Exeter College, Oxford. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  42. ^ "Exeter College Strategy: Beyond Boundaries" (PDF). Exeter College, Oxford. 1 March 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  43. ^ "University Officers | University of Oxford". www.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  44. ^ "Jardine Foundation Scholarships Prospectus" (PDF). Jardines. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  45. ^ Royal Academy of Music
  46. ^ "Press and media enquiries – Contact details".
  47. ^ "Oxford Health welcomes two new appointments to the Board". Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  48. ^ "Westminster Abbey institute people". Westminster Abbey. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  49. ^ The New York Review of Books 9 March 2010
  50. ^ The Harvard Crimson 4 February 2010
  51. ^ University and College Union press release 26 February 2010
  52. ^ "Writing off the UK's last palaeographer". The Guardian. 9 February 2010. Archived from the original on 1 January 2023.
  53. ^ Times Higher Education 4 February 2010
  54. ^ Times Online 28 January 2010
  55. ^ London Evening Standard 4 February 2010
  56. ^ The Times, 4 June 2010
  57. ^ Times Higher Education 25 February 2010
  58. ^ "Don't ditch arts funding in favour of science. It's vital to our society | Letters". The Guardian. 28 February 2010. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016.
  59. ^ UCU response
  60. ^ "£10.5m for Medical Engineering Centre". King's College London. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  61. ^ House of Commons Early Day Motion, parliament.uk; accessed 3 April 2016.
  62. ^ Times Higher Education, 2 February 2012.
  63. ^ King's College London, University and College Union. "Health Schools Restructure". Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  64. ^ Rohn, Jenny (9 July 2014). "The King's College London scientist purge: what message does it send?". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  65. ^ Chakrabortty, Aditya (9 July 2014). "King's College London: world leaders in business nonsense". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  66. ^ Else, Holly (17 July 2014). "King's College was told cutting more staff could be 'difficult'". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  67. ^ "Standard & Poor's Rating report on King's College London" (PDF). 22 July 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  68. ^ King's College London, University and College Union. "Coverage of Dispute". Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  69. ^ King's College London details, kcl.ac.uk; accessed 3 April 2016.
Academic offices
Preceded by Principal of King's College London
2004 to 2014 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Rector of Exeter College, Oxford
2014 to 2024 		Succeeded by
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