Robert Cormack
Encyclopedia
Emeritus Professor Robert Cormack (born 1946, Blantyre, Scotland) retired in late 2009 after an illustrious career in higher education, most notably at Queen’s University, Belfast where his service spanned the troubles in Northern Ireland
. He became a leading specialist and author on equal opportunities, discrimination and public policy in Northern Ireland
.
He retired as principal of UHI Millennium Institute
, the prospective University of the Highlands and Islands in the north of Scotland
, taking it to the final stages in the process for university title and achieving taught degree awarding powers. He served as principal from 2001 to 2009.
Professor Cormack was educated in Scotland at Montrose Academy
, the University of Aberdeen
and in the United States at Brown University
. In 1973 he was appointed to a lectureship in sociology at Queen’s University, Belfast. He was awarded a personal chair in 1994. He served as dean of the faculty of economics and social sciences and latterly as pro-vice-chancellor from 1995 to 2001 .
With his colleague, Professor Robert Osborne, Professor Cormack undertook much of the early research on the differences in education and employment between the two communities in Northern Ireland
. This led to major changes in fair employment legislation and in the funding of Catholic schools. He was co-director of the Centre for Research on Higher Education – a joint research centre of Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Ulster
.
He has a long list of public and professional appointments to his name, including work in Europe dealing with issues such as globalisation and the universities; under-represented groups in higher education; the contribution of higher education to tolerance in European society, and the "brain drain." For two years, he was a Council of Europe
member contracted by the World Bank
to advise on the restructuring of higher education after the Kosovo war
.
Professor Cormack was a member of the Joint Information Systems Committee
; member of the Council of the Society for Research into Higher Education; Trustee of the Ireland Chair of Poetry; member of the Board of Governors of Stranmillis University College
; chair of the Belfast Citizens Advice Bureaux, and worked with the Council of Europe
.
In 2008 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
. Cape Breton University
awarded him a Doctor of Letters in 2009, and the same year the University of Edinburgh
awarded him a Doctor honoris causa. In 2010 he joined the Court of Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. He became a leading specialist and author on equal opportunities, discrimination and public policy in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
He retired as principal of UHI Millennium Institute
UHI Millennium Institute
The University of the Highlands and Islands is a federation of 13 colleges and research institutions in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland delivering higher education. Its executive office is in Inverness.-History:...
, the prospective University of the Highlands and Islands in the north of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, taking it to the final stages in the process for university title and achieving taught degree awarding powers. He served as principal from 2001 to 2009.
Professor Cormack was educated in Scotland at Montrose Academy
Montrose Academy
Montrose Academy is a state secondary school in Montrose, Angus, Scotland. Its history extends as far back as the 16th century grammar school with evidence of schooling in Montrose found as early as 1329. In 1815 Montrose Academy was built and established as an exclusive fee-paying school...
, the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
and in the United States at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
. In 1973 he was appointed to a lectureship in sociology at Queen’s University, Belfast. He was awarded a personal chair in 1994. He served as dean of the faculty of economics and social sciences and latterly as pro-vice-chancellor from 1995 to 2001 .
With his colleague, Professor Robert Osborne, Professor Cormack undertook much of the early research on the differences in education and employment between the two communities in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. This led to major changes in fair employment legislation and in the funding of Catholic schools. He was co-director of the Centre for Research on Higher Education – a joint research centre of Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Ulster
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
.
He has a long list of public and professional appointments to his name, including work in Europe dealing with issues such as globalisation and the universities; under-represented groups in higher education; the contribution of higher education to tolerance in European society, and the "brain drain." For two years, he was a Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
member contracted by the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
to advise on the restructuring of higher education after the Kosovo war
Kosovo War
The term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
.
Professor Cormack was a member of the Joint Information Systems Committee
Joint Information Systems Committee
JISC is a United Kingdom non-departmental public body whose role is to support post-16 and higher education and research by providing leadership in the use of ICT in learning, teaching, research and administration...
; member of the Council of the Society for Research into Higher Education; Trustee of the Ireland Chair of Poetry; member of the Board of Governors of Stranmillis University College
Stranmillis University College
Stranmillis University College is a university college of Queen's University Belfast. The institution is located on the Stranmillis Road in Belfast, and has approximately 700 students today and offers the BEd, PGCE and TESOL, as well as other courses....
; chair of the Belfast Citizens Advice Bureaux, and worked with the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
.
In 2008 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
. Cape Breton University
Cape Breton University
Cape Breton University , formerly the "University College of Cape Breton" , is a Canadian university in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Regional Municipality....
awarded him a Doctor of Letters in 2009, and the same year the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
awarded him a Doctor honoris causa. In 2010 he joined the Court of Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.