Professor Peter John was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s 2020 New Year honours list for his outstanding work and service to higher education. Professor John has worked in the sector for more than 30 years and joined the University of West London in late 2007.
A graduate of the Universities of Wales, London, Oxford (Jesus College), and Bristol (where he obtained his doctorate), Peter was originally an historian but is now a leading educationist. He is the author of seven books and numerous papers in journals. His latest book 'Dimensions of Marketization in Higher Education' was published by Routledge in 2016 (with Professor Joelle Fanghanel). His first book 'Civilisation Britannique' was published by Hachette in 1992 and is still used extensively in French Universities. During his academic career Peter was the recipient of over £3m in research funding, holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Plymouth, and is a visiting professor at the Universities of Fuzhou and Shaoguan in China.
In 2015 he was a finalist for the Guardian’s most Inspiring University Leader of the Year and in 2017 led the University of West London to being awarded the Times Higher Outstanding Senior Leadership Team as well as being shortlisted, a year later, for the prestigious University of the Year Award. He was one of the founding members of the Association of Modern Universities (Million+). He also sits on board of London Higher, is chair of Access HE, an organisation that promotes access and opportunity, and is the founding chair of the Learning Analytics Board (UK). He is also a member and Treasurer of University Alliance.
In 2009 he was a recipient, on behalf of the University, of the Queen’s Anniversary Prize. He is a patron of the Ealing Music and Film Festival, a friend and patron of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, and a member of the Lord’s Taverners.