By Professor John Robertson OBA
The host didn’t introduce Kezia Dugdale as ‘prof’ but the above appeared when she began to speak.
After 30 years in HE, I got ‘prof’. To get it, I had to publish research in peer-reviewed journals, have a PhD myself and supervise PhD students. I spoke at conferences and chaired a Faculty research ethics committee. Long before I got ‘prof’ I taught research methods for years.
Dugdale has a Masters degree and appeared on that get me out of the jungle show. 1 of 7 regional MSPs (not elected by constituents) for Lothian. Labour got only 20% of the vote.
On 29 April 2019, Dugdale announced she would be resigning as an MSP before the summer recess of the Scottish Parliament in order to take up the role of director of the John Smith Centre for Public Service at the University of Glasgow. In March 2024 Dugdale became Associate Director of the Centre for Public Policy at the University of Glasgow.
I didn’t see adverts for either of these posts. Was it competitive?
In my latter days at UWS, I saw a range of managers within the institution and, for example, a nursing manager from our partner health board, become profs and then appear in the media professing opinions based on FA evidence. Neither they, nor Kezia, I feel sure, would recognise a research method if it came up and bit them on the bum.
Yes, I’m angry. I worked fn hard to get ‘prof’. It should mean something and no I won’t keep my hair on or stop my knickers from getting in a twist.
I’ve blown this fuse before, at greater length, here: https://newsnet.scot/commentary/when-is-a-professor-an-expert-the-answer-may-be-academic/
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Absolutely, that jobsworth grifter deserves no such title, saw her being praised on twitter by indy folk yesterday. Do people have such short memories, she was such a nasty anti independence operative and was given a huge platform to lie to the people of Scotland back in 2014. How do these people land lucrative jobs, when you wouldn’t trust someone like her to make a cup of tea properly.
Can understand your anger John, but rest assured, your prof title is obviously hugely deserved and your integrity is secure. Unlike K. Dugdale.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thanks Hetty (?)
I’ve had two cups of strong tea and will walk the dog soon.
Should be back to ‘normal’ on my return.
John
LikeLiked by 4 people
Yes it’s me Hetty… glad to know you had some propertea! 🙂
LikeLike
Just read this. I’m not surprised yer ragin’. I doubt sincerely if she was ‘studying and researching her PhD’ under wraps, she’s unable to ‘proffer’ discrete and quiet behaviour. Devious and underhand, yes, but certainly not of PhD and academic research standards. Maybe she was researching the ‘ferry scandal’, or even the FFM’s ‘blue tent scandal’? Perhaps tracing where the ‘money’ was buried? Or forensic analysis of the motorhome? Perhaps the media and ‘prof Dugdale’ were enabling fully-funded research on the political quest of lying, is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Whatever it is they need to ‘fess up to the ‘prof stunt’ in the hope of procuring popularity.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Apologies, not anonymous, Deelsdugs 😁
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yep, you go through a lot of very hard work, effort and, dare I say, heartache, before being awarded a PhD. My viva was one of the toughest days of my life. I came to academia late, so wasn’t around long enough to become a professor. I don’t begrudge honourary doctorates to non-academics whose long experience widened and furthered the knowledge in their own chosen fields.
However, like you, it grates when someone is simply “awarded” a doctorate, or professorship when they have added nothing to anything. If anything, Ms Dugdale’s utter nonsense, disdembling and deliberate falsehoods in defense of better together actually ‘narrowed’ the knowledge and understanding for many in Scotland.
Maybe she could point us to her doctoral thesis?
LikeLiked by 3 people
The word ‘chancer’ springs to mind.
LikeLiked by 3 people
How many tokens off the Corn Flakes boxes do you have to collect to become a Dugdale Professor?
LikeLiked by 3 people
Was she even elected as an MSP?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nope, 1 of 7 regional MSPs for Lothian
LikeLiked by 3 people
TBF when she was Labour leader (ITO) in Scotland she did profess that the UK was best as well as professing a lot of other statements in support of the UK and against independence.
So perhaps they have just abbreviated that word as opposed to actually giving her an undeserved title which I believe is one where she is only the Professor of Practice so she is not actually proficient yet as she is still practising.
Does that make it better Ha Ha ?
LikeLiked by 1 person
When did that happen? The Labour Mafia gravy train. Glasgow uni. The bastion of the Union.
The Herald FiFi la Bon. Always go in first. A colleague of Foukles
LikeLike