21 October 2004

Deputy Principal and Jazzman retires

Professor Ron Elder, former Deputy Principal and Dean of the Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Dundee is retiring this week ending a long and distinguished career in Scottish education.

Ron taught in a number of Dundee and Angus schools before joining Dundee College as a maths and methods lecturer in 1973. The College at that time was in Park Place and ran its programmes in close association with the University of Dundee. When merger between Northern College and the University of Dundee took place in 2001, Professor Elder, then Vice-Principal of Northern College, re-established the link with the University.

Music is Ron's passion outside education. An accomplished double bass player, Ron has been a keen supporter of jazz in Dundee, a member of the East Coast jazzmen for over forty years and was an original member of what eventually became the Average White Band.

Professor Elder balanced a career that involved research into teacher education, his management role, leading national initiatives in teacher education while maintaining his interest in music.

At national level Ron was convenor of the Scottish Teacher Education Committee and a member of the General Teaching Council for Scotland.

University of Dundee Principal Sir Alan Langlands said: "Professor Ron Elder has made an outstanding contribution to Scottish education over a lifetime and at all levels, from primary schools right through to university policy and practice. He has worked with integrity, vision, and a sense of real purpose; but also with great humour and pragmatism. On the merger of the Dundee base of Northern College with the University Ron joined us as Deputy Principal and Dean of the Faculty of Education and Social Work. In his last week in post the report on that merger from the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council described it in overwhelmingly positive terms. That success can very largely be credited to Professor Elder's contribution.

He will be sorely missed at the University of Dundee - not least for his music making - and I wish him and his wife Doreen every happiness in their well deserved retirement."

Professor Elder intends to take some of his interests and commitments into retiral, while adding travel and golf with his wife Doreen.

A dinner will be hosted by the University Principal Sir Alan Langlands to mark Ron's contribution to the University of Dundee and Scottish education on Saturday 23rd October.

By Jenny Marra, Head of Press 01382 344910, out of hours: 07968298585, j.m.marra@dundee.ac.uk