Professor Peter Smith
BSc Combined Studies in Science 1978/ PhD Mathematics 1981
Position and company: Semi-retired, still working for the University of Sunderland part-time
BSc PhD DTech (honoris causa) PFHEA FBCS FCMI FIMA FRSA FIET FAPM FIoL FInstP FIAP CEng CITP CMgr CSci CMath CStat
Emeritus Professor, University of Sunderland
Adjunct Professor, University of Limerick, Ireland
Visiting Professor, University of Cumbria
Visiting Professor, The British University in Egypt
Peter Smith is Emeritus Professor of the University of Sunderland with wide-ranging research interests. He is a Principal Fellow of The Higher Education Academy and Fellow of the British Computer Society, the Institute of Engineering and Technology, the Chartered Management Institute, the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, the Institute of Physics, the Institute of Leadership and Management, the Institution of Analysts and Programmers, the Royal Society of Arts and the Association for Project Management.
He is best known for his contributions to Artificial Intelligence and Doctoral education.
In 1981 he completed his PhD in Modelling and Computer Simulation, also at University of Sunderland. Professor Smith then went on to hold several positions at the University. He spent 11 years as a lecturer before being made a professor in 1992. He went on to become Dean of Computing and Technology from 1999 until 2007. In 2012, Professor Smith retired from the University and was made Emeritus Professor. In July 2022, the University of Sunderland recognised and commemorated Smith's significant contribution to academia, awarding him with an Honorary Doctorate of Technology.
Professor Smith has supervised over 50 PhD and Professional Doctorate candidates and examined over 50 doctoral candidates around the world, across the UK, Ireland, Spain, India and Hong Kong.
He is a prolific writer and has published over 300 academic contributions including books, book chapters and academic papers. He has also spoken at conferences around the world. He has written on a variety of topics including mathematics and software engineering.
He said: “I am tutoring online, supervising PhD and Masters students.”
Asked about his greatest achievement to date, Professor Smith replied: “It has been being awarded an Honorary Higher Doctorate by the University of Sunderland.”
Asked about his biggest challenge, he said: “Seven years ago I fell down the stairs in my family home and broke my neck which has left me severely disabled. However, I continue to work online and attend rock concerts.”
Since the late 1960s, Professor Smith has attended thousands of popular music gigs all around the UK. In 2011 he began a blog, My Vintage Rock, documenting the gigs he has attended and his many musical experiences. Over the past decade, he has published numerous papers and books relating to music. Professor Smith has written about the development of rock venues, particularly arenas, classic rock including book chapters on the Rolling Stones and The Who and punk rock, including a book chapter on the Clash and a paper and book on the Sex Pistols.
Professor Smith was attracted to the then Sunderland Polytechnic in 1975 as he wanted to study at his hometown institution and hasn’t left it since.
He explained: “I love living in Sunderland and never wanted to move away! I enjoyed the practical nature of my studies. I was mainly influenced by the way in which the University supports students from a wide and diverse community.”
Professor’s Smith advice to recent graduates entering the job market is: “Be bold and follow your dreams. You can achieve them.”
Asked about his future plans, he concluded: “I am currently studying for a PhD by published work in popular music.”
Read more about Professor Peter Smith on Wikipedia.