The truth about Matt Goodwin’s big win

Matt Goodwin has responded angrily to a profile of him that appeared in the New European earlier this week, taking particular exception to its revelation that Goodwin left his post as professor of politics at the University of Kent at the end of last month.

While Goodwin had stripped any mention of the role from his social media biography, neither he nor the university had announced the departure and Goodwin had not announced any new academic role.

Following publication of the article, Goodwin confirmed he had left the role, but angrily denied he had left academia, posting (after an early tweet specifically referencing the New European’s reporting) that “some mad leftists on here appear to think I’ve left academic life” but “I regret to inform them I am still (Honorary) Professor at the University of Kent”. Goodwin also said he had “big news coming next month”.

However, Goodwin’s championing of his honorary professorship at the University of Kent has raised some eyebrows among following academics, not least because Goodwin himself appeared to confirm to Times Higher Education that honorary status was “bestowed automatically” to those leaving professorial roles.

The New European has learned that the use of honorary status is far more widespread than that for those leaving the University of Kent. Unlike the role of emeritus professor, or similar, given to eminent academics leaving after long service – which come with speaking duties or formal ties to ongoing work – honorary status is a time-limited status mostly intended to confer access to libraries and other facilities.

The honorary status is automatically conferred on all departing academic staff of any seniority, not just those at professorial rank, and is regularly granted to departing non-academic staff who request it. It comes with no wider academic role or responsibility and is not linked to any ongoing teaching or speaking duties.

A spokesman for the University of Kent stressed that the courtesy title implied no ongoing relationship with the university or department. “As non-employees, those with honorary status act independently and in no way speak for or represent the University,” he said in a statement.

Doubtless, honorary professor Matt Goodwin will insist that his “big news coming soon” will still silence his detractors. But that does raise the question as to why he has placed such prominence on what seems, in practice, to be a practical courtesy offered to all departing staff.