It is with a heavy heart and deep regret that we announced that our dear friend and colleague Srabani Maitra has died. Srabani, who was Professor in Sociology of Adult and Vocational Education within the School of Education at the University of Glasgow, contracted meningitis, and despite all efforts over a two-week period could not recover.

As I wrote to colleagues in CR&DALL, I knew Srabani since the day of her appointment, having been on her interview panel. I  have worked closely with her over the years, enjoying amongst other things trips to India, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, buying honey on a freezing December day in Bishket, and passing on regular supplies of rhubarb for her curries. It is her delight on these occasions that will stay in my mind, and it had been a pleasure seeing her progress in the school from lecturer to professor.

She was of course an excellent academic who made significant contributions in adult and lifelong learning, skills development, racial and class relations, decolonising the curriculum, transnational migration, lifelong learning, vocational education and education policy. She was extremely hardworking, very able, and perhaps most importantly gentle, loyal and kind, who I am sure was admired by all who worked with her.

There are others with the School who have known her longer than me, and will be finding this time even more difficult. They will provide a fuller appreciation later.  My sympathy to them, and all her friends and family.

Michael Osborne

Professor of Adult and Lifelong Learning
School of Education, University of Glasgow