Honorary title (academic)

Honorary titles (professor, reader, lecturer) in academia may be conferred on persons in recognition of contributions by a non-employee or by an employee beyond regular duties.

This practice primarily exists in the UK and Germany, as well as in many of the universities and colleges of the United States, Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, New Zealand, Japan, Denmark, and Canada.

Recent recipients include Prof. Peter Bruce from Oxford,[11] Prof. Reinhart Poprawe from Aachen Germany,[12] Professor Thomas Sargent[13] and Anwar Ibrahim.

[25] In Denmark, the honorary professor title is conferred in recognition of a person's special contribution to the subject area associated with faculty's activities.

A person can be promoted to the next higher honorary rank on recommendation by the internal university staff and department.

In addition to the honor and recognition, an honorary title sometimes permits non-employees to enjoy the privileges available to regular staff members, such as access to facilities and libraries, temporary stay in university housing, entitlement to a university business card, an email account, and to receive a parking permit.