He won a scholarship to George Heriot's School and then, after service in the RAF in the Second World War, studied at the Bonar College of Economics in Dundee (part of University College, Dundee) graduating with first class honours in 1949.
Alexander was invited by the Labour government to chair a review of the future of adult education in Scotland.
[3] In 1976 he succeeded Sir Robert Grieve as Chairman of the Highlands & Islands Development Board (1976–1980).
He was Chairman of the Committee on Adult Education in Scotland and in this role wrote the Alexander Report (1976).
[4] At Aberdeen he was responsible for creation of the Elphinstone Institute: promoting the study of culture in north-east Scotland.