In July 2022, University of Sunderland recognised and commemorated Smith's significant contribution to academia, awarding him with an Honorary Doctorate of Technology.

He has also spoken at conferences around the world, including presentations in many cities in the UK, Europe, United States and Hong Kong.

His involvement with the Dublin Institute of Technology began in 2000 with an invitation to join a staff development programme initiated by the Head of School.

Smith has supervised over 60 PhD and DProf candidates and has attended over 200 viva examinations in the UK.

In 2014 Smith wrote a text book for PhD students, specifically based on the viva examination.

He also worked on a number of conditioning monitoring and machine maintenance projects with his colleague Professor John MacIntyre.

The programme consisted of a suite of projects to provide computer facilities and support to the digitally excluded in the city.

He has always lived in Sunderland where he and his late wife Marie raised three children, two daughters and one son.

In 2016, Smith fell down the stairs at his family home, sustaining a spinal cord injury which left him paralysed from the neck down.

He continues to publish, and has begun to write articles about his disability, one of which[25] he co-authored with his younger daughter Laura, who is blind.