Remembering John Lowe, founder of the Overseas Unit

We are saddened to share the passing of Professor John Lowe (1941 – 2025). John made a lasting contribution to the University of Wolverhampton during his 27-year tenure, leading major international development and teacher training projects in more than thirty countries.

John established the Wolverhampton Polytechnic Overseas Unit in 1973 and oversaw its transformation into the Agricultural Education and Training Unit (AETU). The Unit trained over 700 overseas agricultural teachers and soon developed a reputation for excellence in technical training in agriculture. John was pivotal in leading the evolution of the unit into the centre for capacity strengthening, consultancy and applied research that exists today. In 1995, the AETU became the Centre for Rural Training and Development (CRDT) and in 2001, the University of Wolverhampton’s Centre for International Development and Training (CIDT) was established as a centre of excellence for the practice of Global Sustainable Development.

John commenced his employment at the Wolverhampton Polytechnic, as it was then known, in 1970. Prior to that he held Lecturer positions in Agricultural Engineering in Yorkshire and Aberdeen. John was a brilliant teacher and trainer and led a large number of innovative Teacher Training programmes and “Training of Trainer” short courses over the course of his career at Wolverhampton – in Fiji and Malaysia to name just a couple. From 1981-6 he facilitated numerous regional courses in the safe and effective use of plant protection products.

John led several large Overseas Development Aid funded projects, including in the Solomons Islands, Bolivia and Costa Rica and in Brazil a large institutional strengthening project with Federal Rural University of Amazonia.  In recognition of his impact, he was appointed Professor of Development Education and Training in 1995.

Remembered as a brilliant educator and a valued colleague, John was a remarkable person who touched the lives of many. His spirit and legacy live on in the work being undertaken by the staff of the Centre for International Development and Training to the current day.