Adam Smith College

The Adam Smith College, Fife is a further and higher education college located in Glenrothes, Leven and Kirkcaldy in Fife, Scotland. It was formed on August 1, 2005 by the merger of Glenrothes College and Fife College. The college has seven campuses, three in Kirkcaldy and two in Glenrothes. A former Social Security office in Leven was named as the sixth campus of the college in 2006 and there is now a campus in Lochgelly too. The college is named after Adam Smith, the founder of modern economics, who was born in Kirkcaldy. Smith's best known work is The Wealth of Nations.

The students' association of the College caused controversy in 2005 when they refused to name themselves after Adam Smith, stating that "He is associated with socio-economic policies that work against the people, that were synonymous with Thatcherite and Reaganite governments". Instead they chose to use the name, Jennie Lee Students’ Association, after a local socialist MP. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2090-1808040,00.html]

Discussion since has highlighted the breadth of Smith's work and how he had a wider philosophical base than simply promoting naked capitalism. His other major work, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, has a strong foundation in social responsibility and common interest. In April 2008, the students took the decision to move on from this and to adopt the Adam Smith title.

The Chancellor of the College is Gordon Brown, the current Prime Minister.

External links

* [http://www.adamsmithcollege.ac.uk/ Adam Smith College]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4732579.stm BBC News- "Finishing touches for new college"]