There will be no University of Winchester for at least seven years, according to the new principal of King Alfred's College, Professor Paul Light. His predecessor, John Dickinson, had made this a major aim for the 160-year-old former teacher-training college. "University status is not a key item for me," said Prof Light (53). "But I hope that, within three years, we will acquire our own degree-awarding status. This process is already under way. " He stressed that although the college did not have science, maths and technology departments, it had great strengths in the humanities, performing arts and psychology courses, as well as media, business studies and leisure. The college had no trouble recruiting students and a good record of retention. Primary teacher training received a good rating in a recent Ofsted inspection. Prof Light, who starts on November 1st, joins from Bournemouth University, where he was pro-vice-chancellor. He has also held posts with the universities of Cambridge and Southampton. as professor of psychology and with the Open University, where he was professor of education and director of the centre for human development and learning. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and of the British Psychological Society and has served on its council. He has been involved with the Economic and Social Research Council as a researcher and consultant and as a chairman or advisory groups. His research, widely published, includes aspects of the social development of pre-school children, the factors affecting children's abilities in drawing and the language and spatial abilities of autistic and dysphasic children. His latest work is on the contextual factors affecting thinking, reasoning and learning in school-aged children and university students, especially in the context of computers. "I've known the reputation of King Alfred's as a well-run, friendly and supportive college for a long time," he said. "Although there are now over 5,000 students, it has retained this sense of community." As well as 3,000 full-time students, there are 2,000 taking part-time and evening courses. Prof Light explained how he wanted the college to grow. "I want to develop forms and programmes of study which take into account family and career commitments, complemented by intensive teaching days here or in a place of work. I do not envisage any more major buildings in Winchester. "We are looking for a presence in other Hampshire towns and using the internet to deliver courses. The culture of business is changing in a knowledge-based economy and it is crucial for the future of King Alfred's that we respond to these changes. "When the West Downs conversion is complete, there will be excellent performing arts facilities which will be open to other arts groups. "During vacations, we will host conferences by using the accommodation in the new student village, thus bringing further economic benefit to the city." A Dorset man, Prof Light lives in the New Forest with his wife, Vivian, a teacher with a keen interest in educational research and the visual arts. They have three adult children. "When I saw it advertised, I knew it was a job I wanted to go for. This is an exciting time. My aim is that by the end of my stay, we act and feel like a university college and that King Alfred's is the higher education college of choice in Hampshire."