Reader (academic rank)

In Denmark and Norway, docent was traditionally a title ranking between associate professor and professor, and was virtually identical to a readership in the United Kingdom, although today, the title is used somewhat differently. The traditional Danish/Norwegian docent title is widely translated as reader. Historically, there would often only be one professor (chair) for each institute or discipline, and other academics at the top academic level would be appointed as docents. In Norway all docents became full professors when the docent rank was abolished in 1985. In Sweden, and countries influenced by Sweden, docent is the highest academic title below that of (chair) Professor, but it is usually not an academic position in itself, but is more like a degree; in this sense it is somewhat comparable to the Habilitation found in certain countries in Continental Europe. == Associate professor in place of reader ==

At some universities in Commonwealth countries, such as India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Malaysia, Thailand and Ireland, the title associate professor is used in place of reader, and similarly ranks above senior lecturer and below (chair) professor. This associate professor title should not be confused with the associate professor title used in the North American system; like the reader title it ranks higher than an associate professor in the North American system, as the North American associate professor corresponds to the senior lecturer rank in Commonwealth universities. About half as many people hold the full professor title in Commonwealth universities as compared to U.S. universities; hence the reader and associate professor ranks in the Commonwealth system broadly correspond to the lower half of the U.S. full professor rank . ==Comparison==

Note that some universities in Commonwealth countries have adopted the American system in place of the Commonwealth system. ==Notable examples==

This rank was the highest academic rank reached by Alan Turing, Chaim Weizmann, Mary Cartwright and Anita Brookner. ==References==