WEDNESDAY 10 OCTOBER 2018 • SUPPLEMENT (1) TO NO 5216 • VOL 149 Gazette Supplement

Vice-Chancellor’s Oration 2018

Colleagues, good morning. Without a doubt, the low point last to evolve. This year, for the first time, we year was the dispute over the proposed admitted more postgraduate students Introduction reforms to the USS pension scheme than undergraduates. This year, for the Thank you for making the time to attend which caused such deep fissures in our first time, we admitted more female the ceremony this morning, and to listen community. I very much hope that the undergraduates than male (appropriate to my reflections on the year that has report of the Joint Expert Panel (JEP) on the 100th anniversary of women’s passed, and on our plans for the years to consisting of representatives of the suffrage.) This year, for the first time since come. Universities and College Union (UCU) we started keeping records, over 60% and Universities UK (UUK) working with of our incoming British undergraduates It has been a year of highs and lows, of an independent chair, has identified a come from the state sector. great achievements and deep concerns. way forward that can preserve existing Change The highs have included the fact that, for pension benefits without undermining the third consecutive year, we have been the financial security of member As we look beyond the University ranked the best university in the world institutions. and endeavour to see beyond the by the Times Higher Education Global dysfunctional national politics, it is clear The achievements of the last year are too Ranking. Many of us have reservations that the pace of change has never been so many to list but standouts include the about these rankings and the different fast. It is also the case that technological fact that Professor Kim Nasmyth, Whitley metrics they use. It has hardly gone developments will ensure that it will Professor of Biochemistry, was awarded unnoticed, for example, that British never again be so slow. If we wish to the 2018 in Life universities tend to do best on rankings ensure that your successors and mine are Sciences and Dame , conducted by British organizations, while in this room delivering and listening to Professorial Fellow in Mansfield College American universities do best in the US the VC’s Oration in 10, 30, 50 years’ time, and Visiting Professor in the Department rankings. That said, there is remarkable and still celebrating our membership of of Physics, is to be awarded a special consensus around the world, and across the elite group of top global universities, Breakthrough Prize in Physics later this the rankings, on which universities we must be able to adapt to that change. year. In addition, six colleagues were belong in the very top group of global elected to the Royal Society, eight to the The beautiful old architecture in the universities, and Oxford is one of them. British Academy and 21 were recognized centre of Oxford and the quaint old Another high point was the successful in the Birthday and New Year’s Honours. ceremonies like this one (the role of issuance of the University’s first bond, Proctor, I’ve read, dates back to 1267) may Along with the perennial concern about a century bond of £750,000,000 at give the impression that we are averse the future of university funding and the an interest rate of 2.5%. This was the to change, but in fact this University has proliferation of university regulators, this largest and longest bond in the history been changing constantly, even if it is not past year was a period of deep concern at of British higher education, ‘a double always evident at the surface. Nor have we the lack of progress in negotiating an exit first’, as described in the press. At one always been the academic powerhouse from the European Union. We wish to point in the course of the sale we had we are today. Professor Laurence Brockliss see an exit arrangement that secures the offers from investors amounting to in his new history of Oxford describes the status of our EU staff and their families, £3.6 billion. This was an emphatic period from the Reformation to the 1850s as well as our access to EU research statement of confidence by the markets as 300 years of ‘intellectual slumber’. funding and the academic exchanges and in the future of Oxford and of higher research collaborations that it enables, After the end of the Second World War education. I am acutely conscious of and that poses no impediment to the demand for higher education in the UK our responsibility to present and future free movement of scholars between increased dramatically and participation generations of Oxford academics and universities. rates soared after the 1962 Education students to invest this bond wisely to Act. Oxford student numbers more The University, and especially the ensure that we pass on to our successors than tripled between 1951 and 2017. an even stronger university. make-up of our student body, continues

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The growth in graduate students is expanded to include responsibility for to attract academics from our global particularly striking; their numbers personnel. Last year we also had three competitors. grew 11-fold between 1951 and 2017 with new Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Professor The plan articulates an ambition, by 2023, much of that growth occurring in the Martin Williams (Education), Dr David to increase the intake of postgraduate past 20 years. Growth hasn’t only been Prout (Planning and Resources) and Dr research students, who are vital to the in student numbers. Between 2006/7 Robert Easton (External Affairs). We are work of our researchers, by up to 400 and 2016/17 the University’s total income a new team but I know I speak for all of a year, and to increase the intake of doubled, from £676 million to £1.4 billion us when I say how committed we are to postgraduate taught students by 450 a (excluding OUP). Research income grew implementing the ambitions articulated year, while never compromising on the by 128% over the past decade. in the University’s Strategic Plan, to quality of our students. The draft plan advancing the University’s interests, As student numbers and research have also articulates an ambition to increase and to providing the environment in grown so has the University itself. After by 2023 the undergraduate intake by which our researchers, teachers, staff World War II it occupied two main 200 a year, with a focus on strategically and students can thrive, and do their best sites: the Bodleian and its surrounding important subjects such as computer work. buildings housed the University science, engineering, biomedical science, administration. The areas around the Strategic Plan and joint degrees in economics. University Museum had developed into We are fully aware of the strains the the Science Area between the wars. By Over the past year our colleagues have growth in graduate student numbers has 2008, the University’s estate comprised been working on a new Strategic Plan already placed on many of our colleges over 520,000 square meters including to help us manage this change and to and on the rental market in the city. (I the Begbroke Science Park, an area 44% plan for the future. We are required by should say that we are very grateful to greater than a decade earlier. Over the OfS (the Office for Students) to have those colleges that have generously past decade the University’s functional such a five-year plan and the current made space for the growing number estate has grown 17%. Today it comprises iteration covers the years 2013–18. Very of graduate students.) For this reason 240 buildings across 13 sites in and often these documents reflect generic we commit to having started, within around Oxford, and that does not include aspirations but we have sought in this the next five years, the construction of the colleges. 40% of our estate has been case to set out a coherent agenda that 1,000 additional graduate student rooms built since 2000, including buildings such commands widespread support across including the establishment of at least as the Blavatnik School, the Saïd Business the University. The draft plan, which one new graduate college. We will work School, the Big Data Institute, the Hans still requires approval by Congregation, with partners, colleges, philanthropists Krebs, and Beecroft is based on extensive consultations in and the private sector to ensure the buildings, and many, many more. open fora, focus groups, committees and online surveys. 450 staff took the time construction of rooms to accommodate The University of Oxford has not been to send written submissions, over 400 this student growth. One example of the standing still. Our commitment to people attended six open fora and about type of creative partnership we have in research, to pushing at the frontiers of 40 Committees across the University mind is a recent agreement between the knowledge, to teaching, to educating the have discussed the plan. Unusually for central University and Hertford College next generation, and to disseminating us, the Strategic Plan is underpinned by to negotiate a transfer of ownership our knowledge for societal benefit has a strategic implementation plan which of several buildings and jointly plan not changed. The physical environment makes firm commitments to concrete the development of an area between in which we do so has, notwithstanding actions to realize the objectives set out Woodstock and Banbury Roads. The these glorious surroundings of in the plan. Perhaps the most striking draft plan also commits to creating Convocation House. feature of the consultation process thus 300 graduate student scholarships, in addition to the 1,000 we already offer, and At this point I should also mention far, was just how much consensus there 2,000 additional funded internships for some personnel changes. I have been has been on the fundamentals. students at all levels. While we anticipate in Oxford less than three years and yet The draft Strategic Plan outlines a growth in many areas this will not come at I predate three of the four Heads of strategy for growth, but this growth will the cost of nationally vulnerable subjects Division, Professors O’Brien, Screaton be planned and it will be sustainable. which we have long felt a responsibility to and Whatmore. The fourth, Professor The proceeds from the bond will enable protect. Donal Bradley, predates me by only us to commit to investing £1.5 billion in a few months. Due to retirements, our estate over the next 15 years. The While the plan envisages growth it external appointments and conclusion plan commits to a capital investment also commits to an investment in the of terms we also have an entirely new programme in the estate and in IT of people and the resources to support that team of Pro-Vice-Chancellors. We have a £500 million in the next five years. These growth. Priorities include enhancing brand new Registrar this month, Ms Gill buildings will allow us to conduct the the opportunities and support for early Aitken, two new Pro-Vice-Chancellors, research on which our reputation rests career researchers, improving support Professors Patrick Grant (Research) and and they will allow us to compete globally for the personal and career development Professor Chas Bountra (Innovation) and in the recruitment of top researchers. We of all our staff, embedding a supportive the responsibilities of Professor Anne have already seen how the new maths inclusive culture, and increasing Trefethen (People and GLAM) have been and physics buildings are helping us the diversity of staff at all levels by University of Oxford Gazette • Supplement (1) to No 5216 • 10 October 2018 63

implementing the action plans such as are committed to supporting them. An about the wellbeing of our staff and Athena SWAN, the Race Equality Charter, investment in buildings is an investment are committed to ensuring that Oxford the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index in people; it is an investment in the remains an attractive place to work. Our and Mindful Employer. We will amplify people who work in these buildings and people are the bedrock of our success, the voices of under-represented groups in the research and teaching they do without them, without you, we will in leadership and decision making there. This plan proposes to invest in the never be able to achieve our mission and work to eliminate barriers to their environment in which our people live and of advancing learning by research and success. We commit to ensuring that our work. teaching and improving the world around reward arrangements, including pension us locally, nationally and internationally. A dichotomy that does makes sense to provision, are robust, transparent and me is the distinction between a capital One Oxford competitive. and a recurrent cost. A capital cost takes In these annual orations I have taken to One of the biggest difficulties place once, a recurrent cost takes place using the term One Oxford, by which encountered by our staff, and one of the year after year. I’ve been told that we I simply mean colleagues across the serious impediments to recruiting and should put the proceeds from the bond collegiate University working together retaining both academic and support into salaries, not buildings. In these for the benefit of all, to advance mutual staff, is the high cost of housing in Oxford. difficult financial times, after years of interests and shared values. It is about Since the year 2000 house prices in national austerity, I fully understand breaking down divisional barriers and Oxford have risen 67%, 11% above the the sentiment, but financially it is the departmental protocols and harnessing national average. The plan commits equivalent of taking out a mortgage to the strength and depth found all across to having started construction on at pay the electricity bill. A building cost the University. It is also to acknowledge least 1,000 new subsidised homes for occurs once, a salary cost occurs year after how those outside the University see University and college staff by 2023. It year. Last year our pay costs increased us. Unless they are alumni, they do not also commits to developing an equitable by over 5%, combining inflationary pay appreciate the distinctions that are so and transparent means of allocating these increases, automatic annual increments important to us internally. Our collegiate new affordable homes among our staff. and growth in staff numbers. A 5% salary system and our devolved structure increase is not the equivalent of building Through the Strategic Plan we commit to have long been sources of strength. a new Institute for Developmental investing in the research environment, The colleges provide an unrivalled, and Regenerative Medicine. It is the increasing the scale and scope of the personalized, educational environment equivalent to building a new IDRM every central research fund, fostering an fostering interdisciplinarity and a deep single year. entrepreneurial environment, expanding sense of community. Our devolved the innovation districts around Oxford, Take this building in which we are sitting structure and departmental autonomy including the Begbroke Science Park and today, Convocation House. (I know the foster agility, innovation and ownership Osney Mead, and expanding international benches are very uncomfortable; I’m of decisions. And yet these distinctions research collaborations. For those of sorry. If it makes you feel any better, I’ve are lost on the outside world who tend to you who have not yet read the draft learned from the University Archivist that perceive one monolithic Oxford. Strategic Plan which was approved by until 1929 the Oration was delivered in This time last year I spoke of the Council in July and will be submitted Latin.) Convocation House, together with advantages to be gained by sharing back- to Congregation this term, I encourage the Library floor above (now ‘Selden End’ office functions, reducing duplication and you to do so. I would like to take this in Duke Humfrey’s reading room) and the providing career paths for our support opportunity to thank the great many Chancellor’s Court at the north end, was staff. I spoke of how much money, and people across the University who have built between 1633 and 1636. The total far more importantly, how much time, given so much thought and so much of cost was £2,500 for the House, the Library we could save by reducing complexity their time to drawing up this plan, which extension and the Chancellor’s Court. and simplifying our processes. In May we sets goals that are both ambitious and Here we are, using this room over 382 launched the Focus programme which realistic, for the next five years. years later. A capital cost lasts a very long is designed to improve the efficiency of time, and many people, in many different There is one point I would like to make our administrative processes, simplify ways, benefit. as we consider using the proceeds of the policies, and embed a culture of bond for capital projects. In universities That said, we are keenly aware of the continuous improvement and working we teach an appreciation of nuance, we financial pressures faced by many across boundaries. This year the Focus operate in a world of grey. We live in a of our staff, especially those with team will, among other projects, review complex world and our responsibility as young children. I know from personal the graduate admissions process aiming educators is to prepare our students for experience just how hard it is to combine to improve the experience of student that world. Crude dichotomies are the having a challenging career and a young applicants by consolidating academic, stuff of newspaper headlines; they may family. It’s the most difficult thing I’ve funding and college decisions into a sound good on TV, they don’t belong in ever done. The Strategic Plan commits to prompt response. In the spirit of One universities. One such dichotomy I’ve developing our childcare provision and Oxford, colleges, departments and UAS heard recently is that we should invest flexible working policies and enabling are working together to make this a in people not buildings. We know that academic staff to vary their duties over reality. our people are our biggest asset and we the course of their career. We care deeply 6264 University of Oxford Gazette • Supplement (1) to No 5216 • 10 October 2018

One Oxford is not just about working Scholarship programmes provide another Doctoral Training Centres (DTCs) have together to improve processes and save example of One Oxford. Michael Moritz transformed doctoral teaching at the time and money. There are already a great and Harriet Heyman initially supported University. The Life Sciences DTC brings many wonderful examples of One Oxford bursaries at Christ Church but then together students from across MPLS at work around the University. One of the launched a major initiative in 2012 which and Medical Sciences and gives them newest is the Oxford Foundry founded has involved every division, department freedom to innovate in their projects, to support and encourage student and college. The central University from research into cancer and animal enterprise. The Foundry was established and colleges have worked together to a behaviour to 3D printing of artificial eyes. by Saïd Business School for the benefit common framework and students have It involves 40 departments, more than of the entire University. If you visit the been the beneficiaries. To date there have 400 academic supervisors, and hosts Foundry you won’t even see the SBS logo. been 775 Moritz–Heyman scholars but more than 500 DPhil students. It has In its first ten months of operations the this will increase significantly this year created more than 20 spin-out companies Foundry has achieved a membership of as the scholarship is extended to every and raised over £65 million in funding. 2,000 students of 87 nationalities from student from a UK household earning less It will soon have trained 1,000 DPhil across all four divisions, 38 colleges and than £16,000 a year. When operating at students. We must make it easier for six PPHs. More than 1,200 students have full capacity it will fund about 10% of the fabulous activities like this to operate and engaged with the Foundry’s events and home-student population each year. The to flourish. learning programmes. University and colleges raise the matched One final example of different entities funding, OUEM invests it, colleges The Foundry is also a rare example of working together as One Oxford to distribute it and the student fees office a project being completed quickly and mutual advantage is provided by the monitors it; that’s an example of working shows what can be done. In early summer Gardens Libraries and Museums. together. the building was fitted out as a nightclub; Not only have they formed the GLAM by October Apple CEO Tim Cook was Our graduate students also benefit when structure but last year they launched speaking at the launch. This must have set the central University and colleges have the first joint marketing campaign a record for the University. It was possible collaborated on fundraising. The Oxford ‘Mindgrowing’. It produced suggested because SBS had a clear idea of what they Graduate Scholarship Matched Fund itineraries for tourists which involved wanted to achieve, a vision that benefited has raised £127 million for graduate all the GLAM venues. The result was a both the school and all departments, scholarships which is being matched 13% increase in visitor numbers in 2017, and built alliances of support across the by £92 million of University funds. a significant achievement, especially collegiate University. 468 students from 30 colleges have given that London’s venues only had a received scholarships to date. Similarly 1.8% increase. This means that 3.2 million The Oxford Martin School is another the Teaching Fund has provided long- people visited the Ashmolean, Bodleian, example of One Oxford in action. James term financial support for core teaching Botanic Garden, Museum of the History of Martin looked at many universities when posts and promote joint University– Science, Museum of Natural History and considering where to make his donation. college fundraising. Today more than the Pitt Rivers Museum. He believed that the biggest challenges half of the colleges and PPHs as well as facing humanity can only be solved by the University use the DARS electronic Access collaboration across disciplines. It was the database system to co-operate on breadth of talent in so many departments One Oxford is not always in evidence. One fundraising. This isn’t quite one Oxford, in Oxford that persuaded him to make area in which we are held unfavourably but we are moving in that direction. what was at the time the biggest donation in the public eye, and in which the in Oxford’s modern history to establish OUEM, Oxford University Endowment public does not draw distinctions among the Oxford Martin School. Management, is another example of us, is on the issue of fair access to the the benefits of working together. OUEM University. This year, for the first time, Since it was founded in 2005, the school began in 2009 with £600 million under and in an effort to set the record straight, has brought together more than 500 investment. Today there is £3 billion in whether or not that record reflected well academics from over 100 disciplines the Oxford Endowment Fund. £1.2 billion on us, we published our first Annual across the University. It has nearly 60 of this is growth through performance, Admissions Report. It revealed that research programmes tackling urgent the remainder comes from fundraising between 2013 and 2017 the proportion global challenges like infectious disease, across the collegiate University. This of admitted British undergraduates who ocean sustainability and food security. has marked a dramatic improvement in identified as BAME (Black, Asian and In its first ten years it raised and invested how the University manages its money. Minority Ethnic) rose from 14% to 18%. £50 million in research programmes OUEM has contributed enormously to the The proportion from socio-economically which helped researchers leverage a research and teaching of the University, disadvantaged areas from 6.8% to further £184 million in funding. The almost half a billion pounds has been 10.6%. The proportion from areas of low school and its academics contribute to distributed to the University and colleges progression to higher education rose from government inquiries and reports and in the last nine years and the amount is 9.5% to 13% .The proportion from state advise, among others, the World Bank, increasing every year, from £25 million schools rose from 56.8% to 58.3%. This OECD and the UN Intergovernmental in 2009 to £93 million in 2017. OUEM year, 2018, the number of state school Panel on Climate Change. now invests the endowments of 26 of the students admitted increased a further 2%. colleges, the latest joining only yesterday. University of Oxford Gazette • Supplement (1) to No 5216 • 10 October 2018 6563

This evidence of slow but steady progress I mentioned crude dichotomies earlier. I medicine, already have a coordinated has done little to satisfy our critics. find the state vs independently educated approach. Individual admissions barometer to be another oversimplified decisions by individual tutors may be Many hundreds of academics across the maxim. I speak as someone whose entire unassailably fair, but when all these University invest enormous amounts education was in the state sector until I decision are put together, the collective of time and energy to ensure a fair and attended graduate school at Harvard. We result may not appear fair. I have been open admission process. Many colleges are constantly criticized for the number meeting with departments and divisions have innovative outreach programmes of independently educated students we to discuss approaches and share best designed to attract applications from admit, although focus groups in northern practices. I am not sure that we will ever under-represented groups. 870 pupils England revealed that people thought be able to satisfy our critics, but we must from across the country participated over 90% of our students are privately be able to satisfy ourselves that we are in the UNIQ summer school last year educated. The correct figure is 40% and doing all we can to ensure that we – as a and 135 of them will begin their studies this year’s figure is the lowest ever. We University, not just as a department or here this month. We have committed are told that by comparison only 7% a college – really are recruiting the very to increasing the size of UNIQ , already of schoolchildren are independently best students from every background. the largest programme of its kind in the educated. As we don’t recruit across all This is another area in which acting as country, by 50% next year. We spend age groups that really is not a relevant One Oxford will help us all to achieve our £18 million a year on bursaries and figure. 16% of 17-year-olds and over attend shared ambition. Whatever we do will be outreach activities. A recent UCAS independent schools in England, and that closely monitored by a sceptical press and analysis found that, when adjusted is the relevant figure. our new regulator, the Office for Students. for prior attainment, there was no statistically significant difference Parents choose to send their children Research between Oxford’s admission data and to independent schools for all kinds Notwithstanding all our challenges, it is what would be expected, except in of reasons. Many, yes, because they worth pausing for a moment to reflect on the case of black students where we are fabulously wealthy and privileged. our successes. Our extraordinary skill in accept more than would be expected Other parents make enormous personal securing resources for research though a by prior attainment. Our admissions sacrifices to be able to pay the fees. system based on open competition and figures clearly reflect the deep societal Some pupils in the independent sector peer review is testament to the sheer inequalities on regional, ethnic and socio- have parents who are in the Services brilliance and deep commitments of economic lines. None of these facts serve or working overseas, and many are the so many of our researchers all across to ameliorate the constant criticism, nor products of access programmes run by the University. Over £720 million of the the public perception that we are unfair. the schools. Close to 10% of our British University’s income, that’s over half the students come from families eligible We recently commissioned a public £1.4 billion turnover (excluding OUP), for free school meals. In recent years attitudes study by the firm Populus. is associated directly with our research between 20% and 30% of them have They found that half the population activities, a total that exceeds that of any been educated in the independent school believes the University favours those who other British university by over sector. have attended private schools or come £100 million. from high-income families. Only 20% That said, there are challenges which Just to give you a single example from of the population believes that we are we must address. There are many gifted each division: accessible to students of all backgrounds students from deprived backgrounds and and fair in how we choose our students. poor schools who do well enough to have • Oxford, under the leadership of Perhaps even more worrying, Populus a competitive chance at Oxford, and they Professor Jim Naismith, is undertaking also surveyed members of Parliament. do not apply. We must reach and attract a leading role in the new £103 million 78% of MPs think we make a difference in these students. Moreover, there are gifted Rosalind Franklin Institute, a national the world. 67% believe that we engage in students from deprived backgrounds centre of excellence that will harness cutting edge scientific and technological who do apply to Oxford, and who meet or disruptive engineering and physical innovation, 75% believe us to be a leader exceed our requirements, but who are not science technologies, such as artificial in arts and the humanities, 39% believe admitted. We need to understand why intelligence and robotics, to improve we are accessible to students of all not, and do something about it. Finally, dramatically our understanding of backgrounds and 36% believe we are fair there are gifted students from deprived biology as a means of underpinning in how we choose our students. There are backgrounds who do apply, who are advances in medicine leading to significant differences along party lines. admitted, and who do not accept their new diagnostics, medicines and Only 12% of Labour MPs believe we are offer. (This year and last 20% of UNIQ treatments. accessible to students of all backgrounds offer-holders did not accept their offer.) • A new three-year flagship partnership and only 12% consider us fair in how we Again, we need to understand why not, is creating exciting opportunities for choose our students. 78% of MPs trust us and do something about it. interdisciplinary Oxford research, to provide an exceptional education to knowledge exchange and public I believe that a more co-ordinated our students. 50% trust us to increase the engagement with the National approach to outreach and admissions number of students admitted from state Trust’s Inspiring Places. Brokered might help us to attract and retain these schools. by colleagues in the Humanities students. Some departments, such as Division, and led by Ms Alice 6266 University of Oxford Gazette • Supplement (1) to No 5216 • 10 October 2018

Purkiss, the partnership is bringing the balance between project funding and OUP also contributes significantly to innovation, cutting-edge science, unhypothecated quality-related funding, the University here at home. Over the and heritage together to address 21st- and the balance of public investment in last decade OUP has contributed over century concerns about deepening university and industry-based research. £1 billion to the University. It funds the engagement and emotional Decisions that emerge from this review Clarendon Fund, which has supported connection with culture. will play a major role in shaping the future more than 2,000 scholars since the year • The British Heart Foundation awarded landscape for British research. 2000. It also supports our incomparable a total of £7.6 million to research libraries and the John Fell Fund which We have become victims of our own programmes at the world-leading provides seed funding for academics with success. Our sustainability challenge is Burdon Sanderson Cardiac Science creative research ideas. It also, of course, the reality of declining contributions by Centre led by Professor Manuela publishes books by Oxford academics. government and other funders to the Zaccolo and colleagues in the Last year, it published a book by Martin true costs of research. This raises serious Department of Physiology, Anatomy Kemp, Emeritus Professor in the History issues for the health of the UK research and Genetics. of Art, which revealed the identity of base and especially for us. To give you • In April the UK Centre for Research Leonardo da Vinci’s mother. an idea, since the start of the present on Energy Demand (UKCRED), a decade the direct costs of research Other external engagements include multi-institutional centre led by supported through external funding cementing our partnership with four Oxford’s School of Geography and has grown on average 7.5% per annum. universities and cultural institutions in Environment, was launched with The rate of growth of the overheads that Berlin. Led by Professor Alastair Buchan, £19.5 million of funding from two contribute to the full costs, by contrast, we are fostering research collaborations research councils. The centre, directed has grown by 5.5% per annum. The critical and ensuring that academic links will by Professor Nick Eyre, will bring a underpinning funding for research that survive whatever Brexit brings. By forging multidisciplinary approach to energy we receive from government, the quality- this partnership we are also asserting our demand and assist in a transition to related or QR stream, has grown at just 2% status as a European university. a secure and affordable low-carbon per annum. energy system. Internal environment In effect we lose money on almost every Since the launch of the Global Challenges research grant we accept, just as we lose Issues of diversity do not only pertain Fund by UK funding agencies in 2016, money on every home-undergraduate to our students, they also pertain to Oxford has been the number one student we accept. We rely on our staff. In May we received a Race recipient of funds, with successful bids philanthropy and OUP to fill the gap. This Equality Charter Bronze Award from over £48 million. The success is testament is not a sustainable strategy. Advance HE making us one of only ten to our long track record of exceptional British universities to hold the award. It research addressing the challenges faced External engagement recognizes our efforts and commitment to by developing countries. There is so much more that could be improve the representation and success In the past 12 months there have been said about the vast array of dynamic of minority ethnic staff and students. a number of external developments activities that have taken place across In the latest Athena SWAN round we that will have a significant impact on the University this past year, such as the successfully renewed our institutional the research-funding landscape in the spinout activities facilitated by OUI which Bronze Award and a new Silver Award was coming years. are bringing the work of our academics given to Primary Care and Bronze Awards into the marketplace and generating to Engineering and Anthropology. Our In November the government published jobs and revenue for the local economy. departments now hold 19 Silver and 11 its Industrial Strategy which signalled The investors of OSI have ignited a Bronze Awards. a commitment to increase public step change in the pace of our spinout investment in R&D to 2.4% of GDP. This is Individuals are also doing their part to activities. Oxford spinouts have raised very good news. The investment will be improve awareness around diversity £1.9 billion in external funding since 2011 directed in large part towards industry- issues. There are many I could mention and over £500 million of that has been in led challenges and initiatives that seek but a highlight of last year was Dr Clara the past 12 months. to deliver increased prosperity and Barker from the Department of Materials industrial productivity. also advances being awarded a Points of Light Award by the mission of the University by playing the Prime Minister’s Office. This was in In April, as foreshadowed in the Higher a major role in education worldwide. In recognition of her contribution to LGBT Education and Research Act, a new the last year OUP sold products in 216 awareness-raising both in the University national funding agency, UKRI (UK countries, published in 103 languages, and the community. Dr Barker, who Research and Innovation) came into trained 440,000 teachers, delivered identifies as trans-female, manages a being, subsuming the existing research 4 million books to 8,500 teachers in Centre for Applied Superconductivity run councils and Innovate UK. One of the Kenya and donated 1,100 books to Syrian by two Oxford departments, Materials earliest tasks of this new super-agency refugees. Its English Language Teaching and Physics. Outside of the lab she has will be to examine the balance of funding content is hosted on an open- source free volunteered with Stonewall and helped within the research and innovation platform which delivers content across the Council to run an anti-bullying system, including the balance between East Africa. More than 40 million people initiative in local schools. curiosity-driven and directed research, use the platform. University of Oxford Gazette • Supplement (1) to No 5216 • 10 October 2018 6763

We are committed to fostering an impact of what we do on the rest of the Addendum to the Vice-Chancellor's inclusive, welcoming community and in University. It is, above all, about trusting Oration doing so to balance our responsibility to one another, and realizing that we are all defend freedom of speech. here for the same reason: to advance the This year has seen the retirement of store of human knowledge. It is about many distinguished colleagues who We are committed to ensuring that ensuring, for example, that when we have contributed to the University’s Oxford is an attractive place to work and make our submission to the Research intellectual life over the years: Professor the commitments in the Strategic Plan Excellence Framework we look to the Sir John Ball, Sedleian Professor of outline concrete steps we plan to take to good of the whole University, when we Natural Philosophy; Professor Elizabeth ensure it remains one. speak publicly we reflect on the whole Bikoff, Professor of Mammalian Genetics; We are committed to our European University. When we compete against Professor James Binney, Professor of staff and students. This term Personnel one another for property, or indeed for Physics; Professor James Byrne, Professor Committee will consider proposals students, or refuse to share information, of Neuroradiology; Dr Khalil Chamcham; for providing further assistance to when we insist on particular interests Professor Gordon Clark, Director of the European staff as they grapple with the over the University’s interest, we are Smith School; Professor Craig Clunas, uncertainties around Brexit. I will hold an undermining all of us. As FDR once said: Professor of the History of Art; Professor open meeting with our European staff to ‘Competition has been shown to be useful Stephen Cobbold, Professor of Cellular discuss with you how best we can support up to a certain point and no further, but Immunology; Professor Stephen you during this time of transition. cooperation, which is the thing we must Darlington; Dr Janet Delaine; Professor strive for today, begins where competition Grigory Dianov, Professor of Molecular The dispute over pension reforms last leaves off.’ We operate in a keenly Biochemistry; Dr Laurel Edmunds; year was deeply damaging to our sense of competitive external environment. I Professor Christopher Fairburn, Professor community. Many of us underestimated believe that we will compete much more of Psychiatry; Dr Roger Firth; Professor the deep concerns of our colleagues, effectively externally, if we co-operate Simon Gardner, Professor of Law; Dr and the sense of betrayal they felt by the much more effectively internally. Jennifer Hislop; Professor Joanna Innes, effort to change the pension system on Professor of Modern History; Dr David which they had long counted. I know The external competition we face is not Levy; Professor David Limebeer, Professor that people are worried and I really hope just competition with other universities of Control Engineering; Professor that we can find a mutually acceptable for resources, for staff, for rankings and Ernesto Macaro, Professor of Applied solution this year. I am hopeful that we research funding. We face competing Linguistics; Professor Ursula Martin, will. The Pensions Working Group has claims for the value – even the purpose Professor of Computer Science; Dr Julie been working all summer to explore – of education. Increasingly we face O'Donnell; Professor Barry Parsons, options and feed in to the national demands to demonstrate our ‘value for Professor of Geodesy and Geophysics; discussions. The Joint Expert Panel has money’. I know that we believe that the Dr John Peacock; Professor Sir Richard proposed a constructive way forward. We value of an Oxford education cannot be Peto, Professor of Medical Statistics and all believe that we have the best interests reduced to the size of a graduate’s salary, Epidemiology; Professor Steven Roberts, of the institution, and everyone in it, at that the choice of a subject of study Professor of Materials; Professor Pamela heart. We may disagree about how best should not be dictated by the price the Sammons, Professor of Education; and to advance these interests, but let’s not market will pay for it. I know I am not Professor Bryan Wordsworth, Professor of challenge one another’s motives. Let’s alone in being dismayed by the progress Rheumatology. recognize that we are all here out of a and the tone of the Brexit negotiations. shared commitment to the advancement It is hard to believe that, as things stand, I would also like to mention those of knowledge and the power of education this will be the last oration by any Oxford colleagues who have retired from to transform lives and a shared belief that VC while Britain is a member of the important administrative, library or universities, and especially this one, can European Union. While we in Britain face service posts in the University: Mrs be a powerful force for good in the world. a challenging environment it is benign Christine Black, Mr William Colquhoun, when compared to the environment Mrs Joy Cooke, Mr Paul Cox, Ms Ruth Conclusion faced by our colleagues in other parts Davis, Mrs Sally Dawson, Mrs Julie Evans, Mrs Susan Jane Fells, Miss Christine Fry, I believe that we will be more effective in of Europe, most notably Hungary and Dr Peter Gambles, Ms Elisabeth Gardner, realizing the ambitions of the Strategic Turkey. Governments in these countries Ms Linda Greig, Dr Catherine Hawkins, Plan if we operate as one university. One are attempting to shut down universities Mrs Ros Hayward, Ms Vanessa Howe, Oxford is not about centralization, it is they see as bastions of liberal values Mr Michael Hughes, Ms Lynn Hutton, not about accreting power to the central and independent voices of dissent. Let Mrs Kathleen Jayne, Mrs Angela Jenkins, University, it is about recognizing that us stand together firmly against the Mr Stephen Kemp, Mr Michael King, Mr we are all part of one great university. voices of illiberalism and be trenchant Trevor Lambert, Ms Janet Leatherby, It is about recognizing that we will all in our defence of tolerance, equality, Mrs Joan Lee, Ms Deborah Mason, Dr benefit when we work together, it is about internationalism, individual liberties Ian McArthur, Mr Phillip North, Miss realizing that we all do well when some and freedom of speech. We owe it to our Susan Pemberton, Mrs Sarah Phibbs, Ms part of the University does well, and we forebears and to our successors to do no Geraldine Pocklington, Miss Monica Price, all suffer when one of us does badly. It less. Ms Sabina Pugh, Ms Catherine Quinn, is about reflecting before we act on the 6268 University of Oxford Gazette • Supplement (1) to No 5216 • 10 October 2018

Mr Roger Street, Ms Geraldine Surman, Mr Gerald Walker, Ms Susan Walker, Mrs Helen Wilton-Godberfforde and Mr Christopher Young. This year the University community has lost valued colleagues whose early deaths have been a source of great sadness: Professor Douglas Altman, Professor of Statistics in Medicine at the Botnar Research Centre; Mr Tsering Gonkatsang, Instructor in Tibetan Language at the Faculty of Oriental Studies; Miss Rose Wharton, Medical Statistician at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences; and Dr Mark Whittow, Associate Professor of Byzantine Studies at the Faculty of History. Finally, we pause to remember the contributions of those colleagues who have died in retirement over the past year: Professor Patrick Atiyah, Mr Cyril Band, Mr Peter Bell, Dr Graham Booker, Mrs Hilda Booth, Dr Norman Booth, Mr Edward Brookes, Mr David Chapman, Dr Alison Chapple, Mr Terence Denton, Sir Roger Elliott, Dr John Fresen, Professor Michael Gelder, Professor Derek Gray, Professor Douglas Gray, Mr Anthony Green, Dr Richard Green, Dr Miriam Griffin, Dr Ann Hackmann, Professor Barbara Harrell- Bond, Mrs Rita Harris, Miss Margaret Haswell, Professor Jack Hayward, Mr Donald Hogg, Mr Charles Hollinshead, Dr Patricia Ingham, Mr Anthony Kirk- Greene, Dr Michael Lockwood, Mrs Joan Loupekine, Dr Valerio Lucchesi, Mr Gerald Metcalf, Mrs Barbara Mitchell, Professor Ian Moore, Mr James Morwood, Dr John Mulvey, Ms Pamela Nieto, Mr David Pattison, Dr Roger Pensom, Professor David Pettifor, Professor Rebecca Posner, Mr John Prest, Mr James Railton, Mr Adib Romaya, Professor John Rowlinson, Professor Ali Sheikholeslami, Mr John Shorter, Professor Eric Stanley, Mr Peter Swift, Dr Viktor Thaller, Mr Peter Tolley, Dr Kenneth Warren, Miss Nita Watts, Professor Lawrence Weiskrantz, Mrs Kathryn White, Dr Gordon Whitham, Dr Bertram Willis, Mrs Gina Wilson and Dr Marjorie Wright.