Oration by the Vice-Chancellor
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
WEDNESDay 14 octobEr 2015 • SUPPLEMENt (1) to No 5108 • VoL 146 Gazette Supplement Oration by the Vice-Chancellor colleagues and friends of the University, but my purpose today is larger than personal which, it was also interesting to note in a thank you very much indeed for joining memories, much as I will treasure them. If recent Times Higher survey, was ranked as me at the start of another academic year: some of the following sounds like a State one of the leanest in the UK. an academic year which will, of course, see of the Union address, it is not because my the figures I mentioned are impressive, but me depart from a role that I have enjoyed new, american, title of President has gone the reality they reflect is more impressive thoroughly for some six years. to my head. I believe there is some analogy still. People invest in oxford research between the collegiate University and the Dr Johnson said: ‘When a man knows he is because it guarantees world-class quality. federal USa. Like them, we aspire towards to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates the question of overall performance in a more perfect Union, even if perfection his mind wonderfully.’ My own situation, in the UK’s research Excellence Framework itself will always remain out of reach. I also leaving for New york University, is not quite assessment is often a contentious one. there believe I can stand before you today and so dramatic. Nevertheless, the prospect of are at least 18 different ways to calculate state that, at oxford, the State of our Union is my impending departure from oxford has it. When last December’s rEF results were strong – stronger than it has ever been. concentrated my mind on the events of announced, one cynic pointed out there my time here. I have many reflections and I We are strong precisely because we are appeared to be 14 universities in the top hope you will indulge me if I share some of a union. as I have already indicated, the ten. there was less contention about first those with you today. past six years or so have been a challenging place. the Times, Independent, Guardian, economic period. It would have been easy Telegraph and Daily Mail rarely agree on before I do so, I should add, for the for oxford to buckle under the budgetary anything. When all five declareo xford is a avoidance of doubt, that I do not intend constraints imposed upon us. We did not clear number one, with more world-class to imply that mine is the only, or even do so. together, the collegiate University research than anyone else, I think we have to necessarily the most significant departure focused on oxford’s core mission – providing take their word for it. from the University. Indeed, one of the the very finest undergraduate and graduate later sections of this version records the The Times Higher pointed out that oxford, education in the world and maintaining a University’s new arrivals, its departures, with the most rEF first places by subject, research endeavour as good as any on the and the passing of distinguished and valued would also be enjoying the liveliest planet. For all the frustrations of the budget colleagues. departmental christmas parties. If I add cuts, it was gratifying to see the colleges, the that many of those celebrations would of my own time here, my first reflection divisions and the administration working have been in the Mathematical, Physical is: can it really be only six years, almost together with common purpose. and Life Sciences Division, that is not to to the day, since Sir John Hood passed on the results have been remarkable. over the diminish the magnificent achievements to me the insignia of the Vice-chancellor past decade, oxford’s income has grown of other divisions. rather, it is to lay to of oxford University? can that short time by 6–7% a year. If you focus on research rest, hopefully once and for all, the canard have spanned three governments, two income alone, the increase is around 8–9% that oxford is not a leader for science. our comprehensive Spending reviews, one rEF a year. Last year, we secured a total of science group is better than any other in the assessment, two tuition fee regimes, five £478 million for research projects in an United Kingdom, and we have the results to varsity rugby wins, four boat race victories, intensely competitive environment, prove it. several floods and one volcanic ash cloud? from companies, from charities and from the post has taken me to every continent, but in an era of constant economic government. that puts us on a par with yale from the Davos summit to one of the poorest uncertainty, when nervousness in china and Harvard and more than £100 million townships in South africa. I have been can trigger a stock market plunge half ahead of the chasing pack in the UK. We can interviewed by the Wall Street Journal a world away, we cannot rest on our sometimes forget the scale of this enterprise, and a Marxist talk radio host. I have been laurels in anything we do. throughout driven by the hard work and imagination of impressed by so many remarkable figures my time here, I have impressed upon the so many outstanding faculty and students who have travelled to oxford in my time. I University the need for greater financial and generating an annual turnover of the think of Michelle obama’s drive and energy, self-reliance, drawing upon the admiration University alone of nearly £1.3 billion. this and, of course, the hope and inspiration and excitement our work provokes among activity is supported by a highly committed represented by aung San Suu Kyi. alumni and donors the world over. I am and capable University administration 61 62 University of Oxford Gazette • Supplement (1) to No 5108 • 14 october 2015 delighted that message has been heeded. our donors commit to oxford because conflicting, issues – climate change, security In May, we announced the oxford thinking we commit to excellence. We seek of energy supply, equitable international campaign had reached a total of £2 billion simultaneously to preserve our historic development. It is only right that a bold in gifts, achieved through the fastest rate of strengths and to adapt and innovate to stay 21st-century school should be housed in fundraising in british higher education. ahead of the emerging challenges of the a bold 21st-century building – not always 21st century. For that reason, we acted to easy in oxford. We believe that the new No one individual can take the credit safeguard the tutorial system, the lifeblood blavatnik building achieves a striking, yet for reaching this £2 billion landmark. of our outstanding educational system, from sympathetic, solution in the heart of our once again, it is the common purpose the threat of national budget cuts. Working beautiful medieval city. demonstrated in the fundraising with the colleges, we ringfenced £60 million partnership between the University and the Similarly, the andrew Wiles building of the University’s reserves for a match- colleges that has proved to be our strength. brilliantly, almost playfully, folds profound funded teaching Fund to support tutorial and once again, the number is less arresting mathematical concepts into its very fellows. the total pot has now reached than the stories behind it. fabric. the building is, of course, named more than £140 million, endowing, and after the colleague who cracked Fermat’s Stories like that of Hong Kong entrepreneur protecting, these vital tutorial posts. last theorem. Many other mathematical Sir Ka-shing Li, who through his charitable Likewise, we created a match fund for challenges remain unproven – the riemann foundations has pledged £20 million to help graduate student scholarships. It is Hypothesis, Goldbach’s conjecture. I am establish the Li Ka Shing centre for Health impossible to overstress the importance of going to predict that the 21st century will Information and Discovery. this centre, this. Doctoral students are the engine room see at least one of these major mathematical the first of its kind in the world, will house of our research. they do so much to generate problems solved in the facilities we have more than 600 scientists exploiting big the ideas, the treatments, the technology created here in oxford. you could call that data research in many fields of medicine, and the policies to address the most the Hamilton Hypothesis. with the potential to transform the challenging, exciting and pressing questions understanding, treatment and management Every Vice-chancellorship has its of our time. In the past we have competed – of disease. difficulties. I have spoken of two new successfully – with Harvard and yale for the buildings widely regarded as architectural Or stories like that of interior designer best graduate students in the world despite, delights. I feel I should speak of another Mica Ertegun, who established the Mica not because of, the financial support on development which will never be and ahmet Ertegun Graduate Scholarship offer here.t hat is not a sustainable position. regarded in the same light. the castle Mill Programme in the Humanities. thanks to We have made an excellent start, with a student accommodation. at February’s her gift, leading humanities students from scholarship fund now standing at over Congregation debate on the future of the throughout the world compete annually £100 million, but we must press on for more. flats, ther egistrar spoke frankly of the for fully funded graduate scholarships.