For news from the University, please visit http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/index.html.

Posted by Jo Ann Barbieri at 10:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

From Korea's JongAng Daily newspaper

Link here (or story in the extended entry):

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200506/07/200506072151049739900091009101.html

In April, Oxford University in England announced that it might be forced to end its Korean studies program in June 2007 because of a lack of funding. That has caused alarm about the possible cancellation of Korean studies at one of the world's top universities. In 1992, Oxford began its program, with two professors teaching Korean history and language, with funding from the Korea Foundation, a non-profit organization affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade that oversees Korean studies programs abroad. The foundation has pledged to contribute until 2007, but after that it will be up to the university to fund the program itself or rely on private contributions. The university says it requires an $11 million endowment to maintain the Korean studies program, with three professorships rather than the current two, but without the means at the moment the school may be unable to continue the program. Kwon In-hyuk, president of the Korea Foundation, says that although Oxford said it would be difficult to maintain the Korean studies program without further funding, the university has not made definite plans to cancel the program. "Oxford, with its name value, is very important for us," says Mr. Kwon, a former Korean ambassador to France. "We will endeavor to perpetuate the Korean studies program there." He did say, however, that securing financial support for the program was badly needed

This is a photograph from one of the Oxford University Korea Society events - taken from its website.

To link to the society, click here:
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~koreasoc/

Continue reading "Oxford may be forced to end its Korean studies program" »

Posted by Guy Spier at 04:51 PM | Permalink

Oxford University was forced to back down on controversial proposals to set up a compulsory appraisal system for academics after dons yesterday voted down the idea. At a meeting of Congregation, the university's parliament, a motion condemning the plan as inimical to academic freedom was passed by 351 votes to 153. A compromise amendment tabled by the university executive was also rejected.

Continue reading "Oxford dons vote down appraisal plan" »

Posted by Paula Hoare at 08:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Oxford dons launched a historic challenge to plans to hand over more powers to business as part of a shake-up of the rules and regulations that govern the university.

Continue reading "Oxford dons rebel over plan to hand powers to business leaders" »

Posted by Paula Hoare at 06:00 PM | Permalink

Oxford has replaced Cambridge as Britain's best university, according to The Guardian's authoritative annual guide to higher education in the UK.

Continue reading "Oxford reclaims top spot" »

Posted by Guy Spier at 02:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Dyan Sterling provided this university news to us.

Oxford's Biochemistry Department has embarked on a large-scale reconfiguration and expansion of its research facilities and intellectual resources. The Department is replacing its over-crowded, ageing laboratories with a new state-of-the-art laboratory complex: four interlinked buildings, developed in two construction phases, totalling almost 18,000 square metres and located in the historic heart of the University in central Oxford. The result will be a major new international research centre, providing a highly effective new venue for interdisciplinary cooperation in the biomedical sciences.

Continue reading "Oxford's Biochemistry department" »

Posted by Guy Spier at 02:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This just in from the BBC:

Oxford libraries to be shaken up

Oxford University's world-famous libraries could be reorganised in what unions say is a cost-cutting exercise. Many small specialist libraries could close in an attempt to modernise the library service under proposed changes.

The university said the changes would integrate the libraries, making them more accessible to staff, students and overseas scholars.

Link to the article

You can hardly blame the University for looking at opportunities to rationalize costs. What amazes me is the way people think that the money just grows on trees. When you have a limited budget, you have to decide on priorities.

What the article misses is that there is no question that the funds freed up by rationalizing the library sytem will be usefully used elsewhere.

Continue reading "BBC: Oxford University's libraries to be shaken up" »

Posted by Guy Spier at 10:05 PM | Permalink

Oxford University lost a case against a Birmingham based manufacturer of a clothes line.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/oxfordshire/3607293.stm

This is bad news. The good news, however, is that Oxford is finally waking up to the value of its brand. There are so many people who abuse the brand, and it seems that Oxford stands by and does nothing. When is the university going to wake up?

Posted by Guy Spier at 12:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/920b1482-860b-11d9-b506-00000e2511c8.html

Oxford University has published radical plans to overhaul its governance structure, creating a body that will bring the university's disparate colleges and faculties together for the first time.

The move to create an academic council of 150 members chaired by the vice-chancellor was hailed by some at the university as a revolutionary step that would centralise power towards the new council.

Posted by Guy Spier at 12:22 AM | Permalink