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Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favorite tales on this weekly publication.
The race to turn out to be the following chancellor of the College of Oxford is about to be probably the most aggressive ever, with former Tory ministers David Willetts and Dominic Grieve becoming a member of the greater than 30 candidates who’ve expressed curiosity within the prestigious position.
Tens of hundreds of present and previous college students and school are anticipated to vote within the election subsequent month, being carried out on-line for the primary time, as funding pressures worsen for UK universities.
Labour friends Peter Mandelson and Janet Royall, who can also be principal of Somerville School in Oxford, and former Conservative ministers together with William Hague, Willetts and Grieve are among the many main public figures who submitted their purposes final month.
Woman Elish Angiolini, Principal of St Hugh’s School in Oxford, and Imran Khan, the at present imprisoned former prime minister of Pakistan, are additionally standing within the election.
Voting begins on October 28, with a second spherical for the highest 5 candidates in mid November if not less than 10 stand.
Earlier necessities for candidates to have 50 nominations and be screened by a college committee have been dropped after criticisms of elitism — folks can now nominate themselves. Candidates do not need to be Oxford alumni, though the main contenders all studied or taught on the college.
The chancellor, the titular head of the college typically described as a “constitutional monarch”, has no govt authority or wage however performs an vital position in fundraising, presiding over formal ceremonies and chairing the committee that selects future vice-chancellors, the chief govt of the college.
Present chancellor Chris Patten, the previous Conservative MP and governor of Hong Kong, is retiring after 21 years. He mentioned he was the primary Oxford chancellor to not die in workplace since James Butler, the second Duke of Ormonde, a Jacobite who fled for France in 1715 after being impeached for treason. Following rule modifications the following chancellor shall be restricted to 10 years in workplace.
Patten had simply two rivals when he was elected in 2003 and mentioned that after “a golden period” for the college, his successor would face “a really troublesome few years until the federal government undertakes root and department reform” to larger schooling with substantial authorities assist for analysis and tuition.
“I don’t assume you’ll be able to name the position honorific,” he advised the FT, whereas stressing that it mustn’t have extra govt energy. “There is just one head of presidency, the vice-chancellor.” He mentioned that “what issues is just not whether or not you’re a right-wing or left-wing chancellor however a very good one for Oxford who understands it and works laborious for it not your self.”
Willetts, a former universities minister who’s concerned in a number of larger schooling initiatives, warned of threats to Oxford’s “funding, its autonomy and its analysis excellence” and mentioned if he was elected he would encourage different universities to undertake its famend tutorial system.
Willetts mentioned the following chancellor ought to be “a bit extra outward trying, serving to to make sure Oxford’s presence internationally” and harassed the significance of build up the college’s endowment. “This isn’t floating alongside in an honorary place having fun with dinners.”
Grieve, who was attorney-general in David Cameron’s authorities, mentioned he was inspired to use by quite a lot of folks and “on reflection I assumed it’s one thing I’d do effectively”. Grieve mentioned he noticed the job as certainly one of being an advocate for the college at house and overseas and offering assist for the college quite than setting its insurance policies.
Mandelson, who’s stepping down as chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan College, told the FT in July: “I do really feel passionately about universities and given I studied at Oxford it’s an vital place to me.”
