changing concepts of ‘the university’ & oxford’s governance debates

CHANGING CONCEPTS OF ‘THE UNIVERSITY’ &

OXFORD’S GOVERNANCE DEBATES

SRHE Higher Educational Policy Network19 March 2012Andrew M. Boggs (doctoral candidate)andrew.boggs@education.ox.ac.uk

1850s-2000s

Purple Frog

Frilled Shark

Jurassic Shrimp

Crocodile

Oxford University

andrew.boggs@education.ox.ac.uk 7

History: four key periods UK university expansion

Medieval masters v students (1100s-1500s)

Edinburgh lay v ecclesiastical control (1600s-1800s)

Civics bicameralism (1800s-1900s)

Moderns corporatization & accountability (1990s-2000s)

andrew.boggs@education.ox.ac.uk 8

Oxford Governance ReformKey Dates

1852 Royal Commission

1877Royal Commission

1922 “Asquith”

Commission

1966“Franks”

Commission of Inquiry

2000“North”

Commission

2006“Hood” Review

andrew.boggs@education.ox.ac.uk 9

Oxford Governance Reform Activity

18501855

18601865

18701875

18801885

18901895

19001905

19101915

19201925

19301935

19401945

19501955

19601965

19701975

19801985

19901995

20002005

2010

WW1 WW2

Royal Commission (1877)Royal Commission (1852) Asquith Commission (1922) Franks Commission (1966)

North Commission (1999)

Hood Review (2006)

Polytechnics (1965)

1992 Universities Act

Creation of "Civic" Universities

Newman's Idea of a University published

1944 Butler Education Act

1963 Robbins Commission 1997 Dearing Report

UK university enrolment grows 1M

2003 Lambert Report

Government annual operating funding to Oxbridge (1923)

Spread of "Prussian research university" ideal

Higher education as "public good" Higher education as "private good"

Public sector "managerialism"

Bologna Declaration (1999)

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Oxford Enrolment Growth15

77

1602

1626

1675

1700

1725

1750

1775

1800

1825

1850

1882

1900

1912

1921

100

300

500

700

900

1,100

1,300

1,500

1,700

1,900

Oxford & Cambridge Matriculation Headcounts (years 1577-1921)

Matriculation Headcount (Oxford) Total Matriculation Headcount (Cambridge) Total

Matriculation of women (Oxford 1921)

Universities Test Act (1871)

First Royal Commission Review (1852)

11

Oxford Governance Structure

Adapted from White Paper on University Governance, University of Oxford, Trinity Term 2006

Congregation

Council

Faculty Boards

Continuing Ed Boards

Academic Services & Univ Collections

Divisional Boards

Other CmtsGeneral PurposePersonnelEd Policy &

StandardsPlanning & Resources

Conference of College

LegendAccountabilityAdvisory

Scrutiny & Audit Committee

2006 Governance ProposalCongregation

Nominations Committee

Departments, Faculty Boards, etc.

Conference of College

LegendAccountabilityAdvisory

Adapted from White Paper on University Governance, University of Oxford, Trinity Term 2006

InvestmentRemunerationFinanceAudit & Scrutiny

Council

General PurposesPersonnelResearchEducationPRAC

Academic Board

Divisional BoardsAcad Srv & Coll Other Committees

CHANGING CONCEPTS OF ‘THE UNIVERSITY’ &

OXFORD’S GOVERNANCE DEBATES

SRHE Higher Educational Policy Network19 March 2012Andrew M. Boggs (doctoral candidate)andrew.boggs@education.ox.ac.uk

1850s-2000s