Oxford is one of the best universities in the world.
The best, according to the current edition of the Times Higher Education, or the third best, behind the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Imperial College London, according to the international QS World University Rankings.
In any case, it is the crème de la crème of the UK higher education sector, one of the few areas of international competition where this country can claim to be truly “world superior”.
This means that being the figurehead representing the university as its rector is one of the most desirable jobs for a senior member of the British establishment, including former prime ministers and political leaders.
There is now a vacancy following Lord Chris Patten’s decision to retire at the age of 80 after 20 years as chancellor.
Candidates, including some well-known names, have just one week until 11:59pm on Sunday, August 18, to receive their nominations.
However politely this election is fought behind the scenes, the battle for office will do more than pit rival “retired” politicians against each other.
Woke will oppose the anti-woke, many would like to see the first female chancellor and there is a strong tendency among academics working at the university to install one of their own, rather than the statesmen who have presided over them since Tudor times.
Technology allows for more open competition
The chancellery dates back exactly 800 years. Oliver Cromwell, the first Duke of Wellington, and prime ministers Lord Salisbury and Harold Macmillan are some of those who held the role.
This contest will be more open than ever because for the first time all members of the so-called “convocation”, including more than 250 thousand university graduates, will be able to vote online.
Until now, voters had to show up at the Sheldonian Theater, appropriately dressed, to vote in person. Fewer than 6,000 turned out in the last two elections.
In 1987, Roy Jenkins, former Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary, founder of the Social Democratic Party and President of the European Commission, defeated Sir Edward Heath, former Conservative Prime Minister.
TV puppet Roland Rat also threw his cap into the ring.
Conservative Party chairman Patten was elected chancellor following Jenkins’ death in 2003.
Patten won the 1992 election for John Major but lost his own seat, before being appointed the last governor of Hong Kong. While at Oxford, Patten performed remarkably well as chairman of the BBC.
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Oliver Cromwell was elected rector of the university in 1651. Photo: AP
High-profile names exclude themselves
Well-known names that have been named on the board this year include former prime ministers Tony Blair, Boris Johnson and Teresa May and former ministers William Hague, Peter Mandelson and Rory Stewart as well as former Pakistan Prime Minister and cricket captain Imran Khan.
Turns out they all went to Oxford, although that’s not a requirement for being chancellor.
It is not normal to campaign openly. Potential candidates must express their interest discreetly and then wait for the required 50 convocation members to sign their nomination papers.
Former Tory leader William Hague and New Labor master of the dark arts Peter Mandelson have publicly expressed interest.
Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Rory Stewart all dropped out before the start line. Voting will be done on the transferable list system and it is likely that they would have been too controversial or low-ranked to beat the other two.
Tony Blair ruled out the possibility of escape from the beginning.
There will also be some fringe candidates: Reverend Matthew Firth, of the so-called Free Church of England, plans to run an anti-woke ticket.
Roland Rat once had hopes of becoming the university president. Photo: Steve Meddle/Shutterstock
The same can be said of the Reverend Nigel Biggar, former regius professor of moral philosophy at the university, whose book Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning was praised by many traditionalists on the right of British politics.
While Maxim Parr-Reid’s main qualification appears to be representing his college, Trinity Oxford, in the University Challenge.
None of the above political names are favored by the academic university establishment.
Earlier this year, university bureaucrats were accused of attempting a “seam” when they created a committee to “vet” candidates “with due respect for the principles of equality and diversity.”
This was interpreted as an attempt to harm the chances of white male politicians who have been chancellors until now.
In May, The Times hailed the university’s decision to abandon pre-assessment as “a victory for fairness and common sense”.
Undaunted, many who work at the university are gravitating toward a preferred candidate. She is Lady Elish Angiolini, a distinguished lawyer and former Attorney General of Scotland.
She is Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE) and Lady of the Order of the Thistle and has conducted independent investigations for governments, including into the murder of Sarah Everard by an on-duty police officer.
A woman, Scottish, of Irish Catholic descent and a graduate of Strathclyde University, she would certainly be different.
Lady Angiolini is also an Oxford expert. She has been Principal of St Hugh’s College, Oxford since 2012 and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University.
Lady Elish Angiolini could become the university’s first female president. Photo: PA
She is certainly running, although it is unclear how she gets around the regulation that “the dean cannot be an employee of the university.” Perhaps it would be acceptable for her to resign if she is elected, but not as a candidate.
Members of “elected legislatures” are also barred from running for office. So Mr Mandelson and Mr Hague are ready to go.
The same goes for Mr. Khan, currently in prison and disqualified from political office. It is unclear whether non-Britishness could exclude a candidate, although one fringe candidate, Nigerian Onyeka Nwelue, thinks it probably does.
Oxford academics jealously guard their control over the university. Famously, the so-called “congregation” made up of all professors and lecturers voted not to grant an honorary doctorate to Margaret Thatcher, even though she was Britain’s first female prime minister and a graduate of Somerville College Oxford.
Given Oxford’s elevated position in global academia, many would argue that if “it ain’t broke, why fix it?”
But Oxford’s great achievements occur, at faculty and institute level, almost despite the intricate and self-policed systems of governance at colleges and universities.
As a result, there have been a series of scandals, including, most recently, a successful attempt to expel an outsider appointed rector of Christ Church, which cost the college many millions of pounds.
Prominent academics I know express satisfaction when they leave Oxford.
Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan. Photo: AP
Oxford’s governance is not like that of most other universities – or even public companies – which have a board made up of executives and non-executives, chaired by a chairman.
When I suggested that such a system be applied to colleges and universities, the professor I was sitting next to at a high table in Oxford refused to speak to me for the rest of the meal.
The chancellor of Oxford does not even have the powers of chairman of the council and is marginalized in ceremonial and public relations roles.
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That said, the male politicians who have been deans so far have generally performed well at the university. Giving more voice to an outsider with proven achievements would be beneficial, even for the best university in the world.
The final candidates will only be known within a week.
The choice will likely be whether the university will keep its face outward – as it has done in the past – or whether academics will regain even more control.
The many thousands of graduates – most of whom have already surpassed their university years – have the power to decide, as long as they know that there are elections and register to vote, the deadline for which is August 18th.
Voting will take place on October 28th, with a second round if, as seems unlikely, there are 10 or more qualified candidates.
The new president will likely remain in office for at least 20 years — unless the university is successful in its term limits proposal.
May the best person win, Oxford or non-Oxford, man or woman.
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
