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Oxford dons rebel over plan to hand powers to business leaders

Matthew Taylor and Donald MacLeod
Tuesday April 26, 2005
Guardian

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

In a big test of the leadership of the new vice-chancellor, John Hood, more than 100 senior staff questioned moves to restructure the way the university is run which they fear could impinge on academic freedom. They are worried the proposals are being rushed through without proper consultation.

Professor Hood, who was appointed last year, stoked controversy in February when he published proposals to streamline Oxford's decision-making system.

It included a plan to set up a small board of trustees, composed of alumni with strong corporate links, which would take over the running of the university.

But the idea that Oxford's future should be left in the hands of business leaders for the first time in 800 years has angered the Congregation, the dons' ancient parliament of 3,552 academics. It has gathered more than 100 signatures and is seeking to postpone any discussion of the plans until November.

"A lot of changes have been made in the university and I think we generally believe that these important issues should be properly debated and discussed before policy decisions are made," said one senior academic who refused to named.

Congregation rarely exercises its powers to call the management to account. The last time it flexed its muscles was in 1996 when the millionaire Wafic Said offered £20m for a business school.

Congregation overruled his plans and the business school was eventually built on a site near Oxford railway station where it has helped transform a rundown area of the city.

Yesterday it emerged that Congregation had tabled a second motion warning of a threat to academic freedom which it says is being undermined by the university's academic strategy that seeks joint college/university reviews of individuals' performances.

A third motion calls on the management of Oxford libraries to present a full report to Congregation on plans for reorganisation.

Rumours had been circulating that the upgrading of the Bodleian may empty books from the Radcliffe Camera building, although Ronald Milne, the acting director of the university library services, said it would remain. "One does not despoil an icon," he said.

Unlike Cambridge, where there have been frequent clashes between members of the equivalent body, Regent House, and the former vice-chancellor Sir Alec Broers over his attempts to modernise the university's structure, reform at Oxford has been relatively amicable until now.

But complications arose after the 20-member council responsible for academic governance which was introduced in 2000 was mirrored by a similar body for the colleges. The dual system led to delays and confusion.

Professor Hood's proposal set out in a green paper in February would see a 150-strong academic council comprising all 39 heads of colleges and so bring them into a single structure. It would also contain members elected by Congregation, heads of the 40 largest departments and individuals from the museums, and the chief executive of Oxford University Press, among others.

Last night a spokeswoman for Oxford University said: "There has been widespread discussion at a university-wide level, as well as by departments, colleges, and individuals.

"It is important that we give members of our community an opportunity to take an active part in these debates, and we believe we have given members a variety of ways to get involved."