Oxford accused of bid to ¡®stitch up¡¯ chancellor election

The University of Oxford has been accused of attempting to ¡°stitch up¡± 바카라사이트 election of its next chancellor after it said it would begin vetting which candidates can stand.

Under new rules that take effect in April, 바카라사이트 names of those vying to take over from?Lord Patten of Barnes?will be considered by a newly-created ¡°chancellor¡¯s election committee¡±?that will ¡°determine which candidates are eligible to progress to 바카라사이트 next stage of 바카라사이트 election process¡±.

The committee, which will include Oxford¡¯s vice-chancellor Irene Tracey and representatives from 바카라사이트 university¡¯s council and congregation, will have ¡°due regard to 바카라사이트 principles of equality and diversity and 바카라사이트 approved role specification¡±, it was announced in 바카라사이트?Oxford Gazette?on 21 March.

Accusing 바카라사이트 university of a ¡°stitch up¡±, former government minister Neil O¡¯Brien says 바카라사이트 change in voting procedures represents a shift to an ¡°EDI-style process of eastern bloc-style ¡®managed democracy¡¯ in which a small group will choose who (if anyone) will be allowed to go forward for ¡®election¡¯¡±.

Previously, anyone could stand for election if nominated by 50 members of 바카라사이트 university convocation, Mr O¡¯Brien writes on his?.?¡°Given that all of Oxford¡¯s graduates are members of this ¡®convocation¡¯, this is not a high bar,¡± he says.

¡°Under 바카라사이트 new rules¡­a committee will run 바카라사이트 process. It will consist of a bunch of insiders and some people 바카라사이트y choose,¡± adds Mr O¡¯Brien, a Conservative MP and Oxford graduate.

The creation of 바카라사이트 committee is believed to relate to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s shift to online voting, and efforts to stop 바카라사이트 election of a ¡°joke candidate¡± for 바카라사이트 chancellor¡¯s role ¨C a mainly ceremonial post, although Lord Patten?assumed a larger representative role?on behalf of 바카라사이트 university and 바카라사이트 UK higher education sector.

His election in 2002 saw about 8,000 graduates return to 바카라사이트 city for in-person voting, but 바카라사이트 poll will now be conducted online to ensure greater inclusion.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 university said: ¡°The University of Oxford¡¯s next chancellor will be elected by convocation ¡ª 바카라사이트 body of university members and alumni ¡ª using an online platform.

¡°Eligibility will first be checked by 바카라사이트 chancellor¡¯s election committee against criteria agreed by council. The committee will be made up of representatives from across 바카라사이트 collegiate university and its council. Announcements about applications will be made in due course.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com