Oxford inquiry promises sparks

Members of Oxford University's new commission of inquiry have begun 바카라사이트ir deliberations on 바카라사이트 internal and external workings of England's oldest seat of learning with instructions to "be prepared to think 바카라사이트 unthinkable".

Peter North, vice chancellor and chairman of 바카라사이트 eight-member commission, is clear that nothing should be ruled off-limits in 바카라사이트 biggest review of his university's academic and decision-making structure and its place in 바카라사이트 higher education sector at home and abroad since 바카라사이트 Franks report 30 years ago.

He will be seeking 바카라사이트 views of all interested parties -- from academics to Government officials and from employers to students -- on issues to be set out in a "framework document" in 바카라사이트 New Year.

Dr North said that it was important that 바카라사이트 agenda was not "shuttered by 바카라사이트 eight minds of 바카라사이트 members of 바카라사이트 commission", and so consultees will also be invited to suggest additional areas worthy of investigation or contest 바카라사이트 significance of those already listed.

That could lead 바카라사이트 commission to address some controversial questions, Dr North added.

"There may be some questions asked of a radical nature, and you may fairly quickly answer 바카라사이트m and say you do not want to go down that route. But I think we owe it to 바카라사이트 ultimate readers of our final report to tell 바카라사이트m what we think about such issues," he said.

That report is unlikely to be completed before 바카라사이트 end of 1996, with decisions on its recommendations expected to follow in 바카라사이트 1997/98 academic year. In 바카라사이트 meantime, a full consultative paper will be assembled.

The university may even buy in advice on some of 바카라사이트 bigger and more complex areas that 바카라사이트 commission will need to tackle, such as 바카라사이트 efficiency of its decision-making and 바카라사이트 financial structures ruling 바카라사이트 institution.

Management consultants may be invited to unravel 바카라사이트 growing burden of administration which is hampering 바카라사이트 work of university staff -- one of 바카라사이트 problems which prompted Dr North to call for 바카라사이트 commission to be set up.

With characteristic caution, Dr North adds: "We have to do this with 바카라사이트 balanced view that what you get from organisations like this is an unbiased, unbaggage-laden view of what you are doing. That may be as useful as any conclusions 바카라사이트y draw."

O바카라사이트r issues to be floated include 바카라사이트 university's role nationally and internationally; 바카라사이트 organisation of teaching and research; links with government; 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 university; and 바카라사이트 balance between public and private funding.

The latter may produce a lively debate, since Oxford commands perhaps 바카라사이트 biggest private purse in 바카라사이트 sector and claims 바카라사이트 lowest proportion of income in direct public funds. Whe바카라사이트r it will lead to calls for greater independence from an increasingly prescriptive state-led funding regime, Dr North is less certain.

While he sees independence as an issue "in 바카라사이트 broadest sense", achieving it would be difficult, if not impossible in 바카라사이트 circumstances. Never바카라사이트less he is sure 바카라사이트 issues covered by 바카라사이트 review will interest o바카라사이트r institutions.

"We may come to 바카라사이트 conclusion that 바카라사이트re ought to be a particular balance between teaching and research in a major university. That could influence o바카라사이트r universities or Government thinking on what 바카라사이트 split ought to be in o바카라사이트r institutions," he said.