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Rt. Hon. The Lord Hague of Richmond elected as new Chancellor of Oxford University

Many congratulations, Lord Hague, on your election as Chancellor of Oxford University! Lord Hague, who graduated from Magdalen College in 1982, will be formally inaugurated into the predominantly ceremonial role in the new year. Our President, Howard Rosen, was honoured to be one of the first people to congratulate Lord Hague, during his visit today to Zurich, after the announcement of his election. We look forward to welcoming him back to Switzerland in the near future.

Talk at Graduate Institute Geneva

On the initiative of SFOU, Professor Morsing was delivering the Geneva Dialogue lecture this year and they had a fantastic discussion with the audience at the Graduate Institute and online.

on 09.04.2024 in Geneva

Lord Patten of Barnes announces his retirement as Chancellor of the University of Oxford

Christopher Patten, Lord Patten of Barnes, has announced that he will retire as Chancellor of the University of Oxford at the end of the 2023-24 academic year. He has been Chancellor since March 2003.

Lord Patten said: ‘This year, I will have my 80th birthday in May. I hope that there will be many more birthdays to come. But I am unlikely to have another 21 years in the job as Chancellor of the University.

‘I think it is in my own interest and that of the University for me to step down at the end of this academic year, giving the University the opportunity to plan a sensible succession which matches the demands of the 2020s. I say this with a heavy heart, trusting that I will still be able to work for Oxford University (which I love) from time to time.

‘The University of Oxford has been a hugely important part of my life. I think it is true to say that Oxford as a whole made me, not just because of the three happy years I spent there as a student, but because of what Oxford has continued to mean to me over the years right up to the present day.’

Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: ‘Over the past 21 years, Lord Patten has been an extraordinarily active and committed Chancellor, engaging in as many as 60 international events per year on the University’s behalf, tirelessly championing Oxford at home and abroad. While his incomparable dedication will be sorely missed by the University, it is entirely understandable that he should want to take a step back at this time, as he approaches his 80th birthday.

‘I am personally grateful for his wise and steadfast support to me as I navigated the transition to becoming VC.

‘On behalf of thousands of alumni, students and staff and the many people whose lives have been changed by the University’s work, I thank Chris, and also his wife Lavender, for their service and wish them well in a richly deserved retirement.’

The University expects to be able to share further information about the next steps soon, as well as to provide opportunities for comments and questions.

About the role of Chancellor

The Chancellor is the titular head of the University and presides over several key ceremonies. The Chancellor chairs the Committee to Elect the Vice-Chancellor. In addition to these formal duties, the Chancellor undertakes advocacy, advisory and fundraising work, acting as an ambassador for the University at a range of national and international events.

The election of the Chancellor

The process and timetable for the election of the Chancellor by members of the University’s Convocation will be announced in due course.

Save the date

SFOU dinner with John Bowers KC
Principal, Brasenose College, Oxford
Zurich, 12th September 2023

To:       Members and Friends of SFOU,

John Bowers KC, distinguished jurist and principal of Brasenose College, Oxford, will be coming to Switzerland at the end of the summer and he has agreed to speak at a private dinner for SFOU members in Zurich, on the evening of Tuesday, 12th September 2023 at 19:00, at the Baur au Lac Club and will talk on the subject of “Free Speech on Campus”.

Please note the date in your diary and hopefully you can join us. An official invitation will follow.

In the meantime, I wish you a wonderful summer season.

Howard Rosen, President

Reading with Prof Henrike Laehnemann

Reading from the book “Unerhörte Frauen” at the Jesuitenbibliothek in Zurich
Zurich, 22nd August 2023, 19:00

About the event:
https://www.jesuitenbibliothek.ch/veranstaltungen-news.html#veranstaltungen

About Henrike Lähnemann:
http://Henrike Lähnemann | Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages (ox.ac.uk)

About the ranking of the book:
https://oe1.orf.at/artikel/704305/Sachbuecher-im-August

Professor Irene Tracey nominated as next Oxford Vice-Chancellor

The Chancellor of Oxford University, Lord Patten of Barnes, who chaired the Nominating Committee, said: ‘Irene Tracey was born in Oxford and educated at a local comprehensive and Oxford University, for which she has now been proposed as the next Vice-Chancellor. It is an extraordinary story of personal achievement, social mobility and academic excellence. I doubt whether anyone knows more about the University and all its aspects than today’s Warden of Merton. She also, as an internationally recognised scientist, has considerable experience at home and abroad. I am sure she will build successfully on the outstanding achievements of Louise Richardson and lead Oxford in coping with the big challenges which lie ahead.’

Read the full article here.

SFOU congratulates Professor Dame Sarah Springman on her appointment as St Hilda’s new Principal, former Rector of ETH Zurich.

WELCOMING ST HILDA’S NEW PRINCIPAL

‘What the college stands for is very important to me. Excellence and equality have been significant driving motivations throughout my career.’

Professor Dame Sarah Springman was awarded a DBE for services to engineering and services to international sports administration in the 2022 New Year Honours. Exactly a month later she formally took up her post as the new Principal of St Hilda’s.

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW

https://alumni.ox.ac.uk/article/welcoming-a-new-principal-to-st-hildas