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.

On the occasion of Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt’s visit to Switzerland, the Geneva Graduate Institute, in collaboration with the Swiss Friends of Oxford University (SFOU), was organizing an open discussion on 22^nd October around his recent publication on AI entitled “As If Human: Ethics and Artificial Intelligence”.

On 23^rd October 2024 Sir Nigel gave a Global Lecture on the subject: ”As If Human: Living in the Age of Intelligent Machines”. This Global Lecture will explore AI’s history, current advancements, and the challenges and opportunities presented by todays and future AI systems. Please find HERE the recording.

Once again, we had the pleasure of spending two great evenings at the British Ambassador’s residence in Geneva as well as at the Baur au Lac Club in Zurich where Sir Nigel Shadbolt was our guest speaker on the topic of ‘As If Human: Living in the Age of Intelligent Machines’. The venues, the dinners itself, the talks and, above all, the thought-provoking speech and discussion were of the highest quality and much appreciated by all those present.

Booking now open for Meeting Minds Oxford 20 – 22 September 2024

Join us back in Oxford for a stimulating weekend of talks with speakers including journalist Samira Ahmed and Former White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Chris Liddell, plus over 30 guided walking tours and creative writing workshops. 

MEETING MINDS OXFORD 2024 | Oxford Alumni

Do you work in the not-for-profit sector? If yes, you could be eligible for a scholarship to our Oxford Impact Finance Innovations Programme.

The scholarship offers a partial tuition fee reduction between 25 – 50%, which provides an opportunity for talented individuals, who would otherwise not have the funding available to participate.

Scholarship recipients should be working full time, and funded by an aid or development agency, non-governmental organisation, or other organisations in the not-for-profit sector.

Applications for the scholarship close on 28 June 2024.

How to apply.

Please attach a 500-word statement along with your application answering the following:

• How will you, your organisation and the communities you serve benefit from participating in the programme?
• What value and unique perspective will you bring to the cohort?

Candidates will be shortlisted* based on demonstrated need and the application essay, followed by a telephone interview.

Apply here

To find out more about the programme or scholarship, please do get in touch.

Kind regards,

Tonielle Ballard
Programme Consultant
Saïd Business School
University of Oxford
e: tonielle.ballard@sbs.ox.ac.uk

We had a most enjoyable and stimulating evening with Professor Schleiter who was our guest of honour at the dinner of Swiss Friends of Oxford University in Zurich.

on 18.06.2024 in Zurich

With great sadness that we note the passing of Peter Arengo-Jones OBE (20^th February 1930 to 4^th May 2024). After working as Information Officer at the British Embassy in Berne, he became a highly respected entrepreneur and has been over many years one of the pillars of the British community in Berne, always positive and friendly. In HM The Queen’s 1978 New Year’s Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Peter was a passionate supporter of music (opera) and the advancement of the arts and sciences and a proud and active alumnus of Jesus College, Oxford. He was a member and great supporter of SFOU and a welcome participant at our events. We send our deepest condolences to his family and friends. He will be greatly missed.

Image credit: https://www.plattformj.ch/

It was a delight to have Professor Mette Morsing as guest of honour at two great evenings with Swiss Friends of Oxford University last week in Geneva and Zurich.

on 11.04.2024 in Zurich

on 10.04.2024 in 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