University of Oxford Homepage

Note. An asterisk against an entry in the Contents indicates a previously published notice.
University of Oxford Crest

Oxford University Gazette, 3 May 2007: Notices

CONSULTATIVE NOTICES

Review of the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division

On behalf of Council and its committees, the Vice-Chancellor will chair a review of the MPLS Division. The terms of reference for the review are set out below. Initial meetings of the review committee are scheduled to take place at the end of Trinity Term. The review committee would welcome written comments on matters falling within its terms of reference. These should be sent to the assistant secretary of the review committee, Mr Richard Hughes, University Offices, Wellington Square (e-mail: richard.hughes@admin.ox.ac.uk), by Friday, 22 June.

1. To review divisional strategies in the light of the current internal and external climate, and the forecast for the medium and longer term

2. To review progress made in response to the division's strategic plans: five year plan, recent operating statements and any other divisional strategy documents as follows:

Review the division's mechanisms for promoting the excellence of academic activities in the faculties and departments which constitute the division, by reference to international standards of excellence, and in the context of the University's Corporate Plan and other strategic/policy documents. In particular, the division's mechanisms for ensuring:

(a) the quality and direction of the research of the division as a whole, including its promotion of interdepartmental, interdivisional and interdisciplinary activities, its research profile and strategy, and future challenges and opportunities;

(b) the overall quality and direction of undergraduate and graduate programmes offered within the division and the division's policy for the development, monitoring and quality assurance of those programmes, taking account of University policies in relation to:

  • access and admissions;
  • curriculum design and programme structure;
  • teaching, learning and assessment;
  • the relationship between teaching and research;
  • academic and pastoral support and guidance;
  • the provision and use of learning resources (including staff resources);
  • specific arrangements for the pursuit of graduate studies (including research degrees research training and provision for part-time study);
  • relationships with colleges;
  • student number planning;
  • quality assurance mechanisms;

(c) the division's work in relation to 'third-leg' activities.

3. Personnel

To review the division's approach to human resources issues, including:

  • academic employment issues;
  • recruitment and retention;
  • balance of teaching and learning in academic contracts;
  • major support staff issues;
  • career development;
  • equal opportunities.

4. Space and Capital Expenditure

current and future plans, including:

  • new build/refurbishment;
  • laboratory and teaching space;
  • research equipment;
  • services including links with ASUC.

5. Finance

To consider the current and long-term financial position of, and funding arrangements for, the division, and its financial strategy.

6. Organisation and Administration

To review the organisation of the division, its management structures and the relationship between the faculties/departments and the division, and between the division and other university bodies and committees, including such matters as:

  • strategic planning;
  • leadership and management;
  • administration;
  • devolution of responsibilities between units within the division, and between the division and its units;
  • fundraising;
  • relationship (structural and operational) with:

(a) cognate subject areas,

(b) colleges,

(c) national and international bodies, including research councils and funding bodies to which it is linked in teaching and research.

^ Return to Contents of this section

Humanities Division/EPSC Review of Oriental Studies

The Humanities Division and the Educational Policy and Standards Committee of Council will jointly conduct a review of Oriental Studies in week eight of Trinity Term. The review committee's terms of reference are:

1. To review the quality of academic activities in the faculty, by reference to:

  • international standards of excellence;
  • action taken since the last review of the faculty;
  • planning statements at faculty and divisional level, and in the context of the University's mission statement and corporate plan.

In particular:

(a) the quality of the research of the faculty, including its participation in interdepartmental, interdivisional and interdisciplinary activities, its research profile and strategy, and future challenges and opportunities;

(b) the quality of undergraduate and graduate programmes and their delivery and related issues, including:

  • access and admissions;
  • curriculum design and programme structure;
  • teaching, learning and assessment;
  • the relationship between teaching and research;
  • academic and pastoral support and guidance;
  • the provision and use of learning resources (including staff resources);
  • specific arrangements for the pursuit of graduate studies (including research degrees and research training and provision for part-time study);
  • relationships with colleges;
  • quality assurance mechanisms;

(c) the organisation of the faculty, its management structures and the relationship between the faculty and the division, including such matters as:

  • strategic planning (including relationship to the divisional five-year plans and the University's Corporate Plan);
  • academic and non-academic staff planning and recruitment;
  • student number planning;
  • terms of appointment for academic staff, including career development and equal opportunities issues;
  • accommodation and future space needs;
  • fundraising;

(d) the relationship (structural and operational) between units within the faculty, and between the faculty and cognate subject areas and colleges to which it is linked in teaching and research.

2. To consider the current and long-term financial position of, and funding arrangements for the faculty and its financial strategy.

The review committee would welcome written comments on matters falling within its terms of reference. These should be sent to the joint secretary to the review committee, Mr Richard Hughes, University Offices, Wellington Square (e-mail: richard.hughes@admin.ox.ac.uk ), by Friday, 8 June.

^ Return to Contents of this section

Revision to the Code of Practice for the University of Oxford: RAE 2008

The Guidance on submissions for the 2008 research assessment exercise (RAE) was published in June 2005, and can be found at www.rae.ac.uk/pubs/2005/03/. Included in Annex G of the Guidance is the requirement that in making a submission to the funding bodies, the head of each submitting higher education institute will confirm that the HEI has 'developed, adopted and documented' an appropriate internal code of practice, which attends to all relevant equal opportunities legislation in force on the census date.

In 2006 Oxford's code was developed, and disseminated through various routes, including a Gazette announcement in June (see Gazette of 8 June 2006, Vol. 136, p. 1202). During 2006 initial steps were taken to develop Oxford's return, through a 'dry run' exercise. Work has taken place in the light of the findings of the 'dry run' to review Oxford's code. The purpose of this notice is to confirm that the RAE Project Board has approved minor revisions to Oxford's code of practice for Oxford, and to inform staff that it is available at www.admin.ox.ac.uk/pra/oxonly/rae/oxcop.shtml.

The over-arching principle of the code is unchanged: that each member of staff who is eligible to be included in Oxford's submission should readily be able to find information on how a decision is taken, who will be taking the decision, how the decision can be discussed, and the outcome of any such discussion.

A member of staff who wishes to receive a version of the code in hard copy should contact the Planning, Resource, and Alloction Section (e-mail: rae.2008@admin.ox.ac.uk). Alternative format versions, for disabled users, will be available on request from Judith Finch, Diversity and Equal Opportunities Officer (telephone: Oxford (2)70078, e-mail: judith.finch@admin.ox.ac.uk).

^ Return to Contents of this section

GENERAL NOTICES

Oxford University Press

Discount for members of the University at the OUP Bookshop ('The Bookshop')

Oxford University Press announces that from 1 May all members of the University will be entitled to a discount of 10 per cent at the OUP Bookshop, 116 High Street, on production of a University Identity Card or Alumni Card. This offer excludes the already discounted 'special offers' collection.

The bookshop has been renamed 'The Bookshop, Oxford University Press', and to coincide with this a new Web site is now available at www.oupbookshop.co.uk. The bookshop also hopes to introduce a regular 'Book Information' feature, centred around the University's publishing programme from Oxford University Press. Further details of this will be available in due course at the bookshop's Web site.

^ Return to Contents of this section

Language Centre

Intensive Weekend Language Courses in Trinity Term 2007 (Saturday and Sunday mornings)

The Language Centre will be running four weekend language courses in Trinity Term 2007. Each course will consist of eight hours' tuition and last from 9 a.m. to 1.30 p.m., with a half-hour break, on both Saturday and Sunday. The emphasis will be on speaking and listening.

The courses are as follows:

May 19–20: German (Beginners and Intermediate)

May 19–20: Italian (Beginners and Lower Intermediate)

June 2–3: French (Beginners, Lower Intermediate and Intermediate)

June 2–3: Spanish (Beginners and Lower Intermediate)

Fees: £40 for student members of the University and other full-time students, £55 for visiting students, staff and spouses, £70 for others.


Pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes

The pre-sessional courses are designed for overseas graduate students who are about to start a university course in an English-speaking country. They run from 23 July to 14 September 2007. Students can attend full-time for either four weeks or eight weeks. Classes are held from Monday to Friday (with trips instead of classes on Wednesdays, except for Bank Holiday week). Further information can be found at www.lang.ox.ac.uk/eas/presessional2007.html.


Term-time LASR Classes

If you already have some knowledge of a language, a class at the Language Centre could maintain or extend your language skills. There are some spaces in classes at lower intermediate level or above for German, Modern Greek, Italian, and Welsh and in more advanced classes for Russian and Spanish.


Library and Independent Study Facilities

The Library's collection of audio/video cassettes, books and computer programs covers over 135 languages. The independent-study area has rooms equipped with listening and viewing facilities, including DVD and VHS video players plus live satellite broadcasting, for individual work and computer based learning resources. New users should aim to arrive shortly before 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. to register and attend an orientation session. Further details of all courses and activities may be obtained from Rebecca Landless or James Matejtschuk at the Language Centre, 12 Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6HT (telephone: Oxford (2)83360, e-mail: admin@lang.ox.ac.uk, Web site: www.lang.ox.ac.uk).

^ Return to Contents of this section

Pitt Rivers Museum

Improvements to services, from 1 May

On 1 May the Pitt Rivers Museum reaches a milestone in its redevelopment programme, and accordingly is improving its services as follows:

  • On six days a week the Museum will be open for an additional two hours each morning. The new opening hours are Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–4.30 p.m., Mondays 12 noon–4.30 p.m. (10 a.m.–4.30 p.m. on bank holidays)
  • Visitors will be able to use the new facilities incorporated into the Museum's new extension, including a new gallery for temporary displays
  • 'Community Music and Dance', an educational display in this new gallery, explores traditions in community music making with an exhibition of the gamelan orchestra and shadow puppets of Java with Morris dancing, civic and village bands from England. This gallery will sometimes be closed for booked taught sessions, with local schools using the gamelan, but will usually be available on weekends and holidays
  • The Lower Gallery will once again be open to the public, restoring access to the displays on Body Arts, now complemented by significant redisplays of the beadwork, bags, pouches and featherwork collections

    Further information on the Museum can be found at www.prm.ox.ac.uk

    • .

    ^ Return to Contents of this section

    Musical Events

    Christ Church

    Andrew Chamblin Memorial Concert

    The inaugural Andrew Chamblin Memorial Concert will take place at 7.30 p.m. on Thursday, 10 May, in Christ Church Cathedral, and will be given by the internationally renowned organist, Thomas Trotter. Mr Trotter will play a number of organ pieces by Mozart, Handel and Bach. Admission is free and everyone is welcome. Enquiries should be directed to hacmemorial@yahoo.co.uk.

    Harris Manchester College

    Lunchtime recitals

    The following recitals will be given at 1.30 p.m. on Thursdays in the chapel, Harris Manchester College. Admission is free, with a retiring collection for the college's Organ Restoration Fund. Enquiries should be directed to Myles Hartley (e-mail: myles.hartley@hmc.ox.ac.uk).

    10 May: MYLES HARTLEY performs organ works by Orlando Gibbons, and music in homage of Charles Villiers Stanford

    17 May: MYLES HARTLEY performs Messiaen's Four Meditations for Organ, L'Ascension, and chorales by Bach

    24 May: RECITAL OF ORGAN AND CHORAL MUSIC by musicians from Harris Manchester College to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Charles Wesley

    31 May: MYLES HARTLEY performs organ works by Elgar, including the Organ Sonata

    7 June MARTHA SCHWEHN, oboe, and MYLES HARTLEY, organ and piano: concert of French music, including the Oboe Sonata by Saint-Saëns and an organ transcription of Debussy's Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune

    14 June: THE COPERARIO PLAYERS perform music for viols from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries

    ^ Return to Contents of this section

    COMPOSITION OF ELECTORAL BOARDS

    The composition of the electoral board to the post below, proceedings to fill which are currently in progress, is as follows:

    Rolls-Royce/Royal Academy of Engineering Professorship of Computational Aerothermal Engineering

    Amended notice

     
                                        Appointed by

The Principal of St Hugh's              Mr Vice-Chancellor [1]
The Principal of Lady Margaret Hall     ex officio
Professor J.J. McGuirk                  Council
Professor A. Arts                       Council
Professor P. Ligrani                    Mathematical, Physical and Life
                                        Sciences Board
Professor R.C. Darton                   Mathematical, Physical and Life
                                        Sciences Board
Professor W.N. Dawes                    Mathematical, Physical and Life
                                        Sciences Board
Dr D. Clarke                            Mathematical, Physical and Life
                                        Sciences Board
Dr N. Hankins                           Lady Margaret Hall
    [1] Appointed by Mr Vice-Chancellor under the provisions of Sects. 10 and 11 of Statute IX (Supplement (1) to Gazette No. 4633, 9 October 2002, Vol. 133, p. 108).

    ^ Return to Contents of this section