APPOINTMENT OF NEW WARDEN. Further particulars

Transcription

1 APPOINTMENT OF NEW WARDEN Further particulars St Antony s College, Oxford, is seeking to elect a Warden of the College, with effect from October 2017, to succeed Professor Margaret MacMillan who has been the head of the College since 2007 and is retiring on 30 September St Antony s is a graduate college with around 40 fellows and 500 students, specialising in the humanities and social sciences, with a focus on international and area studies. 1. Introduction St Antony s College was founded in 1950, through the generosity of Antonin Besse, a French entrepreneur who, from his base in Aden, had established a trading empire in Arabia and North East Africa. His admiration for the independence of the University of Oxford and its emphasis on the individual led him to found the first international graduate college there. It was named after St Antony of Egypt, the founder of ascetic monasticism in the deserts where Besse had prospered. St Antony s chosen fields include modern history, politics, international relations, economics, sociology, anthropology, international development, public policy and interdisciplinary area studies. It provides an informal and multicultural environment for advanced research and postgraduate education and it has become a leading centre for international and area studies in the world. During its 65 years, St Antony s has had five Wardens. Sir William Deakin ( ) was an Oxford academic who was an assistant to Winston Churchill and in the Second World War became a soldier. He won Antonin Besse s confidence and played the key role in turning his vision into the centre of excellence that St Antony s has become. Sir Raymond Carr ( ), a distinguished historian of Spain, expanded the College and its regional coverage and opened its doors to visiting scholars from all over the world. Sir Ralf (later Lord) Dahrendorf ( ) came to St Antony s after an outstanding career as a social theorist and politician in Germany, a European Commissioner and Director of the London School of Economics. He further enlarged the College and developed its role as a source of policy advice. The fourth Warden, Sir Marrack Goulding ( ), served in the British Diplomatic Service for 26 years before becoming an Under Secretary-General at the United Nations. His appointment underlined the international nature of the College and its links with government and the international community. The current Warden, Professor Margaret MacMillan is an internationally reputed academic, who had been a doctoral student at the College. Her Wardenship has enhanced the academic profile of the College, and seen the construction of major new College buildings, offering state-of-the-art housing and other academic and social facilities for students and visitors. Before becoming Warden she was Provost of Trinity College, Toronto. She has published extensively. Her recent publications include Peacemakers: the Paris Conference of 1919 and Its Attempt to Make Peace (2002); When Nixon met Mao (2006); The Uses and Abuses of History (2009); The War that Ended Peace (2013); History s People: Personalities and the Past (2015). 1

2 Like other Oxford colleges, the College is an independent self-governing institution. Its Governing Body consists of around 40 Fellows and is chaired by the Warden. The Fellows are distinguished scholars in their chosen fields and each conducts his or her own research programme. Most of them hold senior academic posts in the University as Professors and Associate Professors in various departments and faculties, and teach on Masters and doctoral programmes. Almost all of them supervise postgraduate students from St Antony s and other colleges and some teach undergraduates as well. They also take part in University and College administration. 2. Academic Life: Students, Centres and Visitors St Antony s is one of the seven colleges of the University of Oxford which admit graduate students only. It is the most international of the University s colleges both in its concentration on international studies and in the composition of its student body. The College is unique in housing seven regional research centres which cover Africa, Asia (except Middle East and Japan), Europe, Japan, Latin America, the Middle East, and Russia and the rest of the former Soviet Union. Most of the Centres are housed on the College s campus in converted Victorian houses, and some are constituent parts of the School of Interdisciplinary Area Studies of the Social Sciences Division of the University of Oxford. Each Centre is run by a Centre Director who is a Governing Body Fellow or senior member of the College. Fellows, students and visitors are normally attached to one of these Centres, forming an interdisciplinary team which works together in postgraduate teaching and applied research on the region concerned. The many seminars which take place in the College are open to all members of the University and visiting scholars. The Centres also organise conferences and workshops. Through these events and the work of their Fellows they make an important contribution to the University s teaching programmes. They are internationally recognised as authorities on their regions and serve as bridges to similar institutions there. They can also provide neutral meeting points for political antagonists. Each attracts academic visitors from all over the world, as well as practitioners in government and business, who come to the Centre for insights and advice on current developments and future prospects in its region. Together the Centres provide a unique inter-disciplinary and inter-regional overview of the process of globalisation. They are the foundation on which the College has built its reputation for academic excellence. St Antony s has between 450 and 500 postgraduate students working on taught master s courses and research-based doctorates. Membership of the College is itself an important educational experience for the students. Coming from more than 70 countries, they learn from each other s experience and broaden their understanding of the world. They also benefit from the experience and scholarship of the hundred or more senior visitors whom St Antony s welcomes each year. In addition to world-renowned scholars, these include business people, politicians and government officials. World leaders often come to speak at the College. 3. The Wardenship In keeping with past practice, the new Warden will be expected to have the qualities that are listed below: 2

3 The ability to offer intellectual leadership, with an interest in international and area studies; A commitment to the College as a postgraduate institution and a community of fellows, students and staff; the ability to advance the College s ideals as a centre of academic excellence both within and outside the University of Oxford; The energy, commitment and ability to raise funds, through cultivating relationships with prospective donors, strengthening alumni relations and attending events as part of the College s fundraising strategy; An ability to operate collegially within a non-hierarchical organisation and show commitment to equality of opportunity; The willingness and ability to understand and engage with the processes of University teaching and research in the University of Oxford, and within the broader context of UK Higher Education; Education to degree level or beyond, or equivalent experience. The Warden will be expected to fulfil the following functions: To contribute to the academic life of the College through the fostering of a high-quality research and teaching environment and participation in the intellectual activities of the Area Studies Centres; To seek new funds to increase the central endowment of the College, thus ensuring its long-term viability and the continuation of its core academic activities; To take a leading role in implementing the College's fund-raising strategy through events and meetings, and by actively engaging with alumni and prospective donors; To maintain the social cohesion of the College and sustain a sense of positive engagement with the institution on the part of students, fellows, senior members, alumni and staff; To develop the role of the College within the University and beyond, and to promote and further its interests as a major centre of postgraduate teaching and research; To oversee and support the administration of the College with a view to achieving its long-term strategic goals; To chair the Governing Body which decides the policy of the College, and the Management Executive Team, which makes recommendations to Governing Body. The Warden is supported by a full-time personal assistant/secretary. 4. Emoluments The Warden will receive a salary of 80,033 per annum, indexed in line with academic salaries. The position is pensionable through the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). He/she will be entitled to dine in College free of charge, including High Table dinners. The College will pay for healthcare insurance for the Warden while it remains the policy of the College to make this provision for Fellows. The Warden may extend this cover to a partner or minor children on payment of an additional premium. The Warden is required to reside in College for thirty-six weeks per year, including term time. The College provides accommodation in the Warden s lodgings, which will be maintained in good decorative order, and free of charge including reasonable bills and 3

4 cleaning. The equivalent rental value of the Warden s lodgings is 6,000-8,000 per month. Applicants should be aware that these benefits may give rise to a personal tax liability. Entertainment of College guests is at the cost of the College, and expenses on College business are funded in accordance with the College s policies. The Warden has a personal dining allowance of 12 High Tables per term, which may be used to host personal guests. 5. Term of appointment The appointment is for a maximum of ten years. However, for a person taking up the appointment when over the age of 60 there will be a retirement date of 30 September following the person s 70 th birthday. A medical examination may be required before the appointment is confirmed. 6. Residency and Outside Interests Given the nature of college life, the Wardenship demands a substantial level of commitment. While it may be compatible with a limited number of external activities, it is important that it is, and is seen to be, the main focus of the appointee, both in term time, and for agreed parts of the vacations. Formal business and regular meetings in the College and University, and most dinners and social functions, occupy a substantial part of three Full Terms, which are of eight weeks duration. Development activities and alumni events occur throughout the year; overseas trips normally happen in the academic vacations. The Warden will be expected to be in residence in College as required by the Statutes and to continue to discharge his/her duties as necessary at other times. The Warden shall not be entitled to hold any office or employment, paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Governing Body. 7. Application procedure There is no application form, but candidates are requested to send a concise letter of application explaining the candidate s reason for applying, and outlining how their experience and commitment specifically meet the qualities that the College is seeking, together with a curriculum vitae and the names and addresses of three referees. The closing date for applications is 11 March The College will also be considering candidates who have not made an application for the position. Informal enquiries may be made to the Chair of the Search Committee, Dr Philip Robins, search@sant.ox.ac.uk. 8. Appointment Procedure Informal meetings will be held with selected candidates in the weeks commencing 18 th and 25 th April Formal interviews with the Governing Body for short listed candidates will be held on Wednesday 8 June. 4

5 9. Equal Opportunities St Antony s College is an equal opportunities employer. Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and minority ethnic candidates, who are under-represented in academic and other senior posts in Oxford. 5