Department for Continuing Education News

Virtual open events bring Oxford to you

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:43:28 +0100

Our part-time Oxford qualifications programmes attract students from all over the world. They are designed for those whose work or other commitments make full-time education impractical.

But not everyone can easily come to Oxford for an open day to learn more about these programmes - so the Department has begun offering 'virtual' open events for those who live at a distance. Links to the six presentations we've produced so far are listed below.

These hour-long presentations go out live online, and offer participants an opportunity to meet course directors, tutors and course admins, and to ask questions in real-time.

Once an open event finishes it is automatically archived on our website, where it is freely accessible.

Of our six virtual open events, four are for postgraduate programmes: our MSt courses in Literature and Arts, Creative Writing and History of Design, and our Postgraduate Certificate in Ecological Survey Techniques. The remaining two are for undergraduate awards - our Certificate and Diploma in History of Art programmes, and our Certificate of Higher Education.

The first online open event was presented just over a year ago. Since then, the six presentations listed below have been viewed 2,569 times by prospective students in over 50 countries worldwide.

All but two of these programmes are currently accepting applications for a Michaelmas 2012 start; the exceptions are the MSt in the History of Design and the MSt in Creative Writing, both of which will begin recruiting again in the autumn of 2012 for the 2013 start.

The Certificate of Higher Education

This undergraduate award programme enables students to use the credit that they obtain from taking weekly classes, short online courses, linked day schools, practical weekends and attendance at the Oxford University Summer School for Adults to count towards gaining a qualification from the University of Oxford. Students choose one of nine main subject disciplines in which they do most of their classes - Archaeology, Architectural History, Creative Writing, History, History of Art, Italian, Literature, Philosophy or Spanish - and they combine this with study in other academic subjects.

The Certificate of Higher Education open day is presented by Course Director Dr Elizabeth Gemmill, Dr David Grylls, Director of Studies in Literature and Creative Writing, and Claire Kelly, manager of the online and weekly classes programmes.

Course description: www.conted.ox.ac.uk/certhe
Online open event: www.conted.ox.ac.uk/certheopenday

Undergraduate awards in History of Art

Undergraduate Certificate and Diploma in History of Art are the equivalent of the first and second year of study at university level, respectively. These courses are the perfect starting point for those who have little or no study at university level, or who are new to the subject.

Having graduated from either of these programmes, you will no longer simply 'like' art, but you will be able to analyse and interpret its significance in the history of human culture - and, as a result, you will like it more than ever! You will do this in a supportive and encouraging environment guided by expert tutors and in the company of students travelling the same path as yourself.

Course description, Certificate: www.conted.ox.ac.uk/certha
Course description, Diploma: www.conted.ox.ac.uk/dipha
Online open event: www.conted.ox.ac.uk/historyartopenday

Postgraduate Certificate in Ecological Survey Techniques

The Postgraduate Certificate in Ecological Survey Techniques is a one year, part-time, modular programme. It aims to train practitioners in ecological survey techniques through an effective mixture of online, face-to-face and experiential learning, equipping students with the knowledge, understanding and confidence to conduct ecological field surveys. It also provides the opportunity to build knowledge, skills and capacity in environmental conservation more generally, and provides participants with the evidence base to guide decision-making in biodiversity conservation and management, and related issues.

The PG Cert in Ecological Survey Techniques open event is presented by Course Director Dr Jocelyn Hughes, tutor Damien Farine and portfolio manager Lindsay Campbell.

Course description: www.conted.ox.ac.uk/pgest12
Online open event: www.conted.ox.ac.uk/estopenday

MSt in Literature and Arts

Our two-year part-time Masters Degree in Literature and Arts is one of our most popular new Master's programmes. The course offers the opportunity to study the literature and arts of three different periods of English history (ranging from the c16th to the c19th) in an interdisciplinary manner over four five day residences and two online modules.

The online open day is presented by Course Director Dr Cathy Oakes and course tutor Dr Sandie Byrne.

Course description: www.conted.ox.ac.uk/mla
Online open event: www.conted.ox.ac.uk/mlaopenday

MSt in Creative Writing

Our Master of Studies in Creative Writing is hugely popular. It's a two-year, part-time programme offering a unique combination of high contact hours, genre specialization, and critical and creative breadth. The emphasis is on the cross-cultural and cross-genre, pointing up the needs and challenges of the contemporary writer who produces his or her creative work in the context of a global writerly and critical community. The master's degree in creative writing offers a clustered learning format of five Residences, two Guided Retreats and one Placement over the two years.

The MSt in Creative Writing open event is presented by Course Director Clare Morgan, poetry tutor Jane Draycott and programme administrator Rebecca Rue.

Course description: www.conted.ox.ac.uk/mstcw
Online open event: www.conted.ox.ac.uk/cwopenday

MSt in History of Design

Our Master's in the History of Design is a taught Master's Degree offered part-time over two years, comprising nine monthly Saturdays and one residential weekend per annum. The syllabus focuses particularly on the period from 1851 to 1951 in Europe (including Britain) and America. Combining close visual and material analysis with historical methodologies, the course explores decorative and applied art, the design of interiors and public spaces, and for performance and industry. Please note: this programme runs every other year and will accept applications in the autumn of 2012 for the October 2012 start.

The open event for the Master's in the History of Design is presented by Course Director Dr Claire O'Mahony.

Course description: www.conted.ox.ac.uk/MStHistoryOfDesign
Online open day: www.conted.ox.ac.uk/mhodopenday

Looking at Theology through a diverse, unusual lens

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:32:50 +0100

Grimm's Fairy Tales? Planet Narnia? Moral Imagination? This year's Theology Summer School will explore the theme of 'Texts and Images' from many viewpoints.

'This summer school takes a highly creative look at theology and theological issues through a variety of texts and images', says course director Ed Newell, who is Sub-Dean of Christ Church, Oxford. 'CS Lewis and imagination, medieval mystery plays, Theology and Grimm's fairy tales - these aren't topics you'd normally get on a course in Theology. We're looking at Theology through a very diverse and unusual lens.'

Participants will examine some intriguing questions: How are texts interpreted by various faiths? How does one handle difficult Biblical texts? What impact have science and philosophy had on religion? How has theology been communicated through creative writing? And what, exactly, is a moral imagination?

Speakers include:

Keith Ward, philosopher, theologian and author of, among many other things, The Philosopher and the Gospels: Jesus Through the Lens of Philosophy, and Is Religion Irrational? will lead a seminar entitled 'The Influence of Philosophy on Christian Theology'.
Angela Tilby will be known to millions for her appearances on 'Thought for the Day' on BBC Radio 4. She is a former producer for BBC broadcasting in religion and science. Her seminar will be 'What Makes Scripture Sacred?'
John Moses, former dean of St Paul's, will speak on 'The Prophetic Voice of Thomas Merton' and Jane Shaw, Dean of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, will lead 'Cultivating a Moral Imagination'.
Henry Wansbrough, translator of the Jerusalem bible, will explore how a Christian reads the Old Testament.
Michael Ward, author of the groundbreaking book Planet Narnia - which unlocks CS Lewis's thought world in the Narnia Chronicles - is leading a seminar entitled 'CS Lewis and Theological Imagination'.

'We know this course will appeal to clergy and others wanting to have their minds stretched,' says Newell.

The Theology Summer School is held at Christ Church, one of Oxford's largest and most prestigious colleges, and comprises two one-week sessions. Details of keynote lectures and seminar topics can be found online: http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/courses/details.php?id=V610-16

New Oxford Pre-Master's Scholarship

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:24:48 +0000

To mark the occasion of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Andrew Hamilton's visit to India this month the Department for Continuing Education is delighted to offer one scholarship to students of Indian nationality for the 'Foundations of Diplomacy Course 2012-2013' of 50% of University fees (£5,785).

The Foundations of Diplomacy course is a six-month, full-time course of study for graduate students interested in pursuing a career in diplomacy or in preparing for Master's degree studies in diplomacy/international relations. This challenging programme is open to students with little or no experience in diplomacy, is delivered over two extended terms of ten-weeks and combines both practical and academic classes.

For 2012-2013 classes include diplomacy in practice, skills for public diplomacy, leadership in action, contemporary British, European and US politics and international relations. All students also take a two term course in academic writing and, if fluent in English, take additional academic classes in lieu of the programme's English language module.

For course details, please visit www.conted.ox.ac.uk/L290-4

Interested students should apply in the normal manner and indicate in their covering email/letter of application that they should like to be considered for the scholarship. Deadline for scholarship applications is Friday, 6 July 2012.

'Maths in the City' Oxford walking tours begin 10 March

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 11:35:19 +0000

Did you know that the roof of the Sheldonian is held up by a piece of mathematics that Christopher Wren learnt while he was studying at Oxford? What is the influence of maths in the architecture of a building in St. John's College aptly named 'The Beehive'? And what does a wok, three sticks, and a bag of marbles got to do with maths in Oxford?

Join a tour in Oxford or London and discover answers to these questions and more. The first Oxford tours begin 10 March; book your place here: www.mathsinthecity.com/book

Revealing the mathematics hiding in our urban surroundings is the purpose of a new phase of 'Maths in the City' - a public engagement project led by Marcus du Sautoy, the Charles Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford's Department for Continuing Education.

The project involves the public in on-site walking tours in London and Oxford. It also highlights many fascinating examples of the mathematics in cities across the globe on a website that anyone can contribute to. See: www.mathsinthecity.com

Cities are filled with buildings, roads, cars, buses, trains, bikes, parks and gardens; crisscrossed with power, water, sewage and transport systems. They are built by engineers, architects, planners, doctors, designers and artists. Our cities are shaped by environment, society and culture. And each and every part is built on mathematics.

Professor Marcus du Sautoy has been working with his 'Mathmagicians', a team of volunteer students from Oxford, to develop walking tours of Oxford and London.

Future tours are set to take place during the spring, they will be led by University of Oxford maths students and are open to all interested members of the public.

The inaugural London tour on 21 February travelled from Tate Modern to St Paul's and explored the mathematical foundations of the architecture, networks, topology and resonance that are woven into the fabric of this corner of the capital. Read a review of this great day on 'The New Scientist' blog.

To find out more about the maths explored in this and future tours, or to book a place on a tour visit: www.mathsinthecity.com

Tour locations are described on the website along with other sites of mathematical interest from around the world. It is possible explore the tour routes and the maths involved online or to print a guide to the London and Oxford routes and walk them yourself.

Members of the public who have stories of maths in the city where they live are invited to create maths sites and tours for others to explore, by visiting the project website: www.mathsinthecity.com

Celebrating Open Education Week

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 10:11:12 +0000

This week (5-10 March 2012) is Open Education Week - a global event which seeks to raise awareness worldwide about the benefits of free and open sharing in education, especially Open Educational Resources (OER). OER are high-quality, free and openly licensed educational materials that offer opportunities for people anywhere in the world to learn, share, use and reuse.

To help you immerse yourself in the week's festivities, we are highlighting some of the open education initiatives of the Department, the University and others, with links for you to follow and learn more.

What is 'Open Education'?
Open education is all about reducing barriers and increasing access to learning, through the sharing of free and open resources. These can be anything that helps learning - open access textbooks, videos, podcasts and course materials - to research and assessment tools. In a nutshell, open education aims to widen access to learning opportunities to everyone.

Explore Open Education
Two of the most well-known initiatives in open education are the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) project and the UK Open University's OpenLearn project, both of which make hundreds of course resources freely available.

The University of Oxford has also been a leader in this area, launching its podcasts site on iTunes U in 2008 to make freely available public lectures, teaching materials, interviews with leading academics, information about applying to the University and more.

What we've been doing in the Department
The Department for Continuing Education was one of the first departments to contribute to Oxford's iTunes U site and Marianne Talbot, the Department's Director of Studies in Philosophy, has had her lectures downloaded more than three million times with two of her podcasts - 'A Romp Through the History of Philosophy', and 'The Nature of Arguments' - being global number one on iTunes U. You can listen to Marianne's lectures and other podcasts from the Department's podcasts site.

As well as contributing to the University's open education initiatives, the Department has undertaken research into the use of open educational resources by tutors and students and, where possible, releases the outputs of its teaching and learning projects as OER.

One example is the Course Design Moodle, which highlights examples from some of the Department's online courses and aims to help teachers worldwide to develop their own high-quality online learning resources.

The Department is also embedding open practices across its work and has just started an exciting new project to create OER as part of the Weekly Classes programme. So far, the project has made available more than 150 online resources from 11 weekly classes and will be openly licensing these resources in the future. For a preview of the sort of material we hope to release see: open.conted.ox.ac.uk/.

We hope this small selection of open resources has inspired you to explore further. With Open Education Week taking place online this week, what better opportunity to discover more.

Visit the Open Education Week website for a number of introductory documents and videos about OER or attend one of the many free online events and webinars that are taking place this week. Enjoy!

Vote for Current Archaeology's Research Project 2012

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:53:06 +0000

The uncovering of a massive Norse longhouse at Skara Brae in Orkney is the subject of a research project published in 'Current Archaeology' magazine by Dr David Griffiths, Director of Studies in Archaeology, and Dr Jane Harrison, our outreach officer on the East Oxford Community Archaeology project.

The work (and the subsequent article, entitled Settlement Under the Sand), is a contender for the magazine's 'Research Project of the Year 2012'.

If you feel that this fascinating project deserves to win, please cast your vote at: archaeologyawards.org/2012/research-project-of-the-year-2012.htm

Full information about the project is available in the research section of our website, at http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/research/projects/birsay-skaill/index.php. Be sure to have a look at the reprint of the 'Current Archaeology' article, which can be found here: http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/research/projects/birsay-skaill/current_features_2011.pdf

For more information about Dr Griffiths, please see his staff page on this site. And for more information about Dr Harrison and the East Archaeology project, please see the project website at https://www.archeox.net.

New student-centric website enhancements rolled out

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:38:22 +0000

As a direct result of student input, we've added two new features to our website: the ability for students to create their own personal online accounts; and a new online 'shopping basket' functionality.

What does this mean for you?

Online accounts
In the upper right-hand corner of our website you will now see a link for 'Log in'. Clicking this will take you to a page where you can either set up your new online account. or log in to your existing account.

The main advantage to you in creating an online account is that enroling on courses will be faster and more streamlined. When you set up your account, you fill in your basic enrolment information just once. From that point forward, every time you enrol on a course, the information will already be there. You won't have to retype it.

Your details are stored and kept secure, and your information will never be passed to external commercial organisations.

Having your own online account has other advantages too: you can update your personal information - for instance, if you move, or your email address changes. You can adjust the settings for the sort of emails we send you, using the 'my interests' page. And you can see a record of all the courses you've taken previously at the Department.

Creating an online account also helps us respond more quickly to enrolment questions you may have.

The shopping basket
Our new online shopping basket lets you select and pay for multiple courses in a single transaction. This is a big advantage over the old system, where students had to enrol on courses one at a time.

You can also use your basket as a way to keep track of courses you are considering. They will remain in your basket for up to thirty days, and you can add or remove them as you make up your mind.

Future developments
We are currently working on a way to let you simultaneously enrol more than one person onto one or more courses. This is in response to feedback from students who like to complete enrolments together, whether they be from the same household, members of the same club, or just a group of friends.

We're also working to make it possible for students to apply online for our award bearing courses - something which hasn't been possible in the past, due to the required submission of supporting materials.

We'll keep you informed of future developments. If you would like to offer input, or play a part in future website enhancements (by helping us test a new system, for example) we'd love to hear from you. Please visit: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/98NLF2C

BBC4: 'Illuminations: The Private Lives of Medieval Kings'

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 22:05:09 +0000

Dr Janina Ramirez's BBC4 documentary 'Illuminations: The Private Lives of Medieval Kings' will air on 9 January 2012 at 21.00. Based on the British Library's Royal Collection exhibition, 'Royal Manuscripts: The Genius of Illumination', the three-part documentary is both written and presented by Dr Ramirez, who is course director for our Certificate in History of Art.

The series will explore the world of the medieval monarchy as seen through illuminated Royal manuscripts, many of which will be captured on film for the first time. The evolution of the monarchy and art in England will be traced across 800 years between the 9th and 16th century.

Dr Ramirez is an accomplished documentarian. Her other recent work for the BBC -- notably 'Britain's Most Fragile Treasure', 'Treasures of the Anglo Saxons' and 'The Viking Sagas' -- demonstrates her talent in demystifying and contextualising the art of early periods, bringing it - and the people who created it - vividly to life.

Richard Klein of BBC4 commented: 'The story of the Medieval Kings was captured through beautiful manuscripts that remain as vibrant today as when they were first penned. BBC Four will recreate that world, drawing on Dr Janina Ramirez's in-depth expert knowledge, to decode the manuscripts. It is a privilege to be able to offer viewers the first chance to see these manuscripts in all their glory on television through our collaboration with The British Library.'

For more information about the broadcast, see http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0192nrg. The broadcast will be available to UK viewers; those outside the UK can enjoy the exhibition's many highlights via a slide show narrated by the curator. Please see below for details.

The British Library Exhibit
For a preview of Dr Ramirez's documentary (and for those outside the UK) there is a slide show of the British Library's exhibit. The slides are narrated by the exhibit curator Scot McKendrick. Please see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15667183.

The exhibition runs until 13th March 2012. For more information, see the British Library's web pages: http://www.bl.uk/royal

Dr Janina Ramirez's Certificate in History of Art is a two-year, part-time, Level 1 course. Learn more about this programme at http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/V350-57. You can keep up to date with Dr Ramirez on her new website: http://www.janinaramirez.co.uk

The Rev'd Dr Robin Gibbons appointed Ecumenical Canon

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:18:37 +0000

The Reverend Dr Robin Gibbons, Director of Studies in Theology and Religious Studies, has been appointed Ecumenical Canon at the Cathedral College of All Saints', in the diocese of Edmonton, Canada. The appointment has been made in recognition of Dr Gibbons' broad experience in theological education and outreach, including his work as an Eastern Rite Catholic priest with other churches.

Historically, the duties of cathedral Canons varied: they might maintain the daily round of sung services, act as teachers, or have a specific responsibility within the cathedral and diocese. While Cathedrals often had educational centres attached to them for prayer and learning, the Cathedral College of All Saints' is reinvigorating this ancient tradition for modern times: to promote educational outreach, in particular theological continuing education for clergy.

Dr Gibbons brings a wealth of experience in teaching to his appointment. He is a specialist in eastern Christianity, and in the juxtaposition between faith and the natural environment. He intends to conduct yearly retreats, with lectures and seminars, on site at All Saints'.

As Director of Studies, Dr Gibbons oversees all the Department's programmes in Theology and Religious Studies. Oxford University's Department for Continuing Education Theology summer school is an international programme of long standing, for clergy, theologians, teachers of religious education and lay people with an interest in theological study at University level. The theme for the 2012 summer school is 'Texts and Images', with a focus on interpretation of texts, how scientific and philosophical texts have impacted on Christianity, theological concepts expressed through the imagery of icons, and the cultivation of moral imagination.

He has recently spearheaded the creation of a new Oxford qualifications course, the Undergraduate Certificate in Theology and Religious Studies, a one-year, part time award which is an introduction to Theology, with the choice of a pathway in the study of world religion. Open to anybody who is interested in the subject, this course will launch in the autumn of 2012.

Dr Gibbons' appointment as Ecumenical Canon at the Cathedral College of All Saints' will take place on 8 May, 2012. Installations are usually associated with a particular saint, and Dr Gibbons' will be associated with St Brigid, known as a law giver, princess, prophet and sage.

The appointment is an honour and a strong gesture of friendship between the Anglican churches of Canada and the United Kingdom; it is one of the first of its kind in this diocese of Canada.

Queen's Anniversary Prize for WildCRU

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 09:40:24 +0000

The Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), a programme supported by the Department in partnership with the Department of Zoology, has been awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize.

Continuing Education is Sustainable

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:15:54 +0000

The Department is pleased to announce a 35% decrease in CO2 emissions over the past two years, along with a 69.7% reduction in the amount of heating gas we consume. And the good work continues.

A room-by-room energy conservation survey of Rewley House, carried out by the University's Estates Directorate in 2010, resulted in the replacement of an obsolete heating system with a new, energy efficient one. Refurbishment of many of our windows has taken place before the onset of cold weather.

Recycling
The Department recycles all the usual items (paper products, glass, toner cartridges), plus a more unusual item: postage stamps.

Postage stamps are collected on behalf of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) who sell them on to dealers or collectors. (Read more at: http://www.rnib.org.uk/getinvolved/fundraising/recycle/Pages/used_stamps.aspx.)

The Department's used but still viable computers are donated to schools in Oxfordshire and the Midlands. Equipment which can't be reused or repurposed is recycled in accordance with Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations.

From the garden
This year, Rewley House menus will feature quince from our own tree in the Rewley House garden. Head Chef John Wilmot and his staff picked the fruit this autumn and prepared it as jam and chutney, to be served with entrees in the Rewley House dining room.

Pedal power
The University has a Green Transport Initiative under which staff may purchase bicycles via salary deduction. To encourage use of this scheme the Department schedules bike maintenance days, in which staff members' bikes are repaired on site at reduced rates.

Bags for life
Over the summer we created our own Fairtrade cotton 'bags for life', in two designs. These are now on sale at Rewley House reception, and are also available online at the Oxford University Shop: www.oushop.com/conted.

Sustainable operations help us to reduce costs and improve our service levels; we look forward to further green efforts in the year ahead!

Two times two for Creative Writing students

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:01:32 +0100

Two students on the Department's MSt in Creative Writing programme signed two-book deals with publishers this Autumn.

Prajwal Parajuly, second-year student on the MSt, signed with publisher Quercas in October. The Gurkha's Daughter: Stories, and Land Where I Flee, a novel, will be published in December 2012 and 2013 respectively.

James Benmore, who completed the MSt programme in 2011, also signed a two book deal with publisher Heron (a subsidiary of Quercas) in October. His novel, Dodger, which tells the Oliver Twist story from the perspective of the Artful Dodger, will be published in 2012, with the book's sequel due out in 2014.

The MSt in Creative Writing is a two-year, part-time Master's degree course. It's structured as a series of retreats and residences, and attracts students from all over the world.

Virtual open event
A 'virtual open event' for this course will be held online on Wednesday, 16 November 2011, at 16.00 GMT. The open event will feature a live video feed from the Department in which academics and administrators will discuss the course and the student experience. Participants will be able to ask questions in live time and have them answered during the event.

For more information please see the course listing at: http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/mstcw, and to register attendance for the virtual open event, please email the course administrator at mstcreativewriting@conted.ox.ac.uk.

African Commonwealth Human Rights Law Scholarships: now accepting applications

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:52:16 +0100

Applications are being accepted until 30 March, 2012, for five new scholarships for human rights advocates from African Commonwealth countries to study for the part-time Master's in International Human Rights Law at the University of Oxford.

The aim of the Master's programme is to train and support future leaders in the field of International Human Rights Law. The five scholarships provide fully-funded opportunities for the programme; the next intake will be September 2012.

Applicants must be citizens of a developing African Commonwealth country, and will normally hold a law degree and or have extensive human-rights experience.

Eligible countries include Botswana, Cameroon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. (Please note: Applications from candidates living and working in Zimbabwe cannot be accepted although Zimbabwean citizens who are living/working in another Commonwealth Southern African country and who have refugee status may apply.)

The course website can be found at http://humanrightslaw.conted.ox.ac.uk/MStIHRL/index.php and details about the scholarships, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, can be found on the fees and funding pages at http://humanrightslaw.conted.ox.ac.uk/MStIHRL/fees/index.php#africanscholarships.

Britain's Most Fragile Treasure

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:38:55 +0100

Dr Janina Ramirez presented 'Britain's Most Fragile Treasure' on BBC 4 on 12 October. Dr Ramirez is the Department's new course director for the Certificate in History of Art.

In the show, she examines the history, creation and conservation of the medieval East Window of York Minster. The window is undergoing a five year process of conservation by the York Glaziers Trust, supported by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

The dismantling of the 600 year old window has given Dr Ramirez the opportunity to discover how the window was originally created and designed, and to explore the workmanship of the medieval artist.

Originally the creative vision of a single - and somewhat mysterious - master craftsman called John Thornton, York Minster's East Window offers a rare view into the medieval world.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-15275419

New Certificate of Higher Education

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 18:27:52 +0100

The Department for Continuing Education is delighted to announce the launch in autumn 2012 of the new Certificate of Higher Education. Applications are now being accepted.

The Certificate will enable students to use the credit that they obtain from taking weekly classes, short online courses and attendance at Oxford University Summer School for Adults to count towards gaining an award from the University of Oxford. The award is the Certificate of Higher Education, equivalent to one year of full-time undergraduate study at first year level.

Flexibility
A key feature of the Certificate is its flexibility: students will be able to decide where and how they study. In particular it will be possible to study mainly online for the award, although all students will need to take at least one course (amounting to 10 CATS points) face-to-face in Oxford.

There is also flexibility in the time frame: some students will wish to complete the award within two years of registration, while others may take up to four years to complete. It will also be possible to import credit, up to a maximum of 30 points, from OUDCE courses taken in the four years prior to registration.

Nine subject areas to choose from
Students who register for the award will specialise in one of nine main subject areas: Archaeology, Art History, Architectural History, History, Italian, Literature, Creative Writing, Philosophy, or Spanish. They will also choose courses outside their main subject area, to give breadth to their study and to enable them to take advantage of the rich variety of courses on offer at the Department for Continuing Education.

Attend an open event - online or in Oxford
Two open events will be held on Thursday, 19 January 2012 - an online event at 16.00 GMT, and an event in Oxford at 18.00. If you would like to attend either event, or have any questions about the programme, please email ppweekly@conted.ox.ac.uk. Full information about the Certificate of Higher Education may be found on the course listing page: www.conted.ox.ac.uk/Y000-2.

Newham in the spotlight for national research

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:45:02 +0100

Dr Nazila Ghanea, Lecturer in International Human Rights Law at the Department for Continuing Education and a Fellow of Kellogg College, takes part in major national research project into the experiences of communities and individuals about religion or belief, discrimination and equality in the London borough of Newham

Report on the value of reuse of open educational resources published

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 16:04:15 +0100

A new report 'The value of reuse of open educational resources' highlights the need to support learners and academic staff alike in the referencing and the reuse of online resources. The report, written by the Department's Technology-Assisted Lifelong Learning team, is one of the outputs of a study on the impact of open educational resources (OER), commissioned by the HEA and JISC, that analysed the relationship between use of OER and its impact on teaching and learning.

Department to Host Community Archaeology Bursary Places

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:19:21 +0100

The Department for Continuing Education has been chosen as one of ten organisations across England, Scotland and Wales to host community archaeology bursary recipients, as part of the Council for British Archaeology's (CBA) Community Archaeology Bursaries Project.

Bursary places are aimed at providing on-the-job training for individuals to increase their skills and knowledge of working with communities and volunteers. The bursaries will consist of funded places over three years, and will be offered from early 2012.

Organisations which, like the Department, have an established track-record in delivering support to communities with an interest in archaeology will host the bursary places. The project is supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Funds Skills for the Future programme.

Individuals from any background who can demonstrate sound archaeological knowledge and experience and who wish to go on to pursue a career in archaeology specifically in the area of developing communities and volunteers are welcome to apply.

The ten organisations who will host this year's 27 funded places are:
England

Oxford University Department for Continuing Education
Norfolk Historic Environment Service
Canterbury Archaeological Trust
Wessex Archaeology

Scotland

Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland

Wales

Cadw
Dyfed Archaeological Trust
Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust
Gwynedd Archaeological Trust
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales

The collaborative approach between the CBA and host organisations supports the good practice that already exists among organisations which are working with communities, and aims to increase the number of individuals who have the skills and knowledge in community engagement with archaeology.

Dr David Griffiths, Oxford University Lecturer in Archaeology and Head of the East Oxford Project said: "The East Oxford project and the Department are delighted to have been selected as a host for a CBA bursary. This will enable us to extend the remit of the current project in 2012-13, and will provide a vital career opportunity for someone to join in this ground-breaking outreach and research work, which the University is doing with the East Oxford community."

Details of the bursaries offered for the second year of the project and how to apply will be advertised on the CBA website in due course, and information on the current hosts and trainees can be found at http://www.britarch.ac.uk/community/bursaries. Those interested in instant updates about the project can also email bursaries@britarch.ac.uk to be added to the project mailing list.

OxTALENT Award for Department

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:31:10 +0100

A cross-departmental team has won a 2011 OxTALENT Award for creating a comprehensive online learning experience.

The team, comprising members of the Department's Continuing Professional Development Centre and the Medical Sciences Division's Department of Primary Health Care, showed excellence in leveraging 'WebLearn' - the University's virtual learning environment - in support of three modular programmes in Evidence-Based Health Care. (For course information, see http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/ebhc)

OxTALENT is a University interest group for raising awareness, promoting interaction, and encouraging the use of technology in teaching and learning across the University.

New 'Rewley House' book series

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:19:44 +0100

May 2011 saw the launch of a new series of books - the 'Rewley House Studies in the Historic Environment' - based on the Department's weekend schools in architectural history.

The first volume is 'The Medieval Great House', and completes the series of books on greater houses begun by Professor Malcolm Airs many years ago. The next volume, due in 2012, will be Country House Technology, and two volumes on places of worship in the British Isles are already in preparation.

The series, edited by Dr Paul Barnwell, Director of Studies in the Historic Environment, builds on a long tradition of publishing the proceedings of selected weekend schools. Each volume will provide an overview of a subject, and will make current scholarship available to a wider audience than can attend the weekends themselves.

The Medieval Great House is available through the publisher; you may contact Shaun Tyas by email at pwatkins@pwatkinspublishing.fsnet.co.uk, or by telephone, on 01775 821542.

For information on our day and weekend events in architectural history, please see: http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/dayweekend and click on 'Architectural History'.

Dr Nazila Ghanea speaks at Frontline club

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 13:48:25 +0100

Dr Ghanea joined producers of the film 'The Baha'is of Iran' for a screening and discussion at London's Frontline Club on 28 June. In 2010, BBC Persian's Kasra Naji and Rozita Riazati set out to focus attention on the plight of Baha'is in Iran; their goal was to help Iranians understand the Faith and to shed light on the extent of persecution suffered by its members in Iran.

Dr Nazila Ghanea, the Department's University Lecturer in Human Rights Law, joined the producers for a question and answer session and panel discussion after the screening. Both the film and the ensuing discussion may be seen on the Frontline Club website at http://www.frontlineclub.com/events/2011/06/private-event-the-bahais-of-iran.html - the discussion begins at approximately minute 26 on the video player.

Maths in the City winners

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:59:16 +0100

The Maths in the City competition is pleased to announce its ten winners! The Maths in the City project launched in April 2011 with a competition that was looking for interesting examples of maths in urban contexts. The competition closed on 3 May 2011 and Marcus du Sautoy and his fellow judges had the difficult task of choosing the best entries.

The ten winners projects can be viewed on the Maths in the City website.

Maths in the City aims to highlight the fundamental role that maths plays in society by viewing the urban environment in a mathematical way. Conventionally, the urban environment is used to explore local history, architecture and culture - but it can also provide us with adventures in mathematics.

Speaking out for human rights

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:10:28 +0100

Dr Nazila Ghanea, our University Lecturer in International Human Rights Law, was part of a panel discussion on BBC's Woman's Hour in March. The show explored the case of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, an Iranian woman who gained the attention of human rights groups globally for a conviction of adultery and accompanying sentence of death by stoning.

Listen to the show here: http:// www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00zslfb/Womans_Hour_31_03_2011/. The segment starts at 50 seconds on the BBC iPlayer timer, and ends at approximately 10 minutes.

Dr Ghanea also presented at a UN workshop on the prohibition of incitement to hatred in February. Read more at: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/workshopprohibitionincitementhatred.aspx.

Learn more about our MSt in International Human Rights Law.

Foriegn Service Programme European study tour

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:00:02 +0100

Members of the Oxford University Foreign Service Programme (FSP) undertook their annual European tour in March. The tour, an integral part of the Foreign Service Programme, took in Brussels, Strasbourg, Geneva and Paris. Participants visited a range of international, European and other institutions, including the EU, NATO, the European Court of Human Rights, various UN and other bodies in Geneva such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Quai d'Orsay (Foreign Ministry) in Paris, and also met with local members of UK diplomatic missions.

Foreign Service Programme members are mainly serving diplomats from a range of countries spending an intensive academic year in Oxford. The programme has been in operation for over 40 years, and offers a Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma in Diplomatic Studies, leading to a Master of Studies in Diplomatic Studies.

For more information about the Foreign Service Programme, please see: http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/fsp.

Digital visitors, digital residents?

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:56:53 +0100

Understanding students' expectations and motivations in using online technologies can help universities to develop and deliver the right digital learning resources. The Department's Technology-Assisted Lifelong Learning (TALL) team and OCLC Research (an international library service and research organisation) are collaborating on a JISC-funded study to explore the notion that learners can be classed either as 'digital visitors' or 'digital residents'.

Digital residents tend to use the Web in many aspects of their lives. They develop an identity, participate in online culture, and view the web as a venue for conducting their social life.

In contrast, digital visitors use the Web as a tool for achieving specific goals as needs arise. They do not develop an online identity nor participate in online culture in the same way, or to the same extent, that digital residents do.

'This is timely research which will move forward our understanding of how learners engage with the web,' said David White, Co-Manager of TALL. 'It is especially exciting to be part of a trans-Atlantic partnership which allows us to compare students' digital learning strategies in different cultural contexts.'

Read more about the study at: http://www.tall.ox.ac.uk/research/current/visitorsresidents.php.

Department holds virtual open events

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:52:36 +0100

Over 30 prospective students from seven countries attended two recent virtual open events. These events, which benefit prospective students who cannot travel to Oxford to attend a programme open day, are becoming popular. The open events in March and April 2011 were for the MSt in Literature and Arts and the MSt in the History of Design.

The sixty minute online events benefited those who could not conveniently travel to Oxford.

Attendees met course directors, partook in real-time question and answer sessions, and had a narrated photo tour of the Department and Oxford. Both events have received several hundred visits since being posted to our website.

The the virtual events for both programmes can be seen:
http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/mhodopenday (MSt in the History of Design)
http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/mlaopenday (MSt in Literature and Arts).

Environmental Conservation comes of age

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:38:32 +0100

Our part-time Diploma in Environmental Conservation is celebrating its 21st birthday in 2011, and our Advanced Diploma course is entering its 10th year. The Diploma course, which began in 1990, focuses on UK wildlife conservation while the Advanced Diploma embraces global environmental issues. Inevitably, both courses look at climate change and how this is affecting wildlife, ecosystems and global resources such as water and food production.

Students come from many backgrounds: some already work in the environment sector, but an equal number are highly qualified in a different field and are seeking career change. UK students are joined by those from many countries overseas, including Brazil, Nigeria, Hong Kong, South Africa, Germany, Hungary and South Korea. All share a passion for making a difference to the environment.

For further details about both courses: tel: +44 (0)1865 286953, email: envcon@conted. ox.ac.uk or visit: http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/env.

African Commonwealth International Human Rights Law scholarships

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:24:05 +0100

Five new scholarships per year will enable scholars from African Commonwealth countries to join the Department's Master's programme in International Human Rights Law. The scholarships will cover all University tuition fees, living costs and daily travel - a value of about £23,000 per year - and will be available from October 2012.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and the Foreign Office's Chevening Scholarship Fund will jointly pay for the scholarships.

Dr Andrew Shacknove, Director of the International Human Rights Law programme, said: 'The part-time format of the degree programme means that human rights advocates who work or have a family can also further their studies. We are looking for people with an excellent academic record, who have work experience and will take a leading role in furthering human rights projects in the coming years.'

The two-year part-time Master of Studies degree in International Human Rights Law has 30 places available each year. Study options on the residential courses in Oxford include: human rights law concerning vulnerable populations such as women, children, minorities and indigenous peoples; economic, social and cultural rights; and the law of armed conflict.

These five scholarships join an additional three scholarships funded by international energy company Eni to postgraduate candidates from Angola, Ghana and Nigeria.

For more information on our MSt in International Human Rights Law, please see: http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/humanrightslaw.

To read more about the scholarships on Oxford University's main news pages, please see: http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2011/111703_2.html.

Political Economy of the Environment: Top Ten Policies to Tackle Climate Change

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Fri, 13 May 2011 12:25:08 +0100

Two leading Oxford University economists warned the government of the urgent need to tackle climate change at a conference in Oxford to launch a new book, 'The Political Economy of the Environment'. The conference took place on 4 May in Rewley House.

Professor Jonathan Michie, Director of the Department, has drawn up a list of top ten policy proposals, stressing there can be no 'pick and mix' option but 'a whole range of policy measures needs to be pursued as a coherent package'.

Professor Michie argued that instead of relying on market measures, governments need to introduce tougher regulation, including legal restrictions on pollution, accompanied by collaborative work with scientific experts and company decision-makers to 'combat the culture that otherwise supports non-compliance'.

'The credit crunch in 2008 showed that economic policy was inadequate 'light touch' regulation turned out to be 'soft touch' regulation', he said. 'The Chairman of the US Federal Reserve blamed this on a 'flaw' within mainstream economic thinking. In truth there were many flaws and these are leading to equally inadequate policies on the environment.'

The 'top ten' policy proposals advocated in the book The Political Economy of the Environment, which was presented at the conference, include:

1. Governments need to promote Research and Development, market development policies and financial incentives for renewable energy technologies; carbon capture and storage technologies; energy efficiency at home, in business and by government; and reducing deforestation.

2. Tougher environmental standards, codes, regulation and legislation are needed to stimulate green innovation and enhance long-term planning by companies.

3.Governments need to introduce new taxes, fines, subsidies and rewards to encourage environmental awareness and change behaviour.

4. Policies are needed to counter short-term decision-making by firms (an issue being investigated by the Commission on Ownership on which Professor Michie serves).

5.Use of public-ownership stakes in, or loans to, a small number of firms to adopt environmentally friendly technologies.

6. A Green New Deal to create the productive infrastructures for those wanting to adopt new green technologies.

7. New regulation should be accompanied by collaborative research to persuade the public why they need to adopt measures and 'combat a culture of non-compliance'.

8. The need for greater interdisciplinary work to understand the issues involved with the government, research councils and universities promoting the merits of such research.

9. A broad portfolio of measures is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

10. Influence customer preference by providing more information on carbon emissions, such as through a colour-coded index scheme.

Also presenting new research, contained in a chapter of the book, Professor Sir David Hendry, Professor of Economics and Director of the Institute for Economic Modelling at the Oxford Martin School, laid out evidence that the five episodes of major extinctions of species in the past have been caused by climate change, so we must not ignore the present signs of climate change. He argued that 'we cannot preclude that homo sapiens would suffer greatly if the resulting resource strains led to mass migration, social unrest or even nuclear wars'.

World-leading econometrician and a member of the Government's Foresight Panel, Professor Hendry suggests that: 'the evidence from the great extinctions of the past 500 million years is a major warning from the distant past, the dramatic relevance of which has become increasingly clear the greater the knowledge gained about their causes.'

'That research activity and the implications arising from it intrinsically draw on the expertise of dozens of disciplines, as few individuals can span the entire spectrum of sciences involved. The very different approaches, types of measurements, and sources of evidence across such a range of disciplines makes for a compelling case: climate change is the main culprit of previous mass extinctions, albeit with several different triggers. Humanity is the latest trigger.'

Oxford University and Crucell Fund Places for Developing World Students on the Oxford Vaccinology Programme

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:27:50 +0100

Oxford University has linked up with Crucell N.V., the global biopharmaceutical company, to offer funded places (bursaries) on vaccinology short courses offered by the Department for Continuing Education.

Building vaccine capacity and knowledge in developing countries is crucial in meeting the global demand for vaccines, however, one of the major challenges lies in the area of vaccine technology transfer.

Dr Jerald Sadoff, Chief Medical Officer for Crucell, suggests that addressing issues such as lack of expertise in vaccine processes and training for clinical trials of local individuals would significantly help in solving this problem.

For these reasons, Crucell has teamed up with the University of Oxford to award a number of bursaries to professionals from developing countries on its vaccinology courses.

These bursaries cover all University tuition fees, living costs and accommodation during the course. Discretionary payments towards the cost of travel to the UK may also be available. Funded places are available for the courses below:

These courses are part of the Department's Oxford Vaccinology Programme, which was developed with support from the BBSRC.

Those interested in applying and receiving further information about the selection criteria for the bursaries should send a brief summary of their current post and reasons for wanting to join the courses to vaccinology@conted.ox.ac.uk.

Department to provide continuing education for new construction engineering centre

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 16:23:52 +0000

The newly announced Laing O'Rourke Centre for Construction Engineering will examine global trends influencing the built environment of future generations. The Department for Continuing Education is pleased to join this effort as providers of continuing education in support of the new centre.

Congratulations to the Online Courses office

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 09:20:40 +0000

The online courses office within the department is celebrating the 10,000th student starting a course since beginning in 2004. With over 50 courses to choose from the department's online courses appeal to over 1000 students a term, from all over the world and a vast range of disciplines. For more information about our online short courses visit: http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/courses/online

Opening Oxford learning to all via the web

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 11:18:08 +0000

Oxford University reaches out to people the world over - through iTunes U, YouTube, and the Department's ever-growing selection of online courses.

Oxford wins award for new ways of learning

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 13:48:40 +0000

Oxford's continuing education department is using new technology to allow distance and part-time learning. Now its work in this area has been recognised by an award.

Study of UK online learning report published

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 15:13:50 +0000

The Department's elearning team has authored a report for HEFCE's Online Learning Task Force, which provides an up-to-date overview of the UK provision for online distance learning at higher education level.

Community and university archaeology project launched

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 10:38:01 +0100

The archaeology and history of East Oxford will be the subject of collaboration between Oxford academics, local schools and community members thanks to the University's Department for Continuing Education.

Oxford University virtual open day

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 09:59:25 +0100

A virtual open day for prospective graduate students is now available online. The website hosts a collection of short movies featuring our graduate students talking about various aspects of life in Oxford, as well as an introduction from the Vice-Chancellor.

Oxford University report: Mutuals deliver economic stability

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 10:00:35 +0100

Department Director economist Professor Jonathan Michie has authored a report calling for the promotion of mutually-owned businesses.

An Oxford University report is calling on the coalition government to promote mutuals in order to aid economic stability in the financial system.

Report author Professor Jonathan Michie is Director of the Department and founder of the Oxford Centre for Mutual and Employee-owned Business at Kellogg College.

The report, to be launched at all three major political party conferences, argues that a stronger mutual sector would promote effective competition and mitigate against systemic risk. It urges the government not to return to the 'business as usual model' for the financial services sector, which proved such a risk to the economy.

The report produces a raft of recommendations to help the government to support its Coalition Agreement commitment to foster diversity in financial services and promote mutuals.

Key recommendations from the report include:

On Financial Regulation:

Making a binding requirement for the new Regulator to promote diversity of ownership
Appointing a new Head of Mutuals Policy, to co-ordinate the Regulator's work with mutuals

On HM Treasury policy:

Appointing a Minister for Mutuals, with a suitably senior support team to work across Government departments

In the foreword to the report Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Rt Hon Danny Alexander MP, said: 'Building societies, friendly societies, mutual insurers, co-operatives and credit unions all have long traditions of providing an alternative to shareholder owned businesses and provide choice and competition that is valued both by consumers and by the government. I welcome this report as a contribution to this crucial debate as to how we can best deliver a stable and diverse financial services sector.'

Professor Jonathan Michie, Director of the Oxford Centre for Mutual and Employee-Owned Business, said: 'The government must not allow the UK's financial services sector to return to the "business as usual" model that has proved so costly to the economy and to public finances. Already we have seen a return to the bonus culture, which is fuelled by profits boosted by the increased market power of banks which have been rescued by the taxpayer. It is vital that the banks face competition from mutuals, which would also reduce the risk of the credit crunch being repeated.'

The full report 'Promoting corporate diversity in the financial services sector' will be available on 17 September at Kellogg College. Please contact the University of Oxford Press Office or Professor Michie for electronic copies of the full report in advance.

Professor Michie is one of ten people on the Commission on Ownership who have been selected as leaders in their field to produce an authoritative report on the influence of ownership on the governance of the UK. The research for the Commission is being undertaken by the Oxford Centre for Mutual and Employee-owned Business.

New postgraduate course in Ecological Survey Techniques

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 09:48:33 +0100

The Continuing Professional Development Centre is developing a new Postgraduate Certificate in Ecological Survey Techniques. The one-year, part-time course is an innovative, modular, part-time programme of postgraduate education and training in Ecological Survey Techniques, mostly taught online. We are gauging support for the proposal. To find out more about the course, and to fill in a very short questionnaire survey click on http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PGCert_EST_Proposal

Department's Elearning Team Recognised for Excellence

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:38:57 +0100

The Department's elearning development and delivery unit has won a national award for its work in the field of learning technology.

The Association for Learning Technology (ALT), the leading UK body bringing together practitioners, researchers, and policy makers in learning technology, has awarded the Department's Technology-Assisted Lifelong Learning (TALL) unit the 2010 Learning Technologist of the Year team award in recognition of the group's excellent practice and outstanding achievement in the learning technology field. The award was presented at the Association's annual conference, held in Nottingham on 8 September.

The TALL unit has been at the forefront of the development of online distance learning since its formation in 1996. Since then the group has developed over 60 courses including a portfolio of highly successful online short courses for the Department's Weekly Classes Programme.

In their announcement of the 2010 awards ALT said: "The TALL team has succeeded in developing a flexible model for production of material which is efficient and effective in the Oxford environment. It now delivers in a way that reflects the Oxford tutorial model with emphasis on frequent interaction between learner and academic and on regular updating."

In addition to building and delivering high online distance courses, the TALL unit also undertakes elearning research projects and partners with academic colleagues from across the University to deliver knowledge transfer and public engagement projects requiring innovative online resources.

Recent work includes a commission from the HEFCE Online Learning Task Force to carry out a study of UK online learning and the EPSRC-funded 'Maths in the City' public engagement project, led by Professor Marcus du Sautoy, the University's Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science, which starts this autumn.

ALT's publicity of the award said, "We were impressed with the balance in the team between production and delivery of online material and an active and strong research and development programme."

Sean Faughnan, Director of Technology-Assisted Lifelong Learning at the Department for Continuing Education, said: "We are delighted that TALL has been recognised at a national level for the exemplary work they do at the cutting edge of this relatively new field. The TALL unit plays an essential role in the Department's work in supporting the development of over 15,000 students annually. The expertise and experience of the team has enabled us to bring courses from Continuing Education to a wide range of students outside of Oxford making a major contribution to outreach by the University."

Student Interview: Iding Haidir, International Wildlife Conservation Practice

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:46:42 +0100

Iding Haidir, who monitors tiger and wildcat populations in Sumatra, is studying on the Department's eight-month Diploma International Wildlife Conservation Practice. Interviewed by BBC Oxford presenter Jo Thoenes, he speaks of the new knowledge and understanding he'll take home with him.

Maths class development: your opinion needed

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:32:15 +0100

The Department for Continuing Education is considering offering a course covering some aspects of undergraduate mathematics for those who have not had a chance to study mathematics at this level or who simply want to update their skills. The course would cover a spectrum of key topics without going into great depth. This questionnaire is designed to establish whether there is need for such a course, and to obtain feedback on the preferred course format and content. Please fill in the survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XKQFC3B

Dr Cathy Oakes Speaks on Church Imagery on BBC4

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:26:43 +0100

Dr Cathy Oakes, University Lecturer in the History of Art, will appear in a new series on BBC4, 'Churches: How to Read Them'. The series examines how the imagery, symbols and architecture of English parish churches have inspired, moved and enraged people down the centuries. Dr Oakes will speak on the imagery in Tewksbury Abbey in episode three of the series, which is scheduled to air on 15th September at 8pm. The series may also be seen online; please see http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tnp8f

East Oxford - one history or many?

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Tue, 18 May 2010 18:02:43 +0100

A major new archaeology project, starting in early October 2010, will uncover the rich history of the eastern districts of Oxford City.

The three-year community archaeology project will explore the large and diverse area to the east of Oxford city centre. East Oxford has a rich history which includes a major pottery industry site from Roman times, traces of Iron Age, Roman and Viking settlements, a medieval leper hospital still with its original chapel and Civil War siege works, in addition to its more modern industrial heritage.

The wide-ranging project has been made possible by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and a grant from the University of Oxford's John Fell Fund. The project will start in early October 2010.

Local history societies, community organisations and individual volunteers will be involved in hands-on investigation of the local landscape, recording discoveries, and presenting interpretations of the results. The Department for Continuing Education will run the project, working with other University departments, schools and museums in Oxford.

The information uncovered by the project will cast new light on the development of the city and provide valuable data for future planning and development. The project website will be expanded to help detail the progress of the project and provide a lasting record of the discoveries.

'East Oxford is a fascinating area with rich and varied archaeological potential, which offers untapped opportunities for new investigations,' said David Griffiths, Course Director of the MSc in Applied Landscape Archaeology and project director on the East Oxford Archaeology & History Project. 'We have been amazed at the level of interest amongst the local community in the project, which suggests there will be no shortage of people wanting to take part when we launch the project in October.'

Information about the East Oxford Archaeology & History Project may be found at www.archeox.net.

Professor Jonathan Michie lead author of report on improving NHS healthcare

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 10:10:11 +0100

Professor Jonathan Michie, Director of the Department and President of Kellogg College, is the lead author on a report which examines how to encourage employee engagement and increased public benefits in the NHS. The Centre for Mutual and Employee-Owned Business (MEOB), based at Kellogg College, Oxford, released the report on 3 April 2010.

Listen to the Ruth Rendell interview by David Grylls

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:01:42 +0100

Acclaimed crime writer Ruth Rendell discusses with David Grylls, Director of Studies, Literature and Creative Writing, the latest edition of the Penguin Complete Sherlock Holmes, for which she has supplied the introduction.

Creative Writing Contest: Winner Announced

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:07:37 +0000

The winners of the Department's creative writing contest have been chosen.

The first prize goes to a story entitled 'Creative Writing Course: First Term', by Liz Henderson. 'I found the story rich and imaginative; risky, bold, poignant and funny - altogether enjoyable', said John Ballam, Director of the Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing at Oxford University's Department for Continuing Education, and one of the contest judges.

The two runners up prizes go to Cathy Dreyer for her story 'From the Desk of James Sneath', and to Margie Wright for her story 'Untitled'.

The prize-giving for the contest will take place at Malmaison Hotel, Visitors' Room, third floor at 12.45 on Thursday 8th April 2010. Mr Philip Healy, Director of Public Programmes at the Oxford University Department for Continuing Education, will present the awards, and the winning story will be read out.

The prize-giving will be followed by readings of little stories - funny, sad, romantic, ghostly - by OUDCE students at 2.30 p.m. Admission to this event is free. Lunch and refreshments can be purchased from the hotel.

First DPhil in Evidence-Based Health Care Awarded

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:16:59 +0000

The award of the University's first ever DPhil in Evidence-Based Health Care to Steven Edwards is a richly deserved new milestone in his career, and a credit to those who established this novel programme.

Feedback sought on proposed part-time MSc in Surgical Sciences

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:19:08 +0000

The University of Oxford's Nuffield Department of Surgery and Department for Continuing Education are working on the development of a new part-time MSc in Surgical Sciences (working title). Designed for surgeons in training, and structured to accommodate the needs of working professionals, the proposed MSc will be available to study on a part-time basis over 2-3 years. It will involve the study of six taught modules (each normally requiring one-week's intensive study in Oxford, supplemented by online support and distance learning, and the completion of an assignment) and a research project and associated dissertation. The Master's modules will also be available to study on a stand-alone basis as short CPD courses or for academic credit towards a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma, requiring the successful completion of three or six modules, respectively. Subject to University approval, the Master's programme could be available to study from October 2011.

As part of the development process we are keen to obtain feedback on, and gauge potential interest in, the proposed MSc Programme from surgical trainees. An online survey has been created, which provides further information about the proposed MSc and asks for your views on the programme content and structure. The survey can be accessed HERE. If you would like any further information about the proposed new MSc programme, then please leave your contact details via the online survey and we will be in touch in the near future.

Creative Writing Contest: Win a Creative Writing Course at Oxford

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:58:30 +0000

Oxford University is sponsoring its first ever creative writing competition. The contest, which is free and open to anyone, is being run by the University's Department for Continuing Education. Entry deadline: 1 March 2010. Entrants must submit a single, self-contained short story of 1000 words on the subject of 'Creative Writing Courses'. The winner will receive a free place on a creative writing weekly class offered by the Department - in fiction, non-fiction, script-writing or poetry.

If you love writing - whatever your style, interests, tastes or obsessions - this is your chance to take your talent to the next level.

Rules for entry:

The competition is free and open to anyone.
Entries should be on the subject of 'Creative Writing Classes.'
Length: 1000 words.
Deadline for entries: midday, March 1st 2010.
Entries must be typewritten on A4 paper, with double line spacing and a margin and fixed with a paper clip, not a staple. The pages must be numbered.
All entries must be anonymous and accompanied by a sealed envelope containing the entrant's name and address. Do not put your name on your entry.
The decision of the judges is final and correspondence will not be entered into.
Please keep copies of your entries as they cannot be returned.
Entries to be sent to:

Creative Writing Competition
Oxford University Department for Continuing Education
Ewert House,
Ewert Place,
Banbury Road,
Summertown,
Oxfordshire,
OX2 7DD

Prizes

First prize: one free place on a twenty-week creative writing course (worth £270), or; one free place on a twenty-week screenwriting course (worth £335) Please note: the winner must be able to travel to Oxford for a weekly class in order to take up the prize; there will be no substitution.
Runners-up: Two runners up will be awarded £50 course gift vouchers from the Department for Continuing Education.

Judges
Dr John Ballam is Director of the Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing at Oxford University's Department for Continuing Education, and the author of The Road to Harmony: An Appalachian Childhood, which is a highly acclaimed memoir, and a novel entitled The Toymaker.

Sara Banerji is a creative writing tutor at Oxford University's Department for Continuing Education and author of several novels, including Blood Precious, The Waiting Time and Shining Hero.

Dr Adrian Stokes appointed new Director of Continuing Professional Development

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:36:00 +0000

Dr Adrian Stokes, currently Director of Masters Programmes and Continuing Professional Development at the Institute of Clinical Education, Warwick Medical School, has been appointed as the next Director of Continuing Professional Development at the University of Oxford Department for Continuing Education. He will take up his appointment on 1st March 2010. Dr Stokes has been at the University of Warwick since 2000 and has led postgraduate and Continuing Professional Development programmes at the Medical School for the past five years, covering diabetes care, public health, dentistry, clinical leadership and medical education.

'Oxford University has a dynamic and ambitious vision for continuing professional development,' said Dr Stokes. 'I am excited by the prospect of working with some of the most highly respected figures in a range of fields and delighted to continue working with the health sector as a major area of activity, drawing on my experience of successful collaborations with health professionals.'

During his time at Warwick Medical School, Dr Stokes led the development of a new accreditation framework and the rapid expansion of innovative, flexible and responsive CPD programmes, with an increasing emphasis on supporting learning through online communication and resources.

'The well developed collaborations between academic departments, the Department for Continuing Education and Kellogg College provide an extraordinarily vibrant and supportive environment for continuing professional development,' said Dr Stokes.

Professor Jonathan Michie, Director of the Department for Continuing Education and President of Kellogg College, said 'We are delighted to welcome Adrian to both the Department and College. Dr Stokes's experience at Warwick makes him well placed to lead Oxford's Continuing Professional Development activities, especially in the area of health sciences where we have exciting plans to build upon our already successful Master's and Doctoral programmes.'

Oxford University's Department for Continuing Education draws on over 130 years' experience of providing high-quality, flexible, part-time education specifically tailored for adults, complementing the work of the University in full-time education. More than 15,000 students a year attend its open-access programmes, weekend and summer schools, and online courses, with Kellogg College supporting part-time Master's and DPhil students.

Professor Marcus du Sautoy is made an OBE for services to science

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:54:47 +0000

Professor Marcus du Sautoy, Charles Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of Science, Professor of Mathematics and Fellow of New College, is made an OBE for services to science. His research interests include prime numbers and symmetry and he is the author of popular science books The Music of the Primes and Finding Moonshine.

Simonyi Professor Marcus du Sautoy Featured in Wired Magazine

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:42:27 +0000

The Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science Marcus du Sautoy explains to Wired Magazine that education in Maths will give Britain a technology edge.

Dr David Howard, Lecturer on the MSc in Sustainable Urban Development, Joins Prince Charles on Oxford Visit to Poundbury

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:16:11 +0000

A contingent from Oxford accompanied Prince Charles on a visit to Poundbury, Dorset in connection with the Oxford Programme for the Future of Cities and a new Oxford MSc in Sustainable Urban Development. Poundbury, the location for the meeting, is an experiment in urban design established by the Prince in 1993, and aims to offer a model for government and the development industry to look at sustainable development in the twenty-first century.

Professor Jonathan Michie, Director of the Department for Continuing Education, Selected as "Ownership Commissioner"

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:00:24 +0000

The economic crisis has led to a widespread mistrust of institutions. The Commission on Ownership's main tasks will be to look at what lessons can be learned, and to examine the importance of a diversity of corporate forms to the British economy. The Commission on Ownership will be run by the Oxford Centre for Mutual and Employee-owned Business at Kellogg College, Oxford University

Hear the Inaugural Lecture from the Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science, 2009.

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:03:17 +0000

"Mathematics: Navigating Nature's Dark Labyrinth" - the Inaugural Lecture of the Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science, 2009

Inside the mathemagical labyrinth

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:40:19 +0000

Wednesday saw a series of special events for schools and the public, organised by Department for Continuing Education, to celebrate Marcus du Sautoy's inaugural lecture as Charles Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science.

Simonyi Professor Inaugural Lecture, 25 November: Marcus du Sautoy - "Mathematics: Navigating Nature's Dark Labyrinth"

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:13:08 +0000

Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science, Marcus du Sautoy, will deliver his Inaugural Lecture on Wednesday 25 November, at 5.30 p.m. A reception will follow the lecture.

High-profile report is backed by the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:12:19 +0100

Professor Jonathan Michie's report, from the Kellogg College Centre for Mutual and Employee-owned Business, for the Building Societies Association on 'Converting failed financial institutions into mutual organisations' reveals a strong case for converting failed banks into mutual organisations. It urges the Government to consider seriously returning Northern Rock bank to the mutual sector. Further details about the report can be found at http://www.kellogg.ox.ac.uk/researchcentres/meob.php.

Feedback sought on proposed new University of Oxford Master's programme

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:39:59 +0100

The Department for Continuing Education and the James Martin 21st Century School are working on the development of an innovative part-time, two-year MSc programme in 21st Century Challenges and Opportunities (working title). Designed with working professionals in mind, the proposed MSc will be available to study on a part-time basis over two years through the Department for Continuing Education. The Master’s will draw upon the wide-ranging research undertaken at the James Martin 21st Century School to deliver a unique programme that considers interdisciplinary and intersecting global issues, complex themes and innovative approaches for dealing with them. It will involve the study of six core modules (each requiring one-week’s intensive study in Oxford and the completion of an assignment, supplemented by online support) and the completion of a dissertation. Subject to University approval, the MSc could be available to study from October 2010.

At this stage of development, we are keen to gauge potential interest in the MSc and individual modules within the programme and would welcome your feedback. An online survey has been created, which provides further information about the proposed programme and asks for your views - as potential applicants or employers of applicants - on the programme content and structure. The survey can be accessed HERE and will take no more than 10-15 minutes to complete. If you would like any further information about the proposed new MSc programme, then please leave your contact details via the online survey and we will be in touch in the near future.

New Tool Will Help Archaeologists "See" Beneath the Surface

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:56:12 +0100

In archaeology, geophysical surveying equipment, known as 'magnetometers', assist archaeologists in creating detailed mapping of sub-surface archaeological features. Thanks to continued generous support from Bartington Instruments Ltd of Witney, archaeology students in the Department for Continuing Education will now have an expanded ability to "see" beneath the surface. Bartington Instruments has supplied a new dual array Grad 601 magnetometer. The term "dual array" refers to the fact that this instrument has two magnetic sensors. Magnetometers measure a magnetic field and its variations between two separated points, thus enabling us to create a 'picture' of what's going on beneath the soil's surface.

Past activity such as burning and soil disturbance creates anomalies in the earth's magnetic field which can be measured and mapped using magnetometers. They are the principal geophysical survey instrument used in Archaeology today. Many types of sites and features, ranging from prehistoric settlements, to Roman forts, to industrial sites can be detected with magnetometry.

"This is a superb, state-of-the-art electronic surveying instrument." said David Griffiths, Reader in Archaeology and Course director for the Masters in Applied Landscape Archaeology. "We have had a single sensor model for several years supplied on the same generous basis, which has provided an essential and much-used teaching and research facility in landscape archaeology, for DPhil and MSc students alike."

Bartington Instruments (www.bartington .com) are the leading makers and suppliers of magnetic geophysical survey equipment in the world. The late Mr Geoff Bartington, founder of the firm, was a great friend of the Department's Archaeology programmes, and one who followed the students and their work with great interest.

"It is wonderful news that Bartington's managing director, Mrs Tessa Evans, and her staff are keen to maintain the relationship between the company and our teaching programme. Such generosity on the part of Bartington is almost unbelievable in the middle of a recession", said Dr. Griffiths. "It's a great vote of confidence in us and our students."

Kind words, dark deeds

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:01:16 +0100

Times Higher Education welcomes Lord Mandelson's recent speech outlining his support for mature students, part-time education and the work of The Open University and Birkbeck, University of London, but wonders whether he realises that the mechanisms allowing the kinds of university entry and teaching he favours are being dismantled by his own department.

Oxford University Department for Continuing Education tops the charts

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:47:10 +0100

Teaching and learning in the digital age

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:19:16 +0100

Two new guides have recently been published by JISC to provide advice on effective teaching and learning practice in the digital age. The Department has contributed to both guides through its e-learning project work. Effective Practice in a Digital Age, is an updated version of the Effective Practice with e-Learning guide that was published by JISC in 2004. The original version of the guide was recently identified as one of Eight Classic e-Learning publications by Tony Bates, where it is in very good company. The Department has contributed to the new version of the guide through its work on the Phoebe Pedagogic Planner project. This guide provides an excellent, easy to read overview of some of the latest thinking in this constantly evolving field.

Getting Started with Second Life, is a new guide to help lecturers teach in the virtual world. The guide answers some of the common questions like how to set up in the virtual world, what the rules of the world are, how to plan lessons and how best to help students use it effectively for learning. The Department contributed to this guide through its work on the Open Habitat project.

A full list of JISC publications is available from the JISC website and further information about the Department's e-learning projects is available here.

ForumOxford: Future Technologies Conference

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:41:31 +0100

Curious as to why the one-day forum oxford conference on mobile developments in April 2009 is going to be one of the best on the planet? Take a look at this trailer.

Participation in the on-line forum is free. Participation in Oxford is at a very reasonable rate. It is run by a small team of passionate people. I personally recommend attending and hope to see you there.

Conference information and booking

How Oxford pioneered working-class education

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:30:53 +0000

The Department for Continuing Education is well know locally for the many extramural classes it runs in Oxford and the surrounding area, but what is perhaps less well known is that the University, in the early years of the 20th century, led the movement to establish adult and working-class education. An article on the history of the Department's work with the Workers' Education Association (WEA) over the past 100 years was published in the January 2009 issue (p.10) of Blueprint, the University's staff magazine.

Further information about the wide range of courses offered by the Department for Continuing Education is available from the Department's website.

Online in Africa

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Gail Anderson) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:28:11 +0000

Aspiring teenage entrepreneurs from deprived South African townships are now benefiting from an online study skills course created by the Department in partnership with a university in Cape Town. The project is called Masifunde - a Xhosa expression meaning 'Let us learn' - and is funded by the UK government's Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. Since its launch in May 2008, hundreds of young people at TSiBA, the Tertiary School in Business Administration, have been able to log on to a free online study skills course and tap into modules that teach them everything from the purpose of a glossary to how to take lecture notes, alongside tips ranging from how to write essays to cramming for exams.

Further information is available in an article "Let us learn!", published on p.10 of the December 2008 issue of Blueprint, the University's staff magazine. A video of the course launch event, held in Cape Town in May 2008, is also available.

The Department offers an Online Study Skills course, aimed at student returning to study after a long break or studying at HE-level for the first time. Further information is available from the course website.

Symposium and Lecture on Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:12:33 +0000

New body parts for old: stem cells and regenerative medicine. A Symposium and Lecture on Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine: 4 March 2009, St Edward's School, Oxford.

On the 4 March 2009, the Oxford International Biomedical Centre's (OIBC) 10th Spring Symposium will be held jointly with the Oxford University Department for Continuing Education (OUDCE). Issues such as: What are stem cells? What is regenerative medicine? How are stem cells involved in replacing a damaged finger or a trachea (wind-pipe) by a new one? Should we worry about the ethics of stem cell technology? will be discussed by experts including Prof Sir Richard Gardner, Prof ZhanFeng Cui and Prof Martin Birchall.

Following the morning talks and a buffet lunch, the audience will be able to quiz each speaker and to put their own views forward in a wide-ranging debate. This will be followed by the 2nd Anne McLaren Memorial Lecture to be delivered by Baroness Ruth Deech on "30 years: from IVF to stem cells".

Tickets cost £45 (inc. VAT), which includes registration, a book of abstracts, coffee, buffet lunch, tea, and free parking. (Concessions £32 (inc. VAT) and students free).

Further details, including a draft programme, are available from the event flyer. For further information, or to reserve a place, please contact Kasia Lewis at OIBC, Culham Innovation Centre, D5, Culham Science Centre, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 3DB; tel: 01865 408311; fax: 01865 408312; email: klewis@oibc.org.uk.

How did the financial crisis develop and what happens next?

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:14:00 +0000

Arguably the biggest news of the last twelve months has been the growing financial crisis. Professor Jonathan Michie, Director of the Department for Continuing Education and President of Kellogg College, Oxford, and Dr Linda Yueh, Fellow in Economics at St Edmund Hall, Oxford have recently recorded a podcast "How did this crisis develop and what happens next?" to discuss this topic. The podcast is proving very popular and has already make the top ten of the University's iTunes U site. You can listen to Professor Michie and Dr Yueh's podcast by clicking here. Their discussion is one of many podcasts produced by the University for its iTunes U site, which was first launched in October 2008. You can explore the full range of resources, including public lectures, teaching material, interviews and much more from the University's iTunes U homepage.

Professor Michie and Dr Yueh also recently took part in the Oxford Debates series, where they debated the motion "The current financial crisis sounds the death knell for laissez-faire capitalism". Visit the Oxford Debates website to find out more about this series and to view the full transcript and the result of the vote on this motion.

Dr Yueh is also author of the Department for Continuing Education's "New Economic Powers" online course. This 10-week course takes a look at the economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China and explores the impact of these emerging players on the rest of the world. Further information about this course and the wide range of other online courses offered by the Department are available from the Department's online courses website.

Lifelong Learning: “intelligent, thought-provoking and inspirational”.

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:37:18 +0000

Lifelong learner Peter Johnston praised the Department for Continuing Education after attending two of its courses.

Anyone thinking about taking a short course with Oxford University Department for Continuing Education (OUDCE) would do well to consider Peter Johnston’s endorsement – and go for it. He recently attended two courses with the Department, ‘The Middle East and the West: From Confrontation to Co-existence’ and a creative writing programme, and found both to be “excellent”. He said of the experience:

“This was lifelong learning at its best; intelligent, thought-provoking and above all inspirational”.

He sent his thanks and congratulations to the University and its staff via the Director of Continuing Education, Professor Jonathan Michie. Mr Johnston was particularly effusive in his praise about the standards of teaching on the courses.

OUDCE appreciates receiving all feedback from its students – especially when it’s as complimentary as this! If you have any comments about studying with the Department, do write to: enquiries@conted.ox.ac.uk. If you’re interested in taking one of the lifelong learning programmes, browse the courses section of the Department’s website to discover a course that interests you.

Charitable Givers send a Happy Christmas to All!

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:03:18 +0000

All those below have contributed to Helen and Douglas House this year instead of sending cards, and wish their colleagues and friends in the Department a very happy Christmas and New Year: Jonathan Michie, Jacky Purtell, Claire Kelly, Claire Morgan, Rita Allingham, Gaynor Jones, Anna Beer, Gaye Walker, Alice Parker, Alex Coren, Paul Barnwell, Peter Ransom, Christine Jackson, Rosie Martin, Rebecca Lingwood, Chris Day, Penny Wheeler, Jo Grant, Jon Burt, Marianne Talbot, Jim McIlwee, Adrienne Rosen, Natalie Lella, Annette Lord, Mike Taylor, Hamayun Minhas, Laura Thomlinson, Hui Liu, Kristine MacMichael, David Griffiths, David Grylls, Alison MacDonald, Julie Bridle, Roni McGowan, Jo Nickless, Sean Faughnan, Nicola Warren, Vincent Strudwick, Ana Pastega, David Balch, Victoria Nunn, Mark Sandham, Sandra Gee

Thank you all so much for your generous contributions. £406 will be going to Helen and Douglas House.

Can you dig it?

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 11:39:12 +0000

Oxford Mail, p.10, Fran Bardsley, 27/11/2008 Archaeology fans have been invited to get involved in a major project aimed at uncovering the history of the east of Oxford. The project has been launched by Oxford University’s Department for Continuing Education, with the aim of getting interested groups and individuals trained in archaeological techniques before helping with research.

Zivani Festival at Continuing Education

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 08:59:59 +0000

On Wednesday 22 October the Department hosted the Zivani Festival of African cultural events, including musical workshops, an exhibition of paintings and information about Oxford's Black History. Among other visitors was Oxford's Lord Mayor, Councillor Susannna Pressel.

Science student spends global summer at Oxford

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:48:06 +0100

In July 2008 International Programmes launched the first Global Leadership Programme for nominated students from the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), which incldes ETH Zurich, Yale, Tokyo, Singapore, Peking, Oxford, Copenhagen, Cambridge, UC Berkeley, and ANU. A second Global Leadership programme is being offered in the summer of 2009. One ANU student has written of her experience this past summer, see: http://cos.anu.edu.au/News/NewsStory.php?ID=163.

Department for Continuing Education on iTunes U

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:13:40 +0100

Oxford University lectures are from 7 October available on iTunes U, which will make available a range of free audio and video podcasts from across the University. Continuing Education is one of the nine top-level ‘categories’ — here you can find presentations and lectures by both members of staff and guest lecturers, including Dr Anna Beer talking about the poet Milton and Chris Day giving an overview of the history of the University of Oxford. The Department's media resources are also available at http://media.conted.ox.ac.uk. All new resources will automatically be added to both these pages and iTunes U.

Double accolade for Departmental staff

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:54:24 +0100

Ralf Hinze – Reader in Software Engineering

Ralf Hinze, with Oxford University since 2007, has been made a Reader in Software Engineering by the University's 'Recognition of Distinction' Committee. Ralf's research centres around functional programming and he is particularly interested in functional algorithm design and purely functional data structures. At the moment Ralf is mainly working on generic functional programming (Generic Haskell) and in the past has worked on strictness analysis and type systems.

David Griffiths – Reader in Archaeology

David Griffiths has been made Reader in Archaeology by the University's 'Recognition of Distinction' Committee. David has taught at OUDCE since 1999, and is Course Director of the MSc in Applied Landscape Archaeology and the Advanced Diploma in Archaeological Practice. His research specialism is on the early medieval period, looking in particular at landscape and economy of the Viking settlements of Britain and Scandinavia. He recently completed a monograph on the coastal trading site of Meols (Wirral, NW England) and is currently running a landscape field project in Orkney. A new venture will begin in October - a community archaeology and history project on the landscape of East Oxford, for which a pilot grant has been secured from the John Fell Fund (more will be announced about this later in 2008).

Oxford University appoints new Director for Continuing Education and President of Kellogg College

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (Matt Street) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:07:35 +0000

Professor Jonathan Michie is to be appointed to the joint positions of Director of the Department for Continuing Education and President of Kellogg College at Oxford University. He will replace Dr Geoffrey Thomas who is retiring from the joint post later this month. Professor Michie's appointment will take effect from 1 April 2008.

Professor Michie is currently Professor of Management at the University of Birmingham and Director and Head of School at Birmingham Business School. He joined the School as Professor of Management in April 2004, becoming Director in June of the same year. Previously, he was Head of the School of Management and Organisational Psychology at Birkbeck College, University of London, where he also held the Sainsbury Professorship of Management. His background is in economics: he held senior academic posts at Cambridge and London universities, and was an Expert to the Commission of the European Communities in Brussels and in the economics department of the Trades Union Congress. He is also a non-executive Director of the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust.

He was educated at Balliol College, Oxford, where he was awarded a Scholarship and achieved a first-class Honours degree and later a doctorate in economics; and Queen Mary College, University of London, where he received a Master's degree with distinction.

The Continuing Education Department is amongst the largest in the University with student enrolments each year totalling approximately 15,000. The students are generally studying part-time on courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in a wide variety of subjects. It has 40 academic staff representing a range of academic disciplines, including nine joint appointments with other departments of the University. In addition, the Department engages adjunct tutors each year to teach on individual programmes.

Kellogg College is one of the largest graduate colleges in the University with 364 students in the current year. It places particular emphasis on professional development and part-time study: many of the learners are mature students from the UK and abroad, who are returning to graduate level study to take Masters' degrees and doctorates. Founded in 1990, the college's new permanent home is in Norham Manor, North Oxford, although many of its functions continue to be held at Rewley House in the centre of Oxford.

The Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, Dr John Hood, said: "I am delighted that Professor Michie has agreed to join Oxford University, particularly at the beginning of a new era for Kellogg College, which is growing faster than any other graduate college at Oxford."

Commenting on his new appointment, Professor Jonathan Michie said: "The Department for Continuing Education and Kellogg College do an outstanding job in making the scholarship of the University of Oxford accessible beyond the full-time student body. This role is becoming ever more vital as the knowledge economy puts a premium on Continuing Professional Development and lifelong learning. It is a mission to which I've always been committed, so I am delighted to be returning to Oxford to lead this work."

For further information or for a photograph of Professor Jonathan Michie, please contact Oxford University Press Office on 01865 280534 or press.office@admin.ox.ac.uk

online short courses recruit 1000th student

undisclosed_email_address@ox.ac.uk (David Balch) — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 07:27:17 +0100

The 1000th student, John Smith, joined a short course in philosophy. John is based in Singapore. 'I liked the idea of joining an intellectually challenging course with an international body of students - it will get my own philosophy understanding going'