The University of Oxford is located in the city of Oxford, England. It is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. The university traces its roots back to at least the end of the 11th century.
Oxford is consistently ranked in the world's top ten universities. According to The Academic Ranking of World Universitiesreached 10th position in 2007. According THES - QS World University Rankings reached 2nd position. In May 2007, Oxford University topped The Guardian’s UK rankings for the third consecutive year
Oxford is an independent and self-governing institution, consisting of the central University and the Colleges. The thirty-nine Colleges, though independent and self- governing, form a core element of the University, to which they are related in a federal system. There are also seven Permanent Private Halls, which were founded by different Christian denominations, and which still retain their religious character. The collegiate system is at the heart of the University of Oxford’s success, giving students and academics the benefits of belonging both to a large, internationally-renowned institution and to a small, interdisciplinary academic community. St Catherine’s College currently has the largest number of students (699).
The academic year at Oxford runs from October to June. The year is divided into three eight week terms, Michaelmas (autumn), Hilary (spring), and Trinity (summer).
The official website of the Oxford University offers some more interesting and challenging facts:
• There are almost 20,000 students at Oxford, including 12,106 undergraduates and 7,380 postgraduates.
• Employment rate of Oxford University graduate is above average at 94 per cent.
• 53 per cent of undergraduates are studying for degrees in humanities and social sciences, and 41 per cent in medical, mathematical, physical and life sciences.
The remaining number is studying for undergraduate level diplomas and certificates in a range of subjects offered by the Department for Continuing Education.
• Oxford has more academic staff working in world-class research departments (rated 5 and 5* in the 2001 National Research Assessment Exercise) than any other UK university.
• At graduate level, 62 per cent of students are studying for a higher degree by research.
• Oxford won more research income from external sponsors than any other UK university in 2006–7, earning over £248.2 million. When £98 million of grants from HEFCE are taken into consideration, Oxford’s overall annual research income exceeds £346 million, the highest research income of any UK university.
• A new £5 million-a-year funding initiative for young academics and pilot projects has been set up to encourage creativity and attract new research talent to Oxford.
• Oxford University Consulting manages some 150 consulting projects at any one time and has around 450 leading academics registered to provide their expertise to external organisations.
• The collegiate University is the second largest employer in Oxfordshire. The University, the Colleges, Oxford University Press and University spin-out companies support over 18,000 jobs directly or indirectly.
• Oxford Entrepreneurs is the largest student entrepreneur society in the UK, with over 1,200 members, 1 in 10 of whom is running their own companies.
• Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world, with a presence in more than 50 countries and 4,750 employees worldwide.
• Oxford has the largest university library system in the UK, with over 100 libraries.
3.2.1 University of Oxford in county of Oxfordshire
There is the Regional Liaison Office at Oxford University. This is working in collaboration with University departments and units and is responsible for developing the University's regional strategy, strengthening the University’s links with regional organisations and businesses and maximizing its contribution to the local, regional and national economy.
The Regional Liaison Office co-works with several regional organisations as:
South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)
Government Office for the South East (GOSE)
There is undoubtedly big impact of Oxford University on Oxfordshire. According to COOK (2007) 8% of Oxfordshire’s employment is thanks to Oxford University.
University colleges and students inject:
€723 000 p.a. into local economy
€411 000 p.a. local disposable income
According to Oxfordshire Economic Partnership (one of the organisation in the business community in Oxfordshire) “Oxfordshire has always been a county of great, unrealised potential“. They consider Oxford University as one of the chain that has done a lot of work in the development of Oxfordshire. But they also think that potential is bigger and
development of region is no just about University, but about other regional player as well, because there are still problem with housing, inadequate infrastructure, skills shortages and social exclusion in Oxfordshire. Anyway in the plan called Economic Development Strategy Oxfordshire 2006-2016 that Oxfordshire Economic Partnership has prepared, the University of Oxford play still important role in the future development of region.
University has built many networks and has gained many contacts for the last years. In some of them the role of the Oxford University is essential. In some of them it is not so and its role is not so important any more. The same it is with the firms that have come from the Oxford University.
We think the important view on the impact of Oxford University in regional economy of Oxfordshire gives us NEVILLE (see 3.1) when he looks at the development and regional advantages of Oxfordshire. We can say that many of the advantages that he introduces are linked just with activity of the Oxford University.