University Oxford Blog

There is a famous tradition in Oxford University. According to this tradition each year more thousands of young women and men from 25 countries come to Christ Church which is situated in the campus of the Oxford University. These people study in the Church. They live in special rooms. They have their meal twice a day in the Great Hall. Their breakfast usually consist of black pudding and baked beans. For the dinner they have vegetables and meat. Besides, the visitors have many opportunities to entertain. Usually they receive many invitations to have a dinner at High Table and to have a drink in the Master`s Garden. The most popular drink there is the Pimms. Besides, people can go to the Bodleian library and to visit that garden where Alice from the fairytale about Wonderland met Cheshire cat. Moreover, the visitors drink whiskey and play croquet with the students and walk in the country. Some of the visitors also go to Christ Church Cathedral and attend evensong there. In real life all these people have different lives, interests, social statuses and professions. They are managers, businessmen, gynecologists, homemakers, alumni, engineers, teachers, etc. They are different age: from 22 to 95 and usually have nothing in common. But they all have one thing which unites them – they are all the participants of the Oxford Experience program. Many people have a desire to participate in this action. But there is a huge restriction – the price for the participation in the program is about $ 1000 per week.

Oxford University consists of 39 colleges, but department with the Christ Church is the biggest and the most famous among the participants of the summer program. This program was established in 1990 and consists of 50 one-week seminars which are held during six weeks. The people can participate in one –week programs or six – week programs and regulate themselves the duration of the studying. The subjects are very interesting, such as Tolkien, philosophy, Austen, film, British gardens, medieval monasteries, etc. The tutors are from the Oxford University and are professionals in the chosen field.

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Oxford University holds each year a summer program for people. The participants live in the dorms of the university campus, eat traditional English meal, visit famous sights of seeing and take part in the traditional English activities. The University of Oxford consists of 39 colleges, but the summer program is holding each year in the Christ Church of the Oxford University. The program was establishes in 1990 and is very popular nowadays among the people. The age of the participants is from 22 to 95 and all people are different: they have different interests, native cities, professions, citizenships and nationalities. People from 25 countries can take part in this summer program. The program consists of 50 one – week seminars. The participation is quite expensive: one week fee is about $ 1000. The students study very interesting subjects, such as Tolkien, Cotswolds, British gardens, medieval monasteries, philosophy, film, etc. The teachers are usually from the Oxford University and have wide experience in the chosen field. The students live in the rooms which are decorated according to the British style. The students like the program very much and some of them participate several times.

In this article my experience at Oxford Christ Church is described. I and my husband are college professors. We took part in the summer program, in Oxford. There were many young people and we are in the age of retirement. According to the tradition of the Oxford University we lived in the dorms and had our meals in the dinner hall. We drank champagne and ate strawberries in the garden, where Lewis Carroll wrote the story about Alice in Wonderland. The students in our group were different people. We had British tutor. I had a course in arts and my husband was interested in cosmos science. It was wonderful experience in our lives.

Nowadays different types of researches become more and more popular, as people are interested in the development of the science in different spheres. The median keep an eye on the researches and inform the people about it. In the previous year in The Sunday Herald was published an article which was named “Eugenics may not be bad”. The article was devoted to the researches of the advantages of “eugenics” or selective human breeding, which was popular in the Nazi Germany in the 1930 thanks to Hitler. The author of the article is Dr. Richard Dawkins, professor of Oxford University, a leading adherent of Darwinian evolution and author of The God Delusion.

Some of the people call the eugenics conception the “racial hygiene”, which means the cleaning process of the race to promote good and strong features and to eliminate bad and weak. It is not good conception, as it has usually horrible results. The Nazi system and its racist politic is an example of terrible consequences of the eugenics approach.

The Sunday Herald magazine presented the thoughts of the Dawkins from new book concerning the subject of eugenics conception which is called ‘What is
Your Dangerous Idea?’

Eugenics conception is usually defined as the study which confirms that improvement of the qualities and features of human population and species is possible. For it the scientists have to extirpate the reproduction of those people who have some genetic defects. This approach has the name of negative eugenics. There is also a direction of positive eugenics, which means the support of reproduction of those people who have desirable and good genetic features and traits.

Hitler developed in Germany in 1930th the regime which was called “Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Offspring”. The Third Reich sterilized selected segments of the society. As a result millions of people were murdered, mostly Jews.

Nowadays obtaining of the university degree becomes more and more popular among the people. Those people, who have university degree have better career opportunities, usually have higher level of incomes and have good chances to achieve success. But unfortunately tuition fee in colleges and universities is very high and majority of the students can not cover it. Besides, there are also many others types of studying expenses, such as book fee, insurance, accommodation, transportation, living expenses, etc. because of it those people who have a desire to obtain university degree have to apply for different types of student`s financial aid. The most popular and advantageous types of student`s financial aid is the student`s scholarship, as it must not be repaid after graduation.

Usually the scholarships are provided by private sponsors, companies and foundation. For example, 16 students of the Oxford Brookes University received student`s scholarships for study on the sum of £1000 per year.

The students were nominated by their educational institution for their excellent academic grades, talents, personal and financial difficulties, sport achievements.

Victoria Edwards is one of the students who received financial aid from the community for studying. She studies midwifery at Oxford Brookes University. Victoria has six children and financial difficulties but she has good academic grades. She received she scholarship and she is very grateful as she had not other possibilities to cover her studying expenses.

Nowadays because of the development of the community scholarship program, 136 schools, colleges and other educational institutions can nominate their students for these scholarships. The competition is very high, but usually the results justify the hopes.

The government confirms that education system is very important for the development of the country and for the future of people, so the scholarships are good and profitable investment. It also increases the academic result and motivation of the students.

Nowadays higher education becomes more and more popular and people are especially interested nowadays in the obtaining of university degree in unusual major. As a result of huge demand on the unusual courses and disciplines the Oxford Brookes University established center for learning of drink and food culture. This center is called Oxford Gastronomica. This center unites several famous figures in the world of food and drinks. Besides, the teachers in the center are professors and academics from different universities from all over the world.

The director of the center is Head of Department for Hospitality, Donald Sloan. She is also a teacher of the Leisure and Tourism Management at Oxford Brookes. Donald Sloan confirms that her center gather together all people who have a desire to improve their habits concerning foods and drinks. Besides, the members of the center have a goal to develop society`s attitude to good and healthy food, social cohesion, environmental sustainability and maintenance of the distinctive culture.

The center often organizes different events to support their ideas and to provide them into life. For example, on 11 October the center had organized the launch for more than 150 people in the Institute for Contemporary Arts in London.

This event included:

1. Education for public and industry professionals. The center provides different levels of education – from distance learning master`s programs in drink, food and meal culture to non – accredited courses for wide audience.
2. Extending description of drink and food issues. The main aim of such activity was to improve the quality of the food.
3. Consultancy for those people who work in food industry, for public and business authorities with the aid to advertise and promote ethical approach to the production, consumption and supply of the food.
4. Public events, which include lectures and discussions in the center.

According to the rate of The Sunday Times the Oxford Brooks University was called the best new educational institution of the year. The rate was created depending on the scores of all educational institutions of the country on seven criteria, such experience of teachers, quality of education and equipment, level of studying expenses, etc. Besides, Oxford Brooks University has nowadays good reputation in the academic world because of its contemporary studying methods and many research projects. Moreover, studying system of the university is famous for its module courses, which are very popular among the students. This educational institution provides wide range of choice for the students and each student can choose the course and major which will meet all his needs, requirements and wishes. All students receive individual approach and attention of the teachers.

One of the most important factors which attract the students from many countries of the world to study in the Oxford Brookes University is one of the best bursaries scheme in the educational sector. The administration of the university provides a discount of 10 % on tuition fee for those students who pay it beforehand, right after registration.

Besides, such discounts are provided to those international students who have already obtained the university degree in the Oxford Brookes University, have a desire to stay in the university and to continue their education by receiving of the additional degree. For example, there are many international students with bachelor’s degree who continue their studying and receive master`s degree or students with master`s degree who have a desire to receive their PhD degree.

One of the main reasons of such discount politic is that those students who graduated from the Oxford Brookes University have good theoretical knowledge and practical skills and the educational institution is interested in such students, as they increase the reputation of the university in the academic world and among the employees.

Nowadays obtaining of the university degree becomes more and more popular among the people, so each year there appeared different types of rates in the median. According to the poll of The Sunday Times Oxford Brookes University was called by the readers the best new university. The rate was created according to many different criteria and the Brookes University received excellent marks on 22 subjects.

Besides, The Sunday Times also published the University Guide and Oxford Brookes University has place at number 53 in this rate. It is quite good result for new university. This university already has good reputation in the academic world because of its contemporary methods of teaching and many research projects. The main advantages of this university are high quality of teaching and wide experienced teachers. Besides, the university is famous for its new modular course, wide range of offered degrees and very good sport facilities.

The Vice Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University affirms that he is extremely satisfied that Oxford Brookes University was called the best new university in the country. Such high place in the rate is the result of high quality of teaching and good work of the staff. Besides, strong research projects also reflect the rate of the educational institution. The main aim for following years is to achieve more success and to support high reputation and become the best university in the country.

Besides, people pay attention on the fact the Oxford Brooks University has presented one of the best bursaries scheme in the educational sector. It is very important factor nowadays, as tuition fee in educational institutions is very high and majority of the students cannot cover all essential expenses.

The rate of the universities is formed according to the high entry standards and teaching excellence. All educational institutions are rated according to seven criteria, such as heads’ assessment, teaching satisfaction, research quality, unemployment and level points.

Nowadays obtaining of the university degree becomes more and more popular among the people, so each year there appeared different types of rates in the median. According to the poll of The Sunday Times Oxford Brookes University was called by the readers the best new university. It is quite good result for new university. This university already has good reputation in the academic world because of its contemporary methods of teaching and many research projects. In addition Oxford Brookes University was awarded a title of “leading modern university”. The Oxford Brookes shared the first position with University of the Arts, London. 119 universities participated in the competition. In the general rate the Oxford Brookes had 54th position. The Brookes University showed also good result in the criteria of student`s satisfaction with the studying process and the graduate employment.

The University Guide of The Sunday Times is one of the most popular university rates in the country. The authors of the Guide say, that Oxford Brookes University have many advantages, such as wide experience of the teachers, module courses, good equipment and sport facilities for the students. The university is exceptionally popular for the quality of undergraduate programs. Besides, the discount policy of the university administration is one of the best in the educational sector.

The Vice Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University confirms, that he is very happy to know that his educational institution has good place in the popular university rate. First of all this result is a reflection of the quality of studying process and experience of the teachers and staff. The main aim for following years is to become the best university in the country and to attract more talented and smart students.

There are seven main criteria which were important for the authors of the rate: promotion of the educational institution, staff – student ration, graduate unemployment, A/AS-level points, research quality and student satisfaction, teaching excellence.

Nowadays the quality of employer`s lives becomes very popular for the big companies. Many new programs devoted to this problem appear every year. Oxford Brookes’ work-life balance program is one of the best projects in this sphere. It was highly commended by UPA (Universities Personnel Association) during the annual conference of this organization. Because of improvement of working lives the UPA won the second place in the HR Awards in Higher Education.

Because of great problems in this sphere the staff of the UPA held a research and presented recommendations for the employees how to coordinate the demands of the work responsibilities with demands of employers’ personal lives.

The researches had good results and the employees received feedback from the staff. The realization of the project on the workplaces attracts high quality staff to the companies and provides equal career opportunities for all employers. Besides, the project allows the people to have more flexible and convenient schedule. It also reflexes on the motivation and discipline of the working people.

Besides, working people received such advantages as flexi work time, compressed working hours, job sharing, working from home and part – year working. The results of the projects of the UPA were developed by the Centre for Diversity Policy Research, which collaborates with majority of the trade and staff unions of the country. Such collaboration allows the recommendations to be involved into majority of companies.

There appeared many convenient variants of work for people. For example, Senior Lecturer of the Business schools Stuart Soames decided to take early retirement. The administration of the university offered the lecturer three-year part time post. Such type of working gave him many opportunities: he had more free time to spend it with family and to retain his research in hotel management.

The researches of the Universities Personnel Association changed lives of many people.

During the last years Oxford Brookes University became very popular among the people and it was called the best new University in the rate of The Sunday Times. On the 6 March of this year Mark Richardson, famous athlete visited the university campus with the aim to support the volunteering program and national leadership for the students and other young people.

The motto of the program was: ‘Young people leading the way’. In the university campus was help a conference, one of the 32 similar conferences which were hold in educational institutions of the UK by the Youth Sports Trust. The main aim of the conference and event was to attract young people to the participation in the volunteering programs and to organization of the dance and sport events in the primary school. The organizers tried to develop and improve leaderships and volunteering skills of the young people and to explain them the importance of sport and activity in the contemporary world.

The conference was organized with the participation of the undergraduates of the Oxford Brookes University. Basically it was the students who study Sports Coaching, Sports Science and Nutrition degrees programs in the university. The students invited more than 100 children from the local schools to take part in the conference. The event was full of different interesting events and seminars, the children developed their practical skills and theoretical knowledge. Besides, the organizers were focused on skills and knowledge in such spheres as communication, budget control, problem-solving, decision-making, people management, time management, planning etc

The organizers of the event confirm that such conferences and seminars help young people to determinate with their studying, career and life goals, with development of motivation skills and responsibility. Such young people will undoubtedly achieve success in the future and will be examples for following generations.