History of the Oxford Round Table

In August 1989, the Oxford Round Table convened in Oxford England for the first time to consider major issues in contemporary educational policy in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other selected countries. The membership of this meeting was limited to Ministers of Education from several nations and a number of governors from the United States. The meeting was of such success that subsequent sessions were held. Based on these experiences and the associated initiatives, the membership of the Oxford Round Table considered further meetings to be highly desirable and even necessary to examine government policy issues at national and international levels.

During the later half of the decade of the 1990s, the Round Table was expanded to consider important public policy matters bearing on human rights, law, economics, public finance and politics.

The Oxford Round Table is a unique forum, not a conference in the conventional sense, but rather an opportunity for select leaders in the public and private sectors and scholars to discuss government policy over a five-day period in a collegial, "think-tank" atmosphere in the ancient city of Oxford. The Round Table does not set a specific agenda, but rather allows the discussions of participants to develop and flow in response to issues and concerns presented at each meeting. While avoiding topical prescription, the Round Table does seek to stimulate discussion and elicit meaningful dialogue by suggesting certain themes for discussion.

The results of certain of the deliberations have been published and distributed to individuals, governments and academic institutions around the world. Previous Oxford Round Tables have produced several books. Round Table publications traditionally convey varied approaches for improving government policy at institutional and governmental levels.

The Oxford Round Table has been facilitated in and hosted by several Colleges in the University of Oxford, including; Oriel College (1324); Pembroke College (1624); Jesus College (1571); Exeter College (1314); Trinity College (1555); Manchester College (1786); Somerville College (1879); Lady Margaret Hall (1879); St. Peter's College (1961); and St. Antony's College (1950).

Various sessions of the Round Table have been sponsored by the British Council, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Rockefeller Foundation, Apple Computer, Boeing, and the Bernard van Leer Foundation, The Hague, Netherlands

This information, plus additional information about the Oxford Round Table may be found at:  www.oxfordroundtable.com

Photos of My Oxford Experience . . .