Adieu statement from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Education Affairs
Farewell Note from the Oxford University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education)
Hey scholars, since we're on the brink of wrapping up this academic year, I wanted to take a moment to shine a light on the brilliant students of Oxford University. As I'm about to step down from my role as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), after a solid 8 years, I've been blown away by your intellect, integrity, resilience, and open-mindedness that continuously shapes and enriches this esteemed institution. You're the soul of Oxford, and I can't thank you enough for the impact you've made here.
Over the years, the demographic of the student body has significantly evolved at Oxford, with an impressive increase in postgraduates, females, and international students. Thanks to the sustained access initiatives, we’ve been making progress towards increased ethnic diversity and admitting more students from underprivileged backgrounds. However, the progress in closing degree award gaps between male and female students and between Black and White students is still uneven.
One of my main objectives throughout my tenure was to ensure your well-being and create a more inclusive community that embraces diversity. This effort will continue to be crucial in strengthening our envisioned University where we are constantly aiming for substantial and sustained progress. Finances have also expanded, particularly in the face of rising living costs. Consequently, the number of students receiving substantial support from the University has grown.
The introduction of Oxford’s new Graduate Access Strategy is a significant step towards the University’s goal of increasing diversity and better supporting postgraduates. We’ve already seen some promising improvements in this area and are well-positioned to accelerate the pace of change in the near future.
The pandemic was a game-changer for many, and to those of you who were here, I extend a heartfelt thank you for banding together to tackle this enormous challenge. We all learned a lot in those challenging times, with Oxford making strides in digital learning and assessment. The pandemic also highlighted our ability to work together, which was crucial in developing the vaccine and other treatments that have saved millions of lives worldwide – a testament to the collective power of our students.
As a strong advocate of freedom of expression, I’ve always appreciated Oxford students' willingness to question, debate, and challenge each other in a peaceful and respectful manner. I hope this spirit continues to thrive amongst you.
While my daily responsibilities might not seem evident to you, my primary goal was to maintain the excellence of our academic programs and support you, from the moment you apply to Oxford, right through to your graduation, with your experience at the forefront. My successor will carry on this mission to ensure that Oxford continues to feel like a second home where every student is supported and valued.
I extend my warmest goodbyes to you all – be it graduating students or those returning in the autumn. I’ve been honored to be part of the Oxford family and look forward to witnessing the greatness each of you will undoubtedly achieve in the future.
Oxford, you’ve been more than just a workplace to me – I am enormously proud to have served as your Pro-Vice-Chancellor and educator for the past 8 years.
Best wishes,
Martin
Professor Martin WilliamsPro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), University of Oxford
Martin Williams obtained his civil engineering degree from Bristol University in the 1980s and spent several years in the industry before joining the University of Oxford in 1989. Apart from this esteemed role, he has served as an academic in the Engineering Science Department, a Tutorial Fellow at New College, a Professorial Fellow at New College, Senior Tutor of New College, Deputy Head of Engineering Science, an elected member of Council, and Senior Proctor. He took up the Pro-Vice-Chancellor position in 2018.
(Enrichment Data)While the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) helps lead and monitor initiatives that aim to decrease the attainment gap, the provided search results do not contain specific data or achievements regarding progress in closing degree award gaps between genders or ethnic groups over the past eight years. For the most recent information, access the University of Oxford's equality and diversity reports or search for official statements from the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education).
As Professor Martin Williams, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) of Oxford University, effortlessly juggles his role with maintaining the academic excellence, he seeks to continuously improve the education landscape. The advances made in increasing access for postgraduates, females, and international students, as well as the progress shown by the new Graduate Access Strategy, indicate positive strides towards general-news-worthy diversity and inclusion initiatives within the University. Nevertheless, the continued goal is to close the remaining degree award gaps between male and female students and between Black and White students, a commitment reflected in their education-and-self-development focus.
