The University of Oxford is the oldest British University and the third-oldest University in Europe. The first charter of “Universitas Oxoniensis” dates back to the year of 1214, and today Oxford is still an independent and self-governing academic institution, consisting of the central University, thirty-eight Colleges, and 6 Private Halls. This collegiate system is a special peculiarity of the Univerity of Oxford, giving both students and academics particular benefits. Also, it is believed that the collegiate system is at the heart of Oxford’s outstanding ranking and success. In the book under review, the authors analyze the collegiate system of one of the world’s most renowned universities under the aspects of various contemporary conditions and challenges, ranging from public funding to governmental pressure.
Actually, this is a new edition of their earlier book “Oxford and the Decline of the Collegiate Tradition”, which was published in 2000. As the authors point out, the new title is to reflect both more optimism about the process of change in the collegiate universities and their now stronger belief in the merits of the principles of collegiate governance. Based on the changes that have taken place in the British higher education over the past decade, the book has been profoundly revised and enhanced by a large amount of new material. As a result, the authors now arrive at the conclusion that Oxford has a good chance to remain both an effective collegiate university and a world-class university, also in the present epoch of mass-education. While its identity will necessarily change, in the course of time, Oxford’s traditional central character has a real prospect to persist.
Although mathematics at Oxford is not explicitly referred to, the general themes discussed in the book concern the famous Mathematical Institute just as well.