History and Purpose

The Oxford Round Table convened, 20 years ago, 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 of the 1990s, the Round Table expanded to consider important public policy matters bearing on human rights, law, economics, public finance and politics.
The Oxford Round Table, a not-for-profit organization, is a unique forum, not a conference in the conventional sense, but rather an opportunity for select leaders in both the public and private sectors, as well as scholars, to discuss government policy over a five-day period in a collegial, "think-tank" atmosphere in the ancient city of Oxford . Although we have an agenda during meeting times, the structure of the program allows for 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 debate through eliciting meaningful dialogue by suggesting certain themes for discussion.
The results of specific 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 name Oxford Round Table evolved from several initially proposed names in 1987. Since the Round Table was founded at St. Peter’s College in the University of Oxford, St. Peter’s Round Table would have seemed a logical appellation. St. Peter’s Round Table, however, was rejected because of the implicit religious connotation and the restraint of tying the discussions to only one Oxford College. The founder, a fellow of the College, and others, along with the Head of St. Peter’s discussed optional names, such as the International Round Table, World Education Round Table and other names that would accurately describe the undertaking. Since the proposed Round Table was actually to be held at various sites in the City of Oxford, include the old City Hall, Rhodes House, the Examination Schools, the Oxford Debating Society and other venues, the generic name of Oxford, the city, was decided upon, thus, the Oxford Round Table1. Moreover, the Oxford appellation was appropriate since all the persons involved in the formation of the Oxford Round Table were associated with the University of Oxford, either Oxford dons and/or persons holding degrees or diplomas from that institution.

Participants and presenters at various Round Tables include:
Michael Beloff, President, Trinity College, University of Oxford
Roy Jenkins, former Chancellor of the Exchequer and Chancellor of the University of Oxford
Sir Antony Kenny, former Master of Balliol College, University of Oxford, philosopher and Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Oxford
Sir Richard Southwood, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford
Sir Christopher Ball, Warden of Keble College, University of Oxford
Eduard D. Dneprov, Education Secretary, Cabinet of Boris Yeltsin, Russian Federation
Victor Gaisyonok, Rector, University of Belarus
Gudmund Hernes, Minister of Education, Norway
Per Unkel, Minister of Education and Science, Sweden
Gennet Zewide, Minister of Education, Ethiopia
Chris Marsden, Head of Community and Education Relations, British Petroleum
David Vaisey, Bodley's Librarian, Bodleian Library, University of Oxford
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); St. Antony's College (1950); and St. Anne’s (1952).
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.