The Rhodes Scholarships for the 21st century - Rhodes community strategic dialogue continues
Hundreds of Rhodes Scholars around the world have contributed to continuing strategic dialogue about the Scholarships in the 21st century, with further opportunities for discussion planned for 2010.
Opportunities this year will include:
- alumni events hosted by the Warden, Dr Donald Markwell, in many Rhodes countries, following on from over 20 alumni events already held in seven countries in 2009-10
- a Rhodes forum on the morning of Sunday, April 18, in New York City, during the University of Oxford’s North American Reunion weekend
- a forum on ‘The Rhodes Scholarships for the 21st century’ in Oxford on Saturday, September 25, with Brunch and Open House at Rhodes House on Sunday, September 26, during the Oxford University Alumni Weekend,
- through emailing or writing to the Warden at any time.
When the Warden emailed the global community of Rhodes Scholars in August 2009, Scholars overwhelmingly affirmed the profound significance of the Scholarship in their own lives, and expressed strong commitment to securing and improving the Rhodes Scholarships for the future. Many also made valuable suggestions.
In the light of this feedback and other input, the Rhodes Trustees are refreshing the governance of the Trust with governance protocols which provide that between half and two-thirds of Trustees will be Scholars. All Rhodes Scholars were invited to comment on the proposed protocols and to nominate candidates for Trustee positions. This consultation has seen strong support for the consultation process and for the proposed protocols, helpful suggestions for fine-tuning the drafts, and many outstanding nominations for Trustees. In the light of this significant input, the Trustees will finalise the protocols and make further Trustee appointments during March. For more on this, click here.
The Warden’s Christmas letter to the Rhodes community suggested that, with increased Scholar participation in and responsibility for shaping the future of the Scholarship, it was important to have continuing dialogue on what we want the Rhodes Scholarships to look like over the course of this century.
In particular, he invited thoughts on such questions as:
- What does ‘fighting the world’s fight’ (Cecil Rhodes’s famous phrase) mean for Rhodes Scholars in the 21st century, and how should we encourage it?
- More broadly, how do we identify and encourage those attributes of intellect, character, leadership, and commitment to service which should characterise the Rhodes Scholarships?
- How can we improve the promotion of the Scholarships, selection, transition to Oxford, support in Oxford, and transition from Oxford, for all our Scholars?
- How do we make the Scholarship equally attractive to outstanding young women as to outstanding young men, and to outstanding young people from all parts of the community in all Rhodes countries?
- From what countries should Rhodes Scholars be drawn over the decades ahead? Cecil Rhodes himself gave Scholarships to what he described as ‘the three great powers’ – the US, parts of the British Empire (now the Commonwealth), and Germany. How should we think about this today?
- What form of global community of Scholars, including what online community, would be most valuable?
- How do we respond best to the profound challenge of reduced resources and increased costs?
Many Scholars have provided feedback on these questions, and Dr Markwell would value further thoughts on these and other Rhodes matters at any time, including during Rhodes events.
Feedback from current Scholars has already resulted in, for example, refreshing the activities to welcome new Scholars to Oxford, and increased opportunities for Scholars to engage at Rhodes House with their fellow Scholars from all countries.
