Teaching & Research
In an age where students have unlimited access to information, education is no longer about imparting knowledge. The Tutorial System teaches young minds to analyse and interpret information, to rigorously debate, argue, and defend views.
The intensity of teaching and learning is what sets Oxford apart; but providing that quality is expensive. Each year Keble spends £400,000 more on teaching costs than it receives from central University funding, the current endowment and past philanthropy combined.
In 2022-23, £2.1m was received in support of teaching and research — this included £1.85m to endow the History Tutorial Fellowship, and £300k from a generous legacy which is funding a new Junior Research Fellowship in European Archaeology. The first Junior Research Fellowship post-holder is Dr Tom Maltas.
Endowing Academic Fellowships serves the double purpose of securing the future of Oxford’s unique tutorial system, and immediately relieving pressure on College finances whilst income from conferences remains unstable. We are delighted to announce the partial endowment of two Tutorial Fellowships in humanities subjects at Keble — Dr Ian Archer will hold The Robert Stonehouse Tutorial Fellowship in History, and Professor Diane Purkiss will be The William F Pollard Tutorial Fellow in English Literature. Two incredibly generous gifts enable us to realise Keble’s dedication to the teaching of the Humanities when the majority of available funding is often directed to STEM subjects.
Interview with Professor William Pollard,
donor to The William Pollard Tutorial Fellowship in English
“During my year at Keble (1983-84), I studied medieval paleography supervised by Malcolm Parkes. My first impression of the College was its friendliness and the openness of the fellows and staff. I recall with great fondness Jean Robinson’s hospitality at her home in Cunliffe Close during my visits to Oxford in later years. And there were many late night-early morning discussions with Malcolm in his room over the main portal.”
The Visiting Fellows Programme
Visiting Fellows enrich the College community through contributing to teaching, research, and in the case of one recent Fellow, injecting the Chapel music programme with their creativity and originality. The Visiting Fellow Programme at Keble is made possible through funding provided by an alumnus. Cheryl Frances-Hoad was Visiting Research Fellow at Keble College. She is an award-winning composer known for her work in the Classical tradition and diverse contemporary inspirations including literature, painting and dance.
Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Visiting Research Fellow
“I would like to express my immense gratitude to Keble for selecting me as a Visiting Fellow this year: it was wonderful to get to meet so many fascinating people, and to have the time to fully concentrate on my writing. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the choir, and being able to explore the wonderful acoustic of the chapel through music. I found my six months in post intellectually, creatively and socially stimulating, and several conversations over meals have left me with ideas for musical projects that I am determined to realise in the future!
During my time in College I wrote a set of Responses (The Keble Responses) for double choir, and two short pieces (Benedictus Benedicat and Oculi omnium) that can function as Graces before High Table Dinner on a Sunday. It was fantastic to be at the 'official premiere' of Benedictus Benedicat at the Summer Dinner, and I was thrilled with the choir's performance of my Responses too.
Thank you once again for selecting me for this wonderful opportunity: I shall look back at my time at Keble with immense fondness (and miss curry lunch on Thursday for a long time, I expect!).”