AN EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Mail, 27 August 1902, Page 59 (Supplement)

AN EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE.

wnW CAN OXFORD BEST SERVE COLONIAL STUDENTS.

/From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, July 14. Afc the time I wrote on the Rhodes’ scheme of scholarships it looked as if the authorities of Oxford University were inclined to adhere to the old humanistic system and not to take steps to bring the education at that ancient seat of learning m'ore into line with modern requirements. Basing my comments on the letters and articles of some fossilised dons I did the authorities an injustice and now make the emende honourable. The Conference held at the Colonial Office on Thursday shows that the heads of Oxford University arc anxious to make their education as serviceable as possible to Colonial students in general and the Rhodes scholars in particular and are ready to hoar the views of leading Colonials as to the requirements of Colonial students at oxford. The conference was initiated by the Vice-Chan-cellor of Oxford University, who brought to the notice of the Colonial Secretary the desire of the University authorities to take advantage of the presence in England of representatives of the Colonics to arrange for a meeting with a view to the consideration of questions bearing on the education at Oxford of Colonial students and the connection between the University of Oxford and the Colonial Universities. Air Cuaniberlain facilitated the matter by placing a room in the Colonial Office at the disposal of the University authorities and by inviting the London representatives of the Colonies to send suitable delegates to the conference, wlucn was quite of an informal nature. The object of the conference as stated in the Agenda was “to consider the present status and privileges of Colonial students at Oxford, the special requirements of students from the .Colonies and the provision for meeting such requirements.”

The Oxford authorities, with a view to formulating certain definite points for discussion drew up the following state of THE PRESENT POSITION

and of what they desired to learn. The present position is that to obtain a degree in arts a student an Oxford must reside for three years and pass (1) an entrance (2) an intermediate (3) a final examination. To obtain a research degree in letters of science a student at Oxford must reside for two years, perform a piece of original research and write an appoved dissertation thereon. There are three classes of Colonial Students:

(a) Those entering at about 19 with

little or no previous University training, taking the full B.A. course, perhaps 25 or 30 a year. (b) Those from privileged Universities, including the universities of Sydney, Adelaide and New Zealand, entering at 21-23 years of’ age taking the B.A . course but being excused (1) me entrance examination (2) a year’s residence, if they obtain honours in either the intermediate or the final exam., and (3) under certain conditions the intermediate exam., also. Of this class about five come annually; nearly every one is a graduate of bis Colonial University. (c) Those entering at 22-25 for special study with *a view to a (research) degree in letters or science or to a degree in law, perhaps six annually. WHAT THE OXFORD AUTHORITIES DESIRE TO LEARN at the Conference is: Are there special educational needs in the Colonies in regard to those" students aiming at a political career, one of the learned professions, a commercial career, the civil service ?

How can information as to tho present provision of instruction best be made available 1 !'

At present there are courses at Oxford in Philosophy, History, Theology, Physical Science, .Low, Economics, the history and practice of education. Additional courses could be arranged if sufficient notice of a demand were given. It is believed that opportunities for tne practical study of some of these topics, as well as of the technical details of administration, would be available, during the vacations. The Rhodes scholarships are the personal endowment of the individual holders. It is possible chat the Trustees may assign them to Colonial students intending to take . the regular B.a. course in Oxford and also to graduates of Colonial Universities intending to pursue higher studies in Oxford, and probably the- information asked for with regard to special educational needs would apply to the Rhodes scholars.

The Oxford authorities - were represented at tho Conference by the ViceChancellor and the Presidents of Worcester, New Magdalen and Trinity Colleges, the Colonials by Sir Edmund Barton and Messrs Ur. H. Knibbs, and J. W. Turner, the Commissioners appointed by the Government of New South Wales to enquire into educational matters in Europe, the Hon. W. P. Reeves for New Zealand, Professor Neil Smith of Tasmania, Sir Horace Tozer, Mr H. B. Lefroy. and Principal Peterson of the Me University, Canada, while Lord Onslow as Under-Secretary of the Colonies, presided. „ After a general discussion of ail informal but interesting character, in which Sir Edmund Barton and the Hon. W. P. Reeves took part, it was resolveci on tho motion of the former that the Oxford representatives should formulate and forward more definite proposals and that the representatives of the various colonies should forward them to their respective universities for consideration, comment and further suggestions. The leaders of colonial universities therefore now have the chance of helping to make the Rhodes’ scholarships of something more than mere academic value to the Empire.