Vice-Chancellor's messages

A message to Oxford students for the end of the academic year.

Dear students,

Welcome to the beautiful chapel of Merton College.

As Michaelmas term ends, I know what a busy time this term has been for you all. Thank you for your hard work and commitment to our great University. If this is your first year at Oxford, I hope you are feeling settled and at home. I’ve enjoyed meeting so many of you across all years of study at various gatherings, and I look forward to seeing more of you as the academic year goes on.

Thank you to all of you who continue to play your part in ensuring Oxford remains a welcoming and inclusive place. I'm delighted that Oxford SU's first cohort of community and equity officers are here to represent and support your diverse student communities.

Our Sheldonian Series continued this term, with a vibrant exchange of ideas and a range of views expressed on ‘cancel culture’. Look out for Hilary’s event, which will explore ‘activism’ and continue our efforts to model freedom of speech and inclusive inquiry.

It's been great to see so many of you taking up the GenAI training on-demand through Canvas, and in group sessions through your department or college. That support will continue and there's more on the way.

A reminder now of the importance to complete the University’s Information Security and Data Protection training. Everyone is responsible for data protection, and the course reminds you how to keep yourself and your data secure, and what to do should you encounter a cyber security threat. The devices and services you use can all be targeted by those seeking to harm the collegiate University – so please keep the software on all your devices up to date.

Well the vacation will bring a change in routine, and for some, additional stress. Support from Student Welfare and Support Services remains available during this time, except over the University’s Christmas closure dates. If you're staying in Oxford over the break, check with your college welfare team for details of activities you can get involved with.

And if you are staying in Oxford, or heading out to celebrate the festive season before heading home, do please, please, do take care, and avoid going near the city’s waterways, especially if you’ve been drinking alcoholic beverages.

Well, I hope you have the opportunity to take a well-earned rest to recharge, and return in Hilary term ready for all that 2026 has to offer. I extend my very best wishes to those who will celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas, and I hope you can all enjoy spending time with friends and family. Stay safe, stay well, and have a peaceful New Year. It now gives me great pleasure to hand over to the wonderful and my beloved Merton College Choir.

Incoming Vice-Chancellor Professor Irene Tracey reflects on her journey from Oxford student to leader of the University, and what you can expect from her time in office.

Welcome back to the start of Hilary term! I hope you are settling back into the rhythm of student life now that we’re heading into Week 2. Despite the cold weather, Oxford is looking spectacular with the winter frost and sun, so do enjoy our beautiful parks for some fresh air. I’m new to the job as your Vice-Chancellor, and so here I want to give you a feel for what you can expect from me. I’m also keen to meet with students (you can find out more at the end of this message about how I plan to do that).

My Oxford journey

I am ‘Made in Oxford’. I grew up just outside Oxford and was fortunate to come and study biochemistry at the University at an undergraduate and graduate level. After a brief postdoctoral position at Harvard University, I returned to Oxford where I have spent my academic career as a researcher and educator. I love this place, and I hope you do too.

Although it was back in the mists of time, I understand and remember what it is like to study at Oxford. Life was different back then in many ways (no email, no social media for example), but the core role that tutorials, lectures, practical classes play in your learning and defining the pattern of the day remains the same. As do the close friendships that you form here that remain for life, trust me. I was an active undergraduate enjoying most sports as well as music, and I loved the fact that Oxford had such a global mix of students here, particularly during my graduate years. My seven years here as a student were extraordinarily enriching. I think you appreciate that all the more with the passage of time.

Equally, I have worked as a member of staff, including as a Head of Department (Nuffield Department Clinical Neurosciences) and college Head of House (Merton College). In these roles, I have been a passionate advocate for staff and students in terms of their experience and the conditions of their working environment. I have held many national and international roles on various scientific and academic bodies, and so I have a good sense of the role that an outstanding place like Oxford University must play locally, nationally and globally. I believe my experience in all these roles will serve me well as I take the helm and steer Oxford in its next phase of evolution. My predecessor, Professor Dame Louise Richardson, has left us all a terrific foundation on which to take this great place forward, and so I’d like to acknowledge and thank her here for seven years of outstanding leadership.

My priorities as Vice-Chancellor

As Vice-Chancellor, I represent the University globally and locally. I am responsible for its strategic direction and leadership: chairing key committees, and convening our people to take key decisions about the future.

While I represent the University internationally, I am particularly honoured to support you. Students are the lifeblood of any academic community, and I am determined to help you make the most of your Oxford experience.

As you may be aware from my admission ceremony, I have four priorities, all of which I hope will have a positive impact on you as students.

My first priority (you may well be pleased to know) is education and teaching. I aim to help students have a positive experience whichever college or department they study in; and build on our pandemic experience to think about different ways that we can teach, learn and examine. I also want to celebrate and talk more about our world-class teaching and its impact through you – the intellectual capital we release to the world.

My second priority is discovery and translational research – working with wider society to come up with innovative solutions to the big global issues of our time, such as the energy crisis and climate change. It’s also important that we continue building a global innovation hub here in Oxford – helping you and our staff make innovative ideas come to life and to create more jobs in the Oxford ecosystem.

Thirdly, I will focus on local and global engagement. This starts with building our relationship with the city we have been part of for over 800 years. Many of you already volunteer in the local community – whether through the Oxford Hub, Raise and Give, or the wide range of college-led programmes. We should build on this positive action to improve our links with the community. Think Global. Act Local.

Finally, I plan to focus on our people. The University’s academic and support staff make the student journey what it is. It is my absolutely priority for me to make sure the University is doing everything it can to support staff during these difficult financial times - so that they can continue supporting you, and further their incredible research.

Your Vice-Chancellor

As your Vice-Chancellor, it is very important to me that I understand your concerns and experiences. I am also keen to hear your ideas about how we can make a positive impact at Oxford and beyond; and I would like you to feel that your voices are heard, and that you are part of ongoing conversations about Oxford life. This is what I’ve done in my former roles, and I intend to continue those close dialogues with students.

That is why I will be finding ways to connect direct with you. In the first instance, I’d like to invite you for an informal walk in the University Parks with me and my gorgeous Golden Retriever dog, Geoffrey Biscuit. We’ll limit this to five or six at a time – likely once per week, so if you would like to come along, just fill in this form.

I look forward to meeting many of you soon, and I wish you all the best for the term ahead.

Irene

Professor Irene Tracey
Vice-Chancellor, University of Oxford

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Transcript: Vice-Chancellor's end of Michaelmas 2025 student message

Trinity term message to Oxford students from the Vice-Chancellor

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