Restructuring / Turnaround Strategies Case Study

John Hood: Revamping Oxford's Finances

Abstract:
In October 2004, Oxford University changed its tradition for the first time in its 900-year-old history by hiring John Hood, who was not from Oxford's academic ranks, as its Vice Chancellor. To make Oxford competitive with universities like Harvard and Yale in the US, Hood had undertaken the challenge of improving Oxford's finances. With decreasing government funding and lesser endowment funds as compared to universities like Harvard, Oxford was finding it difficult to maintain its position among the top universities in the world. By early 2005, Oxford was having a deficit of $36 million.

Pedagogical Objectives:

• To discuss the strategies adopted by John Hood to improve Oxford’s finances.

Keywords : Oxford, Funding crisis in British universities, Leadership Case Study, Top-up fees, John Hood, Harvard, Universities in the USA, Endowment funds, Public funding of universities, Oxford’s fundraising campaign, Cost of an undergraduate education, Universities in the UK