Oct 052007
 

I’m a little weary after last night’s “Welcome to Pembroke” dinner at our dining hall, which was quite excellent:

  • Melon with Raspberry Coulis
  • Chicken with vegetables in a mushroom gravy
  • Profiteroles with fresh chocolate sauce
  • Lots and lots of wine.

IMG_0456.JPG

Me, suit, tie, gown, after dinner. Much drinking ensuing in the background.

As we’re all graduate students, we went for glasses of wine with the Master (and his wife, and their two very cute dogs) before dinner started. I missed getting my photo taken with the famous Samuel Johnson painting. The original is supposed to be at the Tate, but there is one that’s quite old in the Master’s room. I get to spend a little more one on one time with him later today.

This is, apparently, one of the differences in being a graduate at Pembroke: The friendliness and conviviality of the general graduate community and the interest that the college takes in your welfare.

For those of you saying “But I thought you were going to Oxford, what’s all this about Pembroke?” I’ll give a brief synopsis of the difference. I’m a student at the Said Business School, which is part of the University of Oxford, which is made up of 39 separate colleges, started between the 13th and the 20th century. As a graduate student, I get to choose (apply) to a number of colleges who all have their own libraries, staff, way of doing things, dining halls, housing arrangements, etc. If I were an undergraduate student, this gets a bit more complicated. I get a degree from Oxford University, given to me by Pembroke College of Oxford University, and I do all my work at the Said Business School. Confused yet? Try going here and having an academic problem. I’m hoping I don’t.

IMG_0450.JPG IMG_0467.JPG IMG_0459.JPG


MBAs and graduates after formal dinner, and the start of the year’s
Pennying.

OBN

On a more school-related note, I went to the Social Entrepreneur Oxford Business Network meeting yesterday. I knew that there were a group of people really focused on social entrepreneurship (Which definition is subject to much debate, but typically means for- or not-for-profit ventures using entrepreneurial methods and trying to do something good in the world. Which is what I want to do. Though I definitely have no problem making a buck).

I’ve spoken about the enormous and wide range of talent in my program before, and we had over 25% of those folks in this meeting. Quite an auspicious and rewarding treat to see so much traction already in the group. There are also a couple of past architects who are cheering my decision to do this whole green building thing by working as a business leader rather than an architect or engineer.

After that we met with the James Martin Institute who are an affiliate of SBS who engage in future thinking to identify how science and technology shape the world, hopefully in an attempt to make that shaping better. They’re setting up a program where a few MBAs have a close relationship with them and get to spend a lot of time there discussing Issues of Weighty Importance and how to address them. Sounds, actually, like fun. The members and professors at the JMI have advanced degrees in all kinds of fun, interesting subjects.

Technorati : , , ,
Del.icio.us : , , ,
Ice Rocket : , , ,
Zooomr : , , ,
Buzznet : , , ,
Riya : , , ,
43 Things : , , ,

Powered by Zoundry

 Posted by at 06:11

  3 Responses to “Pennies from heaven”

  1. That sounds like a nice dinner and that everything is shaping up as you wanted it to. I am happy for you!

  2. i love that tie!

    if i get my own shit together and find a decent job, i would love to come pay you a visit while you are there. i will live in hope.

    ali

  3. Glen,

    Was great meeting for lunch the other day. Now that the term has started, will we ever see you again?

    Good luck with it all, and make the most of it, as I can see you are focused on doing!

    Jason

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.