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The Oxford Conclave on Global Ethics, a new initiative in higher education launched in 2005, is the signature program of Siegel Institute founder Dr. Betty Siegel. The Conclave serves as a catalyst for a movement to renew higher education's commitment to the development of ethical leadership.
Leaders of six American universities gathered at Oxford University in England in 2005 and 2006 for conclaves on the responsibilities of higher education in addressing the global ethical challenges of the 21st Century. Dr. Siegel, then President of Kennesaw State University, chaired the conclaves which were sponsored by the Institute for Leadership, Ethics and Character.
Distinguished speaker Frances Hesselbein, Chairman of the Board of Leader to Leader Institute and Founding President and CEO of The Peter Drucker Foundation, comments on the Oxford Conclaves she attended in 2005 and 2006:
The depth and integrity of the examination and dialogue--not to mention the level of courage required to tackle the toughest issues before the university and the society--were beyond our highest expectations. The vision of the planners, led by Dr. Betty Siegel, resulted in the mission that we all worked to further, and inspired us once again, moving the Conclave from "'good to great."
The report from the Conclave will...demonstrate the wisdom of meeting in a medieval college, founded over 700 years ago, where a sense of history permeated our every deliberation, underscoring the indispensable place of the university in society--medieval or in our own times.
I remembered William Butler Yeats: "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." The Oxford Conclave lights a fire that leads the way. -- Frances Hesselbein
The Oxford Conclave III on Global Ethics, 2007 - Global Ethics in 3D: Documenting, Disseminating, and Developing Sundance, Utah
The Sundance Resort in Utah was chosen as the setting for Oxford Conclave III. The mission of the Sundance Preserve is to inspire action for the benefit of society, dedicated to maintaining the balance of art, nature and community as well as the cultivation of independent, innovative thought amongst artists, scholars, scientists, public policy and business leaders. The natural splendor of Sundance provided an inspirational environment for the work of the 2007 gathering.
The Oxford Conclave III at Sundance was a continuation of the 2005 and 2006 Oxford Conclaves. It was designed to share best practices as part of an ongoing effort to:
1) document the initiatives and activities underway on our campuses;
2) disseminate the content and process-related aspects of these practices;
3) develop a sharing network, or collaboratory, intended to expand over time. Sundance Conclave participants intend to hold themselves and each other accountable for sustaining momentum, identify opportunities for meaningful connections, and share practices that advance ethical leadership.
Participants included Utah Valley State College, University of Alaska Anchorage, East Carolina University, College of Staten Island, University of West Georgia, University of North Dakota, University of Wisconsin Whitewater, the Center for Ethics and Corporate Responsibility at Georgia State University, and Kennesaw State University.
Featured speakers included Dr. Steven R. Covey, author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness; Tim Clark, author of Epic Change-How to Lead Change in the Global Economy; and Dr. Mike Young, President of the University of Utah.
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Building on the first conclave, the 2006 gathering welcomed new member institutions and student representatives into this growing alliance of American Stte Colleges and Universities. This year's focus began the practical application of the Statement of Beliefs and Responsibilities established by the founding University Presidents, and constructed the framework for the next phase of the Oxford Conclave and the development and advancement of synergistic initiative in global ethical leadership and social responsibility.
As part of the student participation in the 2006 Oxford Conclave, participants formulated personal "I Intend To..." statements as their commitment to applying what they learned from this experience to their lives. To read the students' "I Intend To..." statements, please click here.
Balliol College, Oxford University, Oxford, England
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A movement was launched by several leaders of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities to investigate higher education's role in today's global society, focusing on the need to produce a generation of ethical leaders capable of functioning effectively in an increasingly complex world.
The university presidents and members of their leadership teams studied global trends and considered their implications for higher education. Held at Oxford's historic Balliol College from Setp. 11 - 15, the conference launched a larger, ongoing initiative to involve many universities.
An important outcome of the conclave was a Statement of Beliefs and Responsibilities based on a strong imperative for global ethical leadership and the obligation of higher education to collaborate with other sectors of society, such as businesses and non-profit agencies, to produce ethical leaders who can make a positive difference in a more complex, global world.
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