The Programme
An Immersive, intellectual experience
The beautiful buildings and gardens at Wadham remain a haven of peace and intellectual curiosity in troubled times. In this intense week at Wadham we offer an educational pilgrimage. A space for thought which has nurtured innovative thinking over more than four centuries.
A chance to stand back and rethink work and the world around. It will leave you feeling emotionally, physically and intellectually stimulated and recharged.
Whether you are returning to Oxford having studied here before, or are coming for the first time, the programme offers a new and exciting opportunity and a transformative experience.
What could you achieve with a total change from business-as-usual thinking?
One transformative week in an interdisciplinary learning environment.
In each of these two courses you will explore ideas and forge deeper understanding in conversation with specialist academics and peers from across disciplines.
The Wadham Experience taps into the same energy that you would expect from an Oxford college and is an intense immersion in the collegiate tutorial environment: working on the principles of debate and enquiry in a stimulating, multigenerational community.
Inspiration comes from the wealth of Oxford’s great cultural endowment and at Wadham we offer a haven of peace and intellectual curiosity in this educational pilgrimage.
Your typical day will include:
- Seminar discussion based on one of the key programme themes
- Keynote lecture by one of Oxford’s world-leading academics
- Networking, discussion and debate with peers and fellows throughout the day, and over lunch and dinner in the college Hall
- A tutorial with an Oxford Fellow and subject specialist (on the final day)
- Interwoven creative, cultural and social programme
- Individual research and reading as well as guided meditation and physical exercise
- Plenary discussion and feast in Wadham’s Hall (on the final day)
Staying in Wadham, and experiencing Oxford
Your accommodation at Wadham has been prepared to allow you the benefits of a collegiate environment whilst also providing the level of comfort you need to feel refreshed and rejuvenated by your stay:
- Bedrooms have been designed to provide a level of accommodation that you would expect from a boutique hotel
- The best of Wadham and the wider Oxford food and dining experiences are on offer for you throughout your stay from ‘high table’ style dining to the traditional Oxford pub
- The cultural and personal activities throughout the week are also a core part of the programme, providing you with a feeling of refreshment and renewal by the time you leave us
Thinking Critically: 14-19 September
Civilisation on the Edge
Day 1: The myths we live by
History, memory and tradition
With George Southcombe
Day 2: Ancient & Modern
Democracy and Demagoguery
With Peter Thonemann
Day 3: Philosophy
Democracy and discontent
With Tom Sinclair
Day 4: Tutorial sessions
Thinking Clearly: 21-26 September
Attention in a Cacophonous World
Day 1: Attention and Distraction:
A Historical Perspective
With Carolin Duttlinger
Day 2: Music and Philosophy:
Ways of Listening
With Eric Clarke
Day 3: Philosophy
The Ethics of Attention
With Tom Sinclair
