Other opportunities

Scholar-led activities

During the academic year, WHT Scholars participate in a number of extra-curricular activities to complement the main components of the Leadership Programme. Through these activities, Scholars build relationships with their fellow Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholars, alumni, donors, members of other scholarship programmes and notable figures in Oxford, as well as leaders and opinion-shapers from various professional fields across the globe.

WHT Scholars and Alumni shared the challenges in their home countries in SDG tent at DAVOS and how they are becoming change-makers supported by our Scholarships and Leadership Programme. Speaking on education, sustainability, innovation and climate change with examples from Uganda, Zimbabwe, Russia, Mexico, Venezuela, India and Jordan.

Past activities have included:

The World Economic Forum - Davos, Switzerland

In 2019, a team of WHT Scholars and Alumni travelled to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland at the invitation of WHT Chairman, André Hoffmann. The group developed and presented a panel titled, "Young Voices of Hope: perspectives from the latest wave of emerging leaders" where they spoke to a room of business, government, academic and nonprofit leaders from around the world about how they are using their time at Oxford and in the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme, to make meaningful contributions towards solving the most pressing issues in their countries and regions. The scholars presented their work to attendees within themes including Sustainability, Innovation and Education. Most importantly, they formally launched WHT's Leadership Programme endowment fund which will be the largest Leadership Programme endowment in Oxford's 900 year history. The presentation was followed by a lively question and answer session with invited guests and Davos delegates who filled the standing room only presentation in André Hoffmann's Sustainability tent.A full video of the Davos presentation and individual presentations can be viewed on the WHT Youtube page.

Battle of Ideas

The Battle of Ideas is an annual festival of debate focusing on political, social and cultural trends. Hundreds of speakers come together for a weekend of learning and rhetorical swagger. WHT have a limited number of tickets available for Scholars who wish to attend the festival. Scholars then host a follow-up satellite event. This is a great opportunity for Scholars to practice their public-speaking skills.

Travel grants

Max Weidenfeld Travel Grants afford Scholars with limited resources the opportunity to attend relevant professional conferences or pursue fieldwork abroad. For more information current Scholars can download the application guidelines.

Ditchley Park Conferences

In addition to offering Scholars the opportunity to engage in high-level discussions and to hone their skills as rapporteurs, Ditchley Conferences offer unparalleled networking opportunities.

Conferences

Scholars are always encouraged attend conferences which are relevant to their academic studies and furthermore to take an active role in the planning and coordinating such events in Oxford. Recent examples include one Scholar co-chairing the Oxford-Africa conference.

Louis Dreyfus projects

Scholars have benefited from visiting programmes in Africa and India where they have helped to assess several of the Louis-Dreyfus Foundation's projects.

Informal meetings, evenings and day trips

The cohort have the opportunity to take day trips to sites around the region include Blenheim Palace. Regular informal lunches also give Scholars a chance to get together and enjoy each other's company. Termly trips to the Nosebag are eagerly anticipated as a chance to relax and catch up on all the news.