First endowed
Professorship in Buddhist Studies in the UK is established at
Oxford
The
Buddhist Channel, October 11, 2006
Oxford, UK -- An endowed chair in Buddhist Studies is to
be established at the University of Oxford. It will be the first
such chair in the UK.
First Buddhist chair in the UK has been established in
Oxford University
The chair has been endowed by means of a generous benefaction, held
in trust by Balliol College, from the Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai (BDK) of
Tokyo, which is a society for the promotion of Buddhism. The Chair
is named after the BDKs founder, Mr Yehan Numata.
The Numata Chair will be a member of the Oriental Studies Faculty
in the Humanities Division of Oxford University, and the Professor,
once appointed, will be a fellow of Balliol College.
The postholder will also be affiliated with the recently-founded
Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies (OCBS), which is a Recognised
Independent Centre of the University of Oxford. A Recognised
Independent Centre is an institution that is not part of the
University, but works with the University in research and teaching.
As well as being a Professor of Oxford University, the postholder
will play a key academic role within the OCBS.
Professor Martin Goodman, Chairman of the Board of Oriental Studies
at Oxford, said: This is a major step in the establishment of
Buddhist Studies at Oxford. The creation of the post is especially
welcome in the Oriental Studies Faculty. This post will enable
teaching and research at the highest academic level of the complex
texts and languages in which the Buddhist teaching has been
communicated; this is where the faculty excels, providing the ideal
academic environment for this Chair.
Our faculty has a long and distinguished history of teaching
Buddhist topics, and has produced prominent figures in the
scholarly field, but this is the first time a post in Buddhist
Studies has been established in perpetuity. There is a definite
need for the expansion of the teaching of Buddhism in some of the
most dynamic sections of our faculty, especially within the
sub-faculties of East Asia and South and Inner Asia. At the same
time, Buddhism is a pan-Asian phenomenon, and the increased study
of Buddhism within Oriental Studies will link together our
different subfaculties in innovative ways.
Professor Richard Gombrich, Emeritus Professor of Sanskrit at
Oxford University and Academic Director of the Oxford Centre for
Buddhist Studies, said: This benefaction is a milestone in the
history of Buddhist Studies. It will enable this University to
continue and enhance the internationally recognised tradition of
teaching and research built up over the past quarter century; to
engage ever more fully with Asias great cultural traditions; and
to embark on important research projects, many of which will, we
hope, involve international collaboration.
Mr Geoffrey Bamford, OCBS Executive Director, said: The new Numata
Professor of Buddhist Studies will be at the heart of a significant
academic enterprise. OCBS is working towards a team of six
permanent posts, including endowed Lecturerships in East Asian
Buddhist Studies, Pali Buddhist Studies, Tibetan & Himalayan
Buddhist Studies, Buddhist Social History and Buddhist Art. This
generous donation from the BDK for an Oxford University Professor
who will play a key role OCBSs team gives us a wonderful
start.
The vacancy will be advertised soon with a view to making an
appointment from 1 October 2007 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The advertisement will be posted on the University website at
www.ox.ac.uk/jobs/, after which time further particulars and
information about how to contact the University for further
information about the post, and how to apply, will be
available.
For more information, please contact the Press Office, University
of Oxford, on 01865 280532 or [email protected]