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Department for Continuing Education

Oxford was one of the pioneers of the University Extension movement in the United Kingdom, and we still retain our original mission of making the scholarship of the University accessible to wider audiences.
In recent years the Department has grown very considerably, and now every year more than 15,000 people join one or more of our courses. Our students may be members of the public who wish to study a subject out of general interest or for personal satisfaction, members of professional groups or business organisations who wish to update their professional knowledge and skills, or participants in our increasingly large number of courses for international groups.
Most of our longer courses now lead to a University award or other forms of credit but the large number of short courses on offer may be taken by those who are less interested in obtaining further qualifications. Courses last from one day to several weeks; the residential courses are held in Oxford but other part-time courses are also held in a large number of other centres.

Series associated with Department for Continuing Education

2013 Philosophy and Psychiatry Summer School
A Romp Through Ethics for Complete Beginners
A Romp Through Philosophy for Complete Beginners
A Romp Through the Philosophy of Mind
Alan Turing: Centenary Lectures
Anne McLaren Memorial Lectures
Bioethics: An Introduction
Clinical Trials in Resource-Limited Settings
Crime Fiction in Oxford
Critical Reasoning for Beginners
Critical Reasoning: A Romp Through the Foothills of Logic
Department for Continuing Education Award Ceremony 2014
Department for Continuing Education Open Day 2012
Department for Continuing Education Open Day 2013
Department for Continuing Education Open Day 2014
Department for Continuing Education's guest lectures
Design for War and Peace: 2014 Annual Design History Society Conference
Humanities at the Department for Continuing Education
Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences at the Department for Continuing Education
Oxford Vaccinology Programme
Philosophy for Beginners
Research within the Department for Continuing Education
Revisiting the Rite: The Rite of Spring Centenary Conference
Rewley House Research Seminars
Science in Society
Social Sciences at the Department for Continuing Education
Study Programmes at Continuing Education
The Credit Crunch and Global Recession
The Emergent Multiverse
The God Delusion Weekend
The Nature of Causation
Translational Health Sciences
# Episode Title Description People Date
43 Creative Commons A Scientific Hypothesis? Marianne Talbot gives the first talk on Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion as part of The God Delusion Weekend. Marianne Talbot 20 May 2010
42 Creative Commons Evaluating Arguments Part Two Part six of a six-part series on critical reasoning. In this final lecture we will look at fallacies. These are bad arguments that can easily be mistaken for good arguments. Marianne Talbot 18 Mar 2010
41 Creative Commons Evaluating Arguments Part One Part five of a six-part series on critical reasoning. In this lecture we will continue with the evaluation of arguments - this time deductive arguments - focusing in particular on the notion of validity. Marianne Talbot 15 Mar 2010
40 Creative Commons Taming the Casino Banks In this podcast the experts discuss whether the 'casino' banks that are considered too big to fail are simply too big, and explain the arguments for and against splitting them up. Jonathan Michie, Martin Slater, Linda Yueh 15 Mar 2010
39 Creative Commons What is a Good Argument? Validity and Truth Part four of a six-part series on critical reasoning. In this lecture we will learn how to evaluate arguments and how to tell whether an argument is good or bad, focusing specifically on inductive arguments. Marianne Talbot 11 Mar 2010
38 Creative Commons Setting out Arguments Logic Book Style Part three of a six-part series on critical reasoning. In this lecture we will focus on how to identify and analyse arguments, and how to set arguments out logic book-style to make them easier to evaluate. Marianne Talbot 10 Mar 2010
37 Creative Commons Different Types of Arguments The second of six lectures dealing with critical reasoning. In this lecture you will learn about the different types of arguments, in particular deductive and inductive arguments. Marianne Talbot 29 Jan 2010
36 Creative Commons The Nature of Arguments The first of six lectures dealing with critical reasoning. In this lecture you will learn how to recognise arguments and what the nature of an argument is. Marianne Talbot 29 Jan 2010
35 Creative Commons Bank bonuses, breakups and regulation In the first podcast of 2010, the experts discuss bank bonuses, proposed break-ups and tighter regulation of the banking and financial sectors. Linda Yueh, Jonathan Michie, Martin Slater 28 Jan 2010
34 Mathematics: Navigating Nature's Dark Labyrinth "Mathematics: Navigating Nature's Dark Labyrinth" - the Inaugural Lecture of the Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science, 2009. Marcus du Sautoy 30 Nov 2009
33 The Visitors and Residents Principle: A guide to assessing motivations towards the web An update to Prensky's 'Digital Natives' idea, taking the stand-point that individuals attitudes to the web are not primarily governed by age or technical skill. David White 25 Nov 2009
32 Occupational Health and Safety in a Research Setting Dr Simon Ndirangu, Bioanalytical Laboratory at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)/Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kilifi, Kenya discusses the importance of implementing occupational health and safety standards in research settings. Simon Ndirangu Muchohi 29 Oct 2009
31 Measurement of Drug Levels in Clinical Trials Dr Simon Ndirangu, Bioanalytical Laboratory at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)/Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kilifi, Kenya describes the basic concepts of pharmacological clinical trials, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Simon Ndirangu Muchohi 29 Oct 2009
30 Setting Up a Laboratory for Clinical Trials in Resource-Poor Settings Ken Awuondo, Clinical Trials Laboratory Manager for the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)/Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kilifi, Kenya gives an overview of the requirements for setting up a laboratory in resource-poor settings. Ken Awuondo 29 Oct 2009
29 The Role of Laboratory in Clinical Trials Ken Awuondo, Clinical Trials Laboratory Manager for the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)/Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kilifi, Kenya gives an overview of the role of the laboratory in clinical trials. Ken Awuondo 29 Oct 2009
28 Data Safety Monitoring Boards: Their Place and Role in Trials Dr Roma Chilengi, Head of Clinical Trials at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)/Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kilifi, Kenya discusses clinical trial data safety monitoring boards (DSMBs). Roma Chilengi 29 Oct 2009
27 Clinical Trial Protocol Development Dr Phaik Yeong Cheah, Head of Clinical Trials at the Mahidol-Oxford Research Unit in Bangkok, Thailand discusses clinical trial protocol development. Phaik Yeong Cheah 29 Oct 2009
26 Introduction to Research Ethics Dr Roma Chilengi, Head of Clinical Trials at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)/Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kilifi, Kenya gives an introduction to research ethics. Roma Chilengi 29 Oct 2009
25 The Story of ICH-GCP: An introduction for investigators and site staff Dr Roma Chilengi, Head of Clinical Trials at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)/Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kilifi, Kenya gives an introduction to ICH-GCP. Roma Chilengi 29 Oct 2009
24 An Introduction to Clinical Trials George Warimwe from the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)/Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kilifi, Kenya presents an introduction to clinical trials aimed at trial site staff and anyone new to the field. George Warimwe 29 Oct 2009
23 Creative Commons Challenging Macroeconomics In part 6, our experts examine new models for monetary and fiscal policy, global financial markets and a world economy characterised by global imbalances. Linda Yueh, Jonathan Michie, Martin Slater 11 Aug 2009
22 Creative Commons UK Budget and Global Recovery Plans In Part 5, our experts examine the British economy in light of the recent Budget, and assess whether a global recovery may be on the horizon. Linda Yueh, Jonathan Michie, Martin Slater 04 Jun 2009
21 The world's first tracheal transplant A lecture "The world's first tracheal transplant" given by Prof Martin Birchall, University of Bristol, at the 10th OIBC Spring Symposium, held jointly with the Department for Continuing Education, at St Edward's School, Oxford, on 4 March 2009. Martin Birchall 05 May 2009
20 Tissue engineering and stem cell technology A lecture, "Tissue engineering and stem cell technology" given by Prof ZhanFeng Cui, University of Oxford, at the 10th OIBC Spring Symposium, held jointly with the Department for Continuing Education, at St Edward's School, Oxford, on 4 March 2009. ZhanFeng Cui 05 May 2009
19 Stem cells: what are they and why are they important A lecture "Stem cells: what are they and why are they important" given by Professor Sir Richard Gardner at the 10th OIBC Spring Symposium, held jointly with the Department for Continuing Education, at St Edward's School, Oxford, on 4 March 2009. Richard Gardner 05 May 2009
18 The reversal of cell differentiation and prospects for cell replacement therapy The inaugural Anne McLaren Memorial Lecture, "The reversal of cell differentiation and prospects for cell replacement therapy", given by Prof Sir John Gurdon FRS, University of Cambridge, at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, on 7 November 2008. John Gurdon 05 May 2009
17 Creative Commons G20: Solutions to Global Depression? In this fourth podcast Linda Yueh and Jonathan Michie discuss the G20 debates over co-ordinated fiscal expansion, global regulation, and the role of the IMF. Linda Yueh, Jonathan Michie 31 Mar 2009
16 Creative Commons Credit Crunch Live Economics students of St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford pose questions to a panel of experts about the credit crunch and global recession. Linda Yueh, Martin Slater, Outi Aarnio, John Knight 25 Feb 2009
15 Creative Commons Bank Bail-outs and Obama's Green New Deal In this second podcast, Linda Yueh and Jonathan Michie discuss President Obama's Green New Deal, banking bail-outs, quantitative easing and whether we can spend our way out of the economic crisis. Linda Yueh, Jonathan Michie 28 Jan 2009
14 Creative Commons Philosophy of language and mind Language and Mind: What is rationality? What is consciousness? How do we manage to express our thoughts and experiences in language? Marianne Talbot 09 Jan 2009
13 Creative Commons Metaphysics and Epistemology Metaphysics and Epistemology: what exists, what is its nature and how can we acquire knowledge of it? Marianne Talbot 09 Jan 2009
12 Creative Commons Ethics and politics Moral and Political Philosophy: how should we live? What constitutes a just state? Marianne Talbot 09 Jan 2009
11 Creative Commons The philosophical method - logic and argument Logic and Argument: the joys of symbolic and philosophical logic. Marianne Talbot 09 Jan 2009
10 Creative Commons Global Recession: How Did it Happen? Linda Yueh talks to Jonathan Michie about the credit crunch and looming global recession, the effect it has had on both banks and businesses, and how a Green New Deal may provide a solution to the crisis. Linda Yueh, Jonathan Michie 22 Dec 2008
9 Creative Commons A romp through the history of philosophy from the Pre-Socratics to the present day. A romp through the history of philosophy from the Pre-Socratics to the present day. Marianne Talbot 13 Nov 2008
8 John Milton: poet, pamphleteer and patriot Dr Anna Beer gives an overview of the life and works of the poet John Milton. Anna Beer 11 Sep 2008
7 How foreign policy is made Alan Hunt gives an overview of how foreign policy is made - part of a recent training course for junior diplomats. Alan Hunt 11 Sep 2008
6 Introduction to the software life-cycle Introductory lecture, given by Dr Raymond Flood, for the summer school part of the online diploma in computing. Raymond Flood 11 Sep 2008
5 New economic powers: China Introduction to the BRICs and China's political economy - lecture given by Dr Yueh. Linda Yueh 09 Sep 2008
4 If I were you, I wouldn't start from here: understanding Oxford through its past Local history lecture, by Chris Day, giving an overview of the history of the University of Oxford. Chris Day 01 Sep 2008
3 Phoebe: a pedagogic planner Marion Manton gives an overview of the Phoebe project which aims to guide practitioners working in post-compulsory learning (FE, HE and ACL) in designing effective and pedagogically sound learning activities. Marion Manton 01 Sep 2008
2 Using virtual worlds for teaching and learning David White gives an overview of the Open Habitat project which is investigating using virtual worlds for teaching and learning. David White 29 Aug 2008
1 Choices and challenges: lessons learned in the evolution of online learning Lecture given by Dr DiPaolo May 2006 on the lessons learned in the evolution of online education. Andy DiPaolo 15 Aug 2008