Smithsonian’s Oxford Seminar

In the 1970s, David Parry, ATA’s then President, traveled to Oxford with the idea of creating a “college” experience at one of the great British universities. A few years later, the Oxford Seminar was born, an academically rigorous program for life-long learners. Travelers choose course topics such as archeology, medieval history, garden design, or Churchill. They live at an historic Oxford college, eat at High Table with their tutors, and enjoy learning in an international university setting. This program has operated almost every year since 1979 with at least one partner. To ensure its continued success, past Oxford travelers are involved in course selection and tutors are selected for their ability to engage adult audiences.