The History of the Centre

Oxford has always been a centre of innovation in publishing training and education, and Oxford Brookes has the longest record of degree-level publishing education in the UK. The first diploma course was offered in Oxford in 1961, superseded by the present journalism and publishing programmes offered by the Oxford International Centre for Publishing.

1928: The Oxford School of Arts and Crafts ran courses for compositors at Oxford University Press

1961: The three-year Diploma in Publishing at the Oxford College of Technology was the first full-time publishing qualification to be offered in British higher education

1982: The first undergraduate degree course in publishing began at Oxford Polytechnic. The Observer newspaper saw this as a recognition that the publishing industry was leaving behind the days of the 'gentlemanly amateur with nothing but flair'. The new course offered graduates 'specialized skills as well as general publishing know-how'.  The Observer commented: 'Dare one say that by 1985, when the first degrees are handed out, England will be producing her very first fully-qualified publishers?'

1988: Oxford Polytechnic established its innovative postgraduate Diploma of Advanced Study in Publishing

1992: Oxford Polytechnic becomes Oxford Brookes University

1994: The Oxford International Centre for Publishing Studies is established at Oxford Brookes University

The Centre, along with the Departments of Music and Art, launch the innovative interdisciplinary MA in Electronic Media

1997: The Centre wins validation for a full BA Publishing and an MA Publishing

2003: The announcement is made that the archive of the Man Booker Prize is to come to Oxford Brookes University. Martyn Goff, administrator of the Prize, says: 'we were clear we wanted the archive to remain in this country. We felt Oxford Brookes was the proper home as it is a leading centre for publishing studies'

2004: The Jobs in Publishing website is launched, offering vacancies in the publishing industry

The Centre launches new Masters in Publishing, including the MA in International Publishing and the MA in Publishing and Language

2005: The Centre hosts the Third International Conference on the Book, with speakers including Henry Reece, Chief Executive of Oxford University Press, Antony Beevor, author of Stalingrad, Boyd Tonkin of the Independent newspaper, and Peter Mayer, former Chief Executive of Penguin Books

The Centre runs a trade mission to China with funding from UK Trade & Investment

2006: The European Master in Publishing is launched with partners in Slovenia, Germany and France. The Centre now runs a full range of Masters in Publishing

Publishing podcasts begin

2007: The Centre moves to a new home in the Buckley Building

The new Publishing IT Suite is opened

Visit to the Centre by Jon Snow, Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University

Launch of MA in Digital Publishing

The Centre exhibits for the first time at the London Book Fair

The Centre hosts a conference on Women in Publishing, with speakers including Helen Fraser, Managing Director of Penguin UK, Professor Hermione Lee of New College, Oxford, and Ursula Owen, Founder Director of Virago Press

2008: The Oxford International Centre for Publishing Studies at Oxford Brookes University hosts the sixteenth annual conference of the Society for the History of Authorship, Reading and Publishing (SHARP)

The undergraduate degree is renamed BA in Publishing Media

A new Master's in Publishing is launched in Moscow in association with the Moscow State University of Printing Arts

2009: The Centre hosts a conference on Publishing for Social Change, with speakers including Shami Chakrabarti and Sigrid Rausing

The Centre hosts the conference of the Society of Young Publishers: Making an Impression - the impact of publishing on society

2010: Launch of MA in Book History and Publishing Culture

UK China Publishing Forum is launched in Beijing with Peking University

2011: Launch at London Book Fair of Publishing Alumni group

The Centre hosts the conference of the Society of Young Publishers:  Press Forward - updating an outdated industry

2012: Jane Doe Collection is presented to the library at Oxford Brookes

Ranked at number one in Sunday Times University Guide

2013: Launch of International Publishing Summer School

Conference of Society of Young Publishers: Life In Publishing: It's more than just books (and Tumblr!)

2014: Launch of distance learning Master's degree

2015: Launch of Confucius Institute with a focus on publishing

Conference of Society of Young Publishers: Publishing: A Thoroughly Modern Business

2016: Accreditation awarded to the degree programmes by Creative Skillset

2017: Centre moves to Headington Hill Hall

2018: Centre relaunched as Oxford International Centre for Publishing

2019: Launch of BA in Media, Journalism and Publishing

Ranked at Number One in Guardian University Guide

Establishment of Journalism Advisory Board

2020: Launch of MA in Journalism

Accreditation awarded by the NCTJ for the new MA and the undergraduate pathway in journalism