Rishi Sunak is set to embark on an academic chapter of his career after securing two high-profile posts at Oxford and Stanford universities.
The former prime minister announced he will be joining the Blavatnik School of Government’s “world leaders circle” in Oxford, as well as taking up a visiting fellowship at Stanford’s Hoover Institution in California.
Sunak, who studied philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford before completing an MBA at Stanford, remains Conservative MP for Richmond & Northallerton. He expressed enthusiasm for both roles, highlighting their focus on the critical economic and security challenges facing governments worldwide.
The former prime minister follows in the footsteps of Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, who both took on academic positions in the United States after leaving Number 10. Sunak’s appointment at Oxford was welcomed by Lord Hague, the university’s chancellor, who praised Sunak’s “deep understanding of the challenges facing governments today”.
Condoleezza Rice, a former US secretary of state and director at the Hoover Institution, also emphasised the significance of Sunak’s role, underlining how his experience will help address key policy issues confronting democracies.
The Blavatnik School of Government has a track record of convening global leaders, including Iván Duque, the former Colombian president. The Hoover Institution, a respected policy think tank, counts George Osborne, Alexander Downer and John Bew among its distinguished visiting fellows.
Sunak’s transition to academic life marks his first official move since returning to the backbenches. The former prime minister has said he looks forward to using his insights from public office to inform cutting-edge research and policy debates in both the UK and the US.
