KPMG dreaming of Oxford spires
KPMG is to fund a chair in tax law at Oxford University with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of tax law as both an academic and a commercial discipline.
In the first instance of an accountancy firm sponsoring a university tax law chair, the Big Five firm hopes to see the post filled from October 2001.
This ensures the post will be permanently dedicated to tax law, whereas other chairs can be reliant on the individuals who hold them, or can be part of more general degrees.
When appointed, the post holder will lead the design of a broadly based corporate taxation law course for the graduate Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) and the newer Magister Juris degrees. It is also hoped that they will design an undergraduate taxation law course.
UK Head of Tax & Legal services Ian Barlow, said: ‘Tax law in the UK is now an immensely complex and vital part of business life, but the quality of our tax law needs to be improved.
‘By offering this opportunity to bright students we hope more will be encouraged to take up careers within taxation.’
The Chair of the Law Faculty Board at Oxford University, Simon Gardner, said: ‘Boosting taxation law provision within the Law Faculty was one of our priorities and we feel this new professorial post will be of benefit to the university, to KPMG and to the wider academic and business worlds.’
All the Oxford colleges will be invited to put forward candidates for the chair of tax law.