Girton College welcomes today’s announcement that the University of Cambridge will establish the Rokos School of Government. The College is proud to have been instrumental in bringing this important initiative to Cambridge and in shaping the ideas and ambition behind it.
The Rokos School of Government will aim to prepare future leaders to navigate complex and cross-cutting challenges and to lead and govern across the public, private, and civic spheres with integrity and wisdom.
Plans are developing thanks to a generous commitment of £190 million from investor and philanthropist Chris Rokos – believed to be the single biggest donation made to a British university in modern times.
Chris Rokos said:I was fortunate to be given the opportunity of an education which transformed my life, and I would like to give something back to Britain. My hope is that, in time, the influence of the Rokos School of Government across the world becomes an important element of that soft power which has been a great asset to the UK.
Professor Deborah Prentice, Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge said:Thanks to Chris’ generous support, the Rokos School of Government will become a place where leaders and governments – both current and future – together with experts from across our institution generate the insights and solutions needed to respond to our rapidly changing world.
The School will be housed in a dedicated new building in the heart of the University’s Cambridge West Innovation District. Here, its academic community will enjoy direct access to Cambridge’s renowned expertise in technology and the sciences, whilst also working closely with disciplines and departments across the arts, humanities, and social sciences.
The School will begin its operations in Autumn 2026 and will host a growing cohort of PhD and Master’s students – both in the School and as joint appointments with departments across the University.
Subject to the approval of the UK’s Charity Commission, the Rokos School of Government Charity Trust will be formed, overseen by four Trustees. Two of these will be appointed by the University, and two by the donor, including the Mistress [President] of Girton College, Dr Elisabeth Kendall.
Dr Kendall and Chris Rokos were undergraduates together at Pembroke College, Oxford and have remained close friends ever since. Detailed conversations between them led to a shared recognition of the need to prepare leaders of the future to be able to face new challenges. This resulted in the concept of a new and differentiated School of Government, founded at the University of Cambridge.
Dr Kendall said:Girton College wholeheartedly supports the creation of the Rokos School of Government. The vision for the School resonates strongly with Girton’s own ethos. Since our foundation, we have championed bold thinking and action – values captured in our commitment to ensuring that our future is just as pioneering as our past. Furthermore, our proximity to the new School, combined with a shared commitment to interdisciplinarity, places us in a strong position to support the School in addressing some of the most pressing issues of our time.
Girton College is excited by the opportunities this creates for collaboration between the School and our Fellows and students. The College will continue to share updates as plans progress.