Joseph Feyertag DPhil Social Policy
Green Templeton One-Year Scholarship 2010-2011 Annual Report
Contribution to College Life
At the beginning of this academic year I was appointed as Green Templeton's first Junior Dean. Although this meant that I could not carry on working on the GCR Committee (for which I was Treasurer last year), I have contributed to College life in other ways.
Alongside the official responsibilities of the Junior Dean role - including supporting students in a variety of situations, from day-to-day queries to emergency call-outs - I have maintained regular involvement in a range of welfare events, such as welfare brunches and volunteering as a bike mechanic for GTC students. I have also initiated the new weekly Junior Dean Hour, a drop-in session for troubled students.
In addition to my academic achievements, in my second year as a student here I have been a part of the significant success of GTC in various sporting activities.
As captain of the Men's Football Team, I led GTCFC to its first-ever league triumph as well as its recent second place in a University-wide 5-a-side tournament. I also spearheaded GTC's first women's football team (in collaboration with Wadham), as well as organising and purchasing a new football kit for both teams financed by the Annual Fund.
I have also been the Men's Captain of the hugely successful Green Templeton Boat Club. The Men's First Eight achieved outstanding results at Torpids and Summer Eights, culminating in moving up into a fixed division in the latter for the first time, and winning GTC's first-ever men's blades.
Although I am still waiting for forthcoming elections, I am set to continue as Men's Captain for both teams next year. My contribution to both sports earned me the title of GTC Sportsman of the Year (elected by my peers) in the recent awards at the sports banquet. I was also given a Nautilus Award for Sporting Achievement in my first year.
Academic Achievements
Alongside my commitment to College community and sports, I have had important academic achievements in my last two years at Green Templeton College.
I completed my MSc with distinction in 2010 and my Master's thesis is currently in the process of being published. This year, I have moved ahead with an ambitious and unique DPhil project that uncovers the economic benefits of social policy, particularly in the recent economic crisis.
In the first year of my doctoral degree, I have already presented at seminars and at conferences in Oxford and Madrid, and I shall be preparing another paper for publication this summer with Martin Seeleib-Kaiser (GTC) and Adam Saunders (Nuffield).
Alongside my DPhil studies, I am working on a policy synopsis for a macro-micro comparative analysis project supervised by Robert Walker (GTC) and an international comparative study regarding the pension of the self-employed for the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs.
With regards to teaching, I have tutored two MSc students for two terms, and shall do so for undergraduate PPE students this Michaelmas.
Last October I was awarded a Research Assistantship for the Future of Work Programme which has given me the opportunity to organise several academic events at GTC.
Alongside numerous seminars and lectures, I have successfully organised two major workshops (the Young Adults' Workshop in March and the Future of Work Workshop in June) at the Osler-McGovern Centre, the latter bringing the EU Commissioner for Social Affairs to Green Templeton College as the keynote speaker.
Currently, I am planning a half-year abroad at Berkeley, California, in my third year, which will involve writing up a special chapter of my thesis on the United States.
I am dedicated to making a significant contribution to both academia and college life at Green Templeton, and very much appreciate the one-year Scholarship which has made these contributions possible.