Christopher Hodges discusses the Advanced Programme on Regulatory Systems
From 23–25 February 2026, Oxford University’s Faculty of Law will host a new Advanced Programme on Regulatory Systems, bringing together an exclusive group of senior regulators, policymakers, industry leaders and academics for three days of intensive discussion and reflection at Worcester College, Oxford.
‘Regulation is changing – because it needs to change,’ says programme lead Professor Christopher Hodges OBE, Emeritus Professor of Justice Systems at Oxford. ‘For decades, regulatory theory has been shaped by elegant legal and economic models. But models are not people, and human behaviour – whether individual or organisational – rarely fits theoretical assumptions. If we want regulatory systems that genuinely work, we have to start with the evidence about how humans behave.’
Professor Hodges speaks from a career spanning half a century across legal practice and academia. Since returning to Oxford 25 years ago, he has studied in detail how regulatory and dispute resolution systems function, where they fail, and how they can be improved. His work – set out across a series of influential books and in a forthcoming volume that forms the syllabus for this course – has shaped discussions with governments, regulators and industries around the world. Alongside his academic research, Professor Hodges is, among other influential roles, Chair of the Regulatory Horizons Council, which advises the UK government on regulation of innovative science and technology; Chair of the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board on compensation for Post Office workers; and Chair of the Housing and Property Redress Group comprising judges, ombudsmen and redress schemes in those sectors.
The new course, explains Professor Hodges, is grounded in the latest behavioural science, psychology and sociology of regulation, as well as practical lessons emerging from pilot initiatives currently under way with governments and regulators worldwide. He adds: ‘If you are trying to influence human behaviour, you must start with behavioural evidence. Concepts such as deterrence, punishment and even compliance need to be re-examined in light of what actually works in practice.’
At the heart of the programme are three interlocking models Professor Hodges has developed:
- Focusing on outcomes rather than processes or sanctions.
- Understanding regulation as a system involving many actors.
- Prioritising collaboration between the actors to promote good outcomes and identify harmful ones early.
These approaches are now informing major policy developments, including the UK government’s forthcoming proposals for a new construction regulator in the wake of Grenfell. Similar ideas have already shaped aviation safety for decades, demonstrating how effective regulatory systems can be when grounded in evidence rather than assumptions.
Participants will explore this framework through a mixture of presentations, case studies and round-table discussions with leading figures in the regulatory world, including Graham Russell MBE, Director in the UK Department for Business and Trade, CEO of the Office of Product Safety and Standards, and Chair of the OECD’s Regulatory Policy Committee; Srikanth Mangalam, Founder-President of the PRISM Institute, Toronto, and a regulatory consultant; and Dr Christopher Decker, Associate Fellow in Oxford’s Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, Oxford, and an economics consultant.
The programme will also feature a keynote speech by Stephen Deadman, former VP and Data Protection Officer at Meta, offering a challenging perspective from innovative global industry.
The programme has been developed for regulators as well as participants from business, consultancy and academia involved in regulatory systems. Participants will gain a clear, evidence-based understanding of what works – and what does not – in modern regulatory design, equipping them to reflect on their own systems and to drive change internally or at governmental level. Participants from business will have the opportunity to understand how regulation is evolving and how organisations can adapt, influence and innovate within improved regulatory frameworks.
Held within the picturesque and inspiring surroundings of Worcester College, the programme is designed to foster the atmosphere that showcases Oxford at its best: a place where minds are freed to think objectively, test assumptions and assimilate new ideas. ‘Whenever we run round-tables or conferences in Oxford,’ says Professor Hodges, ‘people find that their thinking expands. This programme is a distillation of 25 years of research evidence about what works in regulation, brought together in an environment where people have been thinking deeply for over a thousand years.’