Tasmania’s Rhodes Scholar’s life of criminology sets him on path to Oxford University, UK

PHILOSOPHY and criminology student Bede Jones is Tasmania’s 2016 Rhodes Scholar.

Tasmania's newest Rhodes Scholar Bede Jones, who grew up in Tasmania and studied philosophy and criminology in Melbourne. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

PHILOSOPHY and criminology student Bede Jones is Tasmania’s 2016 Rhodes Scholar.

Next September, the 23-year-old will jet off to Oxford University in England for two years to study a Masters in Public Policy but also global governance and diplomacy.

While educated at South Hobart Primary School, Taroona High School and Hobart College, Mr Jones moved to Victoria to study philosophy and criminology at Melbourne University. He also completed his Honours in Criminology at the university.

“I’m a little overwhelmed but I’m just full of joy and energy at the moment,” Mr Jones said.

“Now I can start to think with confidence about the outcomes of my study and where it will lead me.

“I’m looking now to go into a Masters in Public Policy so to expand out of the criminal justice system and tackle social issues more broadly but also global governance and diplomacy so looking at Tasmania’s role in an increasingly globalised world.”

However, Mr Jones said he was not too sure on what his career path would lie.

“Long term I am really interested in things like politics at the state level and then a late career entering academia but I’m not thinking too definitively at the moment,” he said.

“I’ll take it as it comes, I don’t want to approach it too goal oriented work-wise.”

The Rhodes scholarship was announced at Government House this morning with Mr Jones and his family in attendance.

Next up for Mr Jones is the length process of applying for courses at Oxford.

Originally published as Tasmania’s Rhodes Scholar’s life of criminology sets him on path to Oxford University, UK