Matthew Arnold called Oxford the city of dreaming spires, a reference to the beauty of the harmonious colleges here but also the centrality of thought that Oxford plays for all of Britain. Here at the fourth annual Skoll World Forum, "dreaming spires" takes on another meaning – as leaders in social entrepreurship from around the world gather at the University of Oxford’s Said Business School. I’m here with them, to find out more about the growing social entrepreneurship movement and how it aligns with the greater trends and questions of modern philanthropy. Look for reports here over the next three days, as we listen to speakers like:

• Jeff Skoll, founder and       Chairman, Skoll Foundation and Participant Productions
• Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace       Prize laureate, Grameen Bank founder and microfinance pioneer
• Peter Gabriel, musician, activist, cofounder and Chair of WITNESS

This city of college spires first gained prominence in Britain a thousand years ago, but the ideas here are thoroughly modern. Check back for updates.

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